Hutson appears in court for wildlife related crimes

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- A man charged with multiple wildlife related crimes pleaded not guilty in criminal court on Monday.

Shawn Hutson, 46, Huntsville is charged with: illegal taking/possession of elk; possession of alcohol on a WMA; mitigated criminal littering; failure to retrieve; tagging violation; illegal baiting; operating ohv off-trail on a WMA and walleye creel limit violation.

Hutson allegedly committed his crimes in the Red Ash/ Wheeler Gap area in the Royal Blue section of the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) in February. The charges stem from an investigation into illegal killing of an elk. During the investigation Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) Officers uncovered other alleged crimes relating to hunting and fishing, according to court records.

On Feb. 22,  a report was received regarding  the remains of an elk in the Royal Blue area.

Wildlife Manager Darrell England found the remains. The animal appeared to have recently  been shot, TWRA said.

Officers reported  multiple parts of the elk had been removed, and several pieces of evidence were recovered from the scene.

Hutson will next appear in court on March 23, 2026.

He remains free on $2,500 bail.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 12/12/2025-6AM)