Florida Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers ended 2005 dealing with a wide array of cases. Among the many deer poaching arrests statewide, two Washington County co-defendants were each fined $250, had three firearms confiscated, and kicked in another $500 apiece to replace a replica Bambi they blasted at night.

Two subjects were charged in Miami-Dade County with possession of migratory birds—not ducks, but painted and indigo bunting. What recipe they had in mind for the 1-ounce songbirds wasn’t mentioned.

Despite well-publicized recent gillnet busts, some guys just won’t quit. Officers Andy Zamonis and Brad Stanley intercepted two vessels at 3 a.m. on the north side of Sebastian Inlet. A large gillnet was found on board the second boat after two subjects fled on foot, and the operator of the first vessel was still on probation for a gillnet violation last year, and arrested. Net, vessel and trailer were seized, and net transit violations will be filed against the two who fled. Net transit violation charges will also be filed in Lee County for similar late-night escapades. Officers also discovered an abandoned 600-yard gill net filled with dead fish and ducks next to the Howard Frankland Bridge in Hillsborough County.

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