Louisiana – A southwestern Louisiana man has been cited for allegedly killing a Louisiana black bear in Vermilion Parish, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Shannon R. Parker, 50, of Abbeville, is facing charges for taking a bear during a closed season and failing to comply with wild quadruped hunting regulations.
LDWF agents launched an investigation in early March after receiving reports of a dead black bear near Palmetto Island State Park. Agents located the female bear, estimated to be around 10 years old and weighing approximately 200 pounds. A necropsy determined that the bear had been shot with a high-powered rifle between Feb. 28 and March 1.
During the investigation, evidence led agents to Parker as the suspected shooter. When questioned on March 19, Parker admitted to shooting the bear at night with a .270 rifle, claiming he mistook it for a wild hog. LDWF officials noted that Parker failed to properly identify his target before firing.
Further violations surfaced during the investigation. Authorities discovered Parker did not have written permission to hunt on the property at night, lacked the landowner’s contact information, and failed to notify the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office of his intent to hunt wild hogs after dark, as required by law.
Since 1992, LDWF has worked to protect and restore the Louisiana black bear population. These efforts led to the species’ removal from the Endangered Species List in 2016. In 2024, Louisiana held its first black bear hunting season in over 35 years, with 10 bears legally harvested under a strict permit system. The upcoming 2025 season will allow 26 lottery-selected hunters to participate between Dec. 6 and Dec. 21.
Parker faces a fine of $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail for illegally taking a bear. Additionally, his failure to comply with wild quadruped hunting regulations carries a fine between $250 and $500, along with a possible 90-day jail sentence. He will also be required to pay $10,000 in civil restitution for the bear’s replacement value.