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Wlaf1450The incident occurred last winter in the Red Ash/Wheeler Gap area
CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)— A Huntsville man has been indicted on multiple charges related to the illegal killing of an elk on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA) in February, along with additional hunting and fishing violations uncovered during the execution of a search warrant.
Shawn Lee Hutson, 46, of Huntsville, faces several wildlife-related charges following an investigation into the poaching of an elk in the Caryville area of Campbell County. The incident occurred in the Red Ash/Wheeler Gap area, located within the Royal Blue Unit of NCWMA. Following the execution of a search warrant, Hutson was also charged with additional violations related to hunting and fishing.
Hutson has been charged with the following violations:
- 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
- Walleye Creel Limit Violation
Original report:
On the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, a report was received regarding an elk carcass found on the Royal Blue Unit of NCWMA. Wildlife Manager Darrell England was first to arrive on the scene and located the remains of an elk that appeared to have been shot within the previous few days. Wildlife Officer Spencer Wilson and Wildlife Manager Brenden Marlow responded and assisted in collecting evidence. Officers reported that multiple parts of the elk had been removed, and several pieces of evidence were recovered from the scene.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The agency also promotes public safety through law enforcement and safety education on Tennessee’s waterways. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/22/2025-2PM)