258 protected geese killed. Man behind the hunt is fined, has to stop hunting temporarily

A Northern California man who organized a 10-person goose hunt of protected birds has been fined and temporarily banned from hunting. (United States Attorney's Office)The hunters stand, holding their rifles, in front of their kill: birds, by the hundreds. The photo from the U.S. attorney's office shows the animals lined up, carcass after carcass, some with wings protruding. The 258 snow geese and white-fronted geese were protected birds, officials say.Now the Northern California man who organized and participated in the 2018 goose hunt has been sentenced. His penalties: a $1,000 fine and a three-year hunting ban.Carlos T. Ortiz and nine other hunters shot and killed the geese near California's Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney.Snow geese and white-fronted geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, an international treaty that prohibits the killing, capture, sale, trade or transportation of protected migratory bird

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258 protected geese killed. Man behind the hunt is fined, has to stop hunting temporarily

Carlos T. Ortiz, 27, of Live Oak, pleaded guilty today to transportation and receipt of untagged migratory game birds and was subsequently sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson to a three-year hunting ban, three years of probation, and a $1,000 fine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Ortiz helped organize and participate in a 10-person goose hunt near the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge in Sutter County. During the hunt, Ortiz and others shot and killed 258 snow geese and white-fronted geese. Snow geese and white-fronted geese are migratory game birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. None of the birds were tagged as required by law. — A Northern California man who organized a 10-person goose hunt of protected birds has been fined and temporarily banned from hunting. (United States Attorney's Office)

The hunters stand, holding their rifles, in front of their kill: birds, by the hundreds. The photo from the U.S. attorney's office shows the animals lined up, carcass after carcass, some with wings protruding. The 258 snow geese and white-fronted geese were protected birds, officials say.

Now the Northern California man who organized and participated in the 2018 goose hunt has been sentenced. His penalties: a $1,000 fine and a three-year hunting ban.

Carlos T. Ortiz and nine other hunters shot and killed the geese near California's Sutter National Wildlife Refuge, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney.

Snow geese and white-fronted geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, an international treaty that prohibits the killing, capture, sale, trade or transportation of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

If a person receives a permit, the birds must have a tag attached that is signed by the hunter, has the hunter’s address, the total number and species of birds, and the date the birds were killed if the birds are left somewhere other than the hunter’s home or at other exemptions.

None of the 258 birds were tagged, according to the release.

After entering a guilty plea to transporting and receiving untagged migratory game birds, Ortiz was sentenced to a three-year hunting ban, three years of probation and a $1,000 fine in federal court.

The prosecution originally charged him with three counts, but the third count — leaving a game bird in his possession to go to waste through carelessness and neglect — was dismissed, according to court documents.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.