TOP PHOTO:  The man who killed this cow elk last year pleaded guilty this week in Campbell County Court.

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- Six months after illegally killing a cow elk the man responsible for the crime has pleaded guilty.

Doney was sentenced to 30 days in jail in the killing of the elk that occurred in Dec. 2019.

Sean Doney,  33, of  Caryville, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the offense that occurred on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) in Campbell County.

The deceased elk was found in a food plot in the Red Ash area of the NCWMA on Dec. 23.  The cow elk was wearing a GPS collar as part of a three year elk research study with the University of Tennessee Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. A necropsy by the UT College of Veterinary Medicine concluded the animal had been shot, and a bullet was recovered from the carcass.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Wildlife Officer Brenden Marlow charged Doney after he was identified by members of the public. A reward for information about the killing had been offered by Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association and Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter of the NWTF.

Doney was given 30 days in jail for Hunting Big Game in Closed Season, Hunting Without a License, Hunting without Hunter Education, Illegal Take of Big Game and Failure to Retrieve Game on a WMA.  He will also pay $350 in restitution to the TWRA.

TWRA Wildlife Officer Brenden Marlow on Norris Lake on boating enforcement patrol last weekend.

“I want to thank the public for coming forward with the information that led to the conviction of Mr. Doney. I can’t stress enough how important it is for the public to call and let us know about potential violations that have taken place and are currently taking place,” Marlow said. “People enjoying the outdoors should never feel afraid to call and inform us of anything. They are our eyes and ears as we can’t be everywhere all the time,” added Marlow. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED- 06/25/2020- 6AM)

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