I personally I didn't want to post it, but I can't control what everybody else does. >> Yeah. You know, a year from now it's it's probably not going to be that big a deal. You know, >> if you like fish and wildlife content, be sure to subscribe so to miss out on future videos. In the state of Missouri, mountain lions are extremely rare. The state has had 128 mountain lion sightings since 1994. Most of the lions are transient, often wandering through from other states. Approximately one year ago, sheriff's office received a call in reference to a man shooting a mountain line, claiming he was defending his wife. An officer with the Missouri Department of Conservation responded to investigate. Prior to the officer's arrival, these images were posted on social media. >> How's it going, man? >> Hey, how you doing? >> Oh, pretty good. My name is Billy Barton, conservation agent. >> Yeah. >> No, Billy. Not much. Are you Rodney? >> Oh, Joe. >> Nice to meet you, Jill. >> Nice to meet you. >> Running around like a rock bob job. >> I got you. Working or hunting or little of both or >> taking the kids hunting? >> Yeah. No luck. Good to see you. >> Yeah, actually uh Jason you season killed a fork horn and then Ayla got a sixpointer today. >> Oh, well cool. Well, I had a little luck then. >> Yeah. >> Well, that's good. >> I like letting them letting them have fun. And then >> got one. >> Oh, yeah. She She forgot when everybody was lining up her rifle and left an empty shell in her gun. [laughter] >> So, you pulled the trigger and it won't click, huh? >> Yeah. >> That stinks, huh? >> Yeah, it's funny. >> Oh, yeah. Well, that happens. >> Yep. >> You must been down here running around. >> Yeah, it wasn't too far. >> You been seeing any good ones? >> No. >> No. Huh? >> No. You think the roots on the downhill slide? >> Oh no, that's six points. >> All swoll up. >> Yeah, >> gotcha. >> That's a big kitty. >> That is a big kitty. That'll be dang, huh? Unreal. Well, it I'm I'm cold. I don't have enough clothes on. I've been outside. So, if you don't mind, I'll just have you hop in the truck and we'll visit and uh you can kind of tell me the story and go from there. So, >> anyway, >> yep. >> May have to unlock it. >> Oh, so where you from? >> Uh from Deloge. Okay, gotcha. >> Yep. Me and wife live up there. We moved there almost four years ago now. >> Gotcha. So, how you know Ron Ronnie Joe? >> Uh Cindy is my wife's mom. So, he's my stepdadin-law. >> Something like that. Gotcha. >> However you want to put it. >> Okay. All right. Well, uh basically just, you know, before we discuss anything or whatever, I'm going to advise you of your Miranda rightites. Okay. just because >> it's, you know, common practice and, um, I don't want you to think you're going to jail or, you know, anything like that, cuz you're not. >> Um, but I just want to, you know, get that out there, um, right off the bat. >> Okay. >> First of all, did you see any deer today? >> No, I didn't see any deer today. >> No deer, huh? >> No. >> Huh. >> Well, Ronnie Joe took you to the gar hole, huh? >> Yeah. I guess you guys are hunting with them. >> Yeah. >> Gotcha. >> Yep. We come down here every year to come hunt with them. >> Okay. All right. [clears throat] >> All right. So, you do not have to make any statement at this time with your attorney. The interrogation will cease and you will be allowed to do so. Do you understand? All right. Now that that's out of the way, like I said, it's not meant to scare you or >> anything else, man. It's just a formality. Okay. Um, I mean, fact of the matter is is you've got a you've got a mountain line in the back of your truck, right? Um, it's not and I mean, you did the right thing by calling. Um, but what I'm here to do is just to kind of, you know, figure out what transpired and and just kind of hear your side of the story, you know, before >> everybody else starts flooding us with other stories, you know what I mean? So, um I think that's best and that's why I want to try to get here as soon as possible just to, you know, visit with you, get your side of the story and and you know, um do appreciate you, you know, contacting somebody and and you know, taking that approach as opposed to trying to cover it up. >> Yeah. No. Well, and I didn't even know what to do with it. >> Gotcha. >> You know, it's not something that you normally run across, >> right? >> So, you know, when when it came out, we were sitting in the deer stand. My wife and I were hunting together. >> Okay. >> And she had to pee. So she got down and from where our deer stand is, there's a treetop right next to our deer stand, just out in front of us a little bit. Well, she went up by the treetop and went just in front of it so she can go pee. Well, she's up there peeing and then out from under me. This thing walks right underneath me and walks out in front of me and it's just mossying along. Well, I hear it when it's right down below me. I hear it and I look down. And I realize what it is and that she's still out there. >> Well, I look up and it walks out in front of me. I don't know 5 10 ft in front of the deer stand >> and I yell at her. I go, "Hey." And it just keep it's straight for her. >> Just right in her, you know, not necessarily at her like it, you know, saw her, but I didn't want to take a chance on her getting done and coming around from that treetop and see her get her. I don't know how aggressive they are. And it was headed straight for her. So I didn't want to take a chance on her getting hurt. >> Gotcha. >> So that's the only reason I shot it. >> Gotcha. Okay. So you shot it from the the >> I shot it from the deer stand. >> Gotcha. Okay. And she was on the ground when you shot >> Yeah, she was on the ground >> in front of that tree top. >> Okay. Um and so is it a deer stand that uh that you I guess put up or did Ronnie Jo put it up? Rodney's deer stand that we use. We put it up like two either two or three years ago. I can't remember when. >> Gotcha. Okay. All right. And so you guys hunted there this morning, too, or did you go to a different spot? >> Her my wife and her little sister, my mom's, you know, one of her twins. >> They were sitting there this morning and I was sitting over on another hillside. >> Mhm. >> Well, we didn't see anything. Didn't get anything. So this afternoon since her little sister got one, we went we decided that we were going to sit together. My wife don't like to sit alone. >> So we decided we were going to sit together. We went out about I don't know it was about 2 2:30 something like that that we went out. Hadn't seen anything all afternoon. Finally she says that she's going to get down and go pee. She had to go pee. >> And then that's when this thing walked out and it was like right at dark something like that. >> Gotcha. And as soon as that happened, we I was like, I'm done. I'm not not doing no more tonight. It's getting dark already. Like, I'm not I'm not about to be out here and wind up having something else go wrong. So, we went up to the truck and waited for Rodney to come meet us so that we could come back and I told him about it. And >> by then, it was dark. So, we came back to the house and got some flashlights and ate supper while we were here cuz it was late. >> He had to go to town and get gas for the side. We took the flashlights back up there and started searching around for it. >> So, it didn't just drop. >> No, it didn't just drop. >> Huh. Okay. So, it uh it ran a ways after you shot it. >> Mhm. >> I gotcha. How far do you think it ran from where >> It wasn't real far. It was, if I had to guess, somewhere around 50, 60 yards, something like that. It wasn't super great distance. >> I mean, obviously, whenever you shot, she probably unraveled at the seams, right? I mean, it's >> Yeah, she was she was not happy. She at first she didn't even realize what was going on. >> Yeah. >> You know cuz she was at back behind that treetop peeing. I you know she heard me yell >> and then shot and she comes around from behind the treetop just like confused. >> I told her I was like there was a cat. I said I don't know exactly what it was but it wasing huge. Yeah. >> I said it was going right at you and I didn't want to take a chance. I didn't know exactly what it was or you know how mean it was or anything like that. And then after the fact we whenever we uh got it in the uh truck, I looked up to see what it was for sure. >> Mhm. >> And that's when I seen that. I'm like, well, I >> I don't know what the hell to do with it. You know, I seen the >> um >> ear tags and all that. >> Yeah. >> Seen them. I'm like, well, you know, I need to call somebody to find out what to do with this thing. >> Right. Right. Okay. Uh what' you shoot it with? >> Uh 308. >> You shot it with 308. Gotcha. And you just shoot it one time. >> Uh, I shot it twice. It was was it was walking to her. I shot it once. Didn't know for sure if I hit it. >> Mhm. >> It turned, so I shot it again. >> Gotcha. >> You know, I didn't want to take any chances. >> I was I just wanted to make sure that she was going to be okay. >> Gotcha. Okay. And so you shot it once like in the side or how many bullet holes are in it? >> There's two bullet holes. There's on its side that's up. >> Mhm. behind its I don't know kind of its right shoulderish area. >> I hit it there and it went through its chest somewhere. >> Gotcha. >> And then when it turned I hit it right in the side. >> Okay. All right. So the first shot was in the chest. >> It was in like the back shoulder kind of area. >> M >> and came out through the chest. >> Gotcha. And then like I said, I didn't know for sure if I had hit it when it turned because it didn't like flinch or >> really like that. Yeah. >> Interesting. I mean, I've never shot a mountain line, so I don't know how they react, but >> Well, and you know, and it may have, and I may not have noticed it, you know, I had quite a bit of adrenaline running through me, >> you know, >> so I wasn't entirely sure, but when it turned it, you know, it didn't just drop straight down, so I didn't want to take a chance on it turning around and going back to her. >> Gotcha. Okay. Um I assume she was hunting as well. >> Yes. >> What she Where was her gun at at the time? >> Her gun was in the stand with me. >> Okay. All right. So she just left it up there. >> Yeah. >> So she didn't ever shoot at it, too? >> No, she never shot it. >> Gotcha. So you're the one that shot both times? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. And then I guess I mean did you not see that it I mean was down before you come back here? >> No, I didn't know for sure that it was down. >> Really? >> Yeah. It ran off and where we're at, there's a bunch of brush right here. >> Yeah. >> And I know it went down behind that brush, but I never heard it fall. I never heard it like skid or moan or, you know, I never heard any noises from it. >> Right. >> But I didn't know for sure it was down. That's why I wanted to go back out there and see if it was. >> Gotcha. >> You know, cuz I don't, you know, it's first day of deer season. I didn't want to want it to be laying out there and run all the deer off. >> Right. Right. So, you guess I guess uh you didn't trump around after you got down out of the stand. You just went back to your truck or something or >> Yeah, we got down. I looked for blood right there to see if you know I knew I hit it the second time, >> but I looked for blood right there. >> There's a little spot of blood right where I where it was standing when I shot it. >> I seen that. Didn't see anything in the immediate vicinity. >> So, I just told her I was like, "We'll go on up to the truck >> and we'll wait for him." >> Gotcha. and we'll go from there. >> And so he went and got gas and then came out there. How far is that spot from here? >> Uh half half hour maybe. >> Half hour. >> Yeah. Not maybe not even It's I don't know if you're familiar with the area. >> Yeah. Pretty familiar. >> Go down here to this gravel road. >> Yeah. >> Go back out to C. >> Mhm. Yeah. Go all the way to C. >> Yeah. Go all the way to C and turn right on C. Yeah. >> And go down I don't know. It's a >> Is it there on the there on the left? that that uh park ground that they've got >> on the right. >> Oh, it's on the right. Yeah. Gotcha. Is it before you get to like Jet Bridge then? >> Uh I'm not sure where that is. >> Gotcha. So once you get to C Highway and turn right, it's only half a mile or so. >> Yeah. Half a mile, something like that. Maybe a mile. >> Okay. It's not >> So whenever whenever you turn, you start climbing a hill. >> Yeah. >> Um where is it at from when you get to the top of the hill there? Like where the there's a couple old houses or trailers there? Um there's a you're talking about his farm, that old house that's falling down. It's right across the road from that. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> Um so it's you guys just pull in there and park. >> We pull in there and there's a set of gates. We open the gates, drive up the hill. Once you get to the top of the hill, we always go down the there's a road going to the right. At the end of that road is our deer stand. Gotcha. Okay. All right. Well, um obviously, you know, I'm going to take the cat uh with me and um you know, I I need to get all your information. Um I want to you know, visit with your your is it your wife? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh visit with your wife as well and uh you know, just um you know, kind of hear her side of the story and and uh you know, what all transpired kind of through her you know, eyes. um just because you know like you said I mean adrenaline gets you going sometimes and you know she might have saw things a little bit differently than you did or whatever but >> um at the end of the day I mean you can't you can't shoot things that there's not a season for and that you [clears throat] don't have a tag for you know ultimately is what it boils down to. um you know and you know the the fact that you know uh she was on the ground you know going to the restroom or whatever um you know I I get that maybe it was headed in her direction but um you know I mean I I don't I don't feel like that she was in fear for her life at that point you know or that you have um you know livestock that you're protecting or something like that. I mean, obviously if it was right here, you know, killing his goats or sheep or whatever, then that's a whole different deal. And I hope that you see that. >> Yeah. No, I understand that. >> Um, so anyway, but I'm not easy guy to get along with, you know. Um, I think Rodney Joe probably told you that when whenever you made the call, you know, he's probably like, "Hey, you probably >> probably need to call him." And you know, I'm sure you guys had that conversation, right? >> Well, and I I asked him, I was like, you know, what what do I do with this, >> right? >> You know, when I told him, >> right? Yeah. And the worst thing you could have done was walk away from it, you know, because >> um at some point it's going to come out, you know. I mean that thing likely has a pit tag in it, you know. Um and so, >> you know, whenever it stops moving for an, you know, extended period of time, it it's likely going to send a an alert. Yeah. you know, and so, um, those are the kind of things that you have to think about, you know, uh, and, you know, if you're in that situation, um, you know, I mean, I I can't I wasn't there, so I don't know how it all played out, but, >> um, you know, my suggestion would be is don't shoot anything that, um, you know, you don't have a tag for, that there isn't a season for, you know, unless you're, um, you know, truly protecting, you know, life or property. >> Okay, >> that make sense? >> Yeah. So anyway, um we'll load this thing up and then I'll visit with her. I don't want to, you know, drag this out too long, but I would like to go um you know, out there. Is it I assume that we can just drive up to the top of the hill. >> It is locked. >> Okay. >> He's got a lock on it. >> Okay. But I mean, he can drive out there with us. >> Yeah, he can drive out there with us. >> Okay. >> All right. Um and I just want to want to take a look at it and then that way we're not, you know, doing it in the morning when you guys are trying to deer hunt. So, >> um do you have your deer permit handy on you? I have it in the house. >> I have my phone on the app. >> Okay. >> Let me ask you this. Um, do you have text correspondence um to Rodney from when you shot? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> I think I think so. You'll have to look. >> Do you mind to show that to me? >> Yeah. >> That's 1279. Okay. >> Okay. So, at 355, you tell him the kitty's down, right? >> Yeah, that was >> And so, you know, >> that's when I shot it. >> Gotcha. And so, you knew it was down at that point in time. >> That's when I shot it. >> Okay. I mean had kitty down means dead. >> Well, I didn't mean it by it was dead. I shot it. >> Gotcha. Okay. So, I assume he's probably been getting game camera pictures of this thing. >> He doesn't have any cameras out there. He got some stole last year. >> Gotcha. >> And so at season he takes them out of the woods. >> Gotcha. But prior to season he had pictures of it. >> He's never had a picture of this. >> Gotcha. >> So at first I thought it was a bobcat. >> Gotcha. >> That's why when I sent that it was a >> So you were kind of thinking it was a bobcat. I was thinking it was a bobcat. >> Gotcha. >> But >> well, that makes more sense to me. I mean, like that you thought it was a bobcat. And I mean, um, you know, if it was a bobcat, then it's bobcat season, you know. Okay. >> Um, and I didn't pay attention, but I assume you probably have a small game hunting license. >> A hunting and fishing. Just a >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. A fishing license. Yeah. >> Do you have a hunting and fishing like a >> So, like go back to your permits there. >> Sorry. >> [music] >> 137. >> Where'd it go? >> Yeah. So, you just have a fishing. So, you wouldn't have been able to shoot a bobcat either. But irregardless, um, you know, a bobcat would have been a little more, you know, uh, >> a little easier to understand, I guess. You know what I'm saying? Um, but that's that's much larger than a bobcat, you know what I mean? >> Um, so anyway, so do you have cameras out there? >> I don't have them. >> Okay. Does anybody have cameras? >> Okay. All right. Let's go back to Do you mind to go back to the message? >> All right. Go back up to this one. >> This one? >> Yeah. >> This was after we got here. Gotcha. Is this just friends of yours or something? >> Yeah, that's her. My wife's brother. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> Gotcha. Okay. Um, and so that was the only two >> Mhm. >> communications you had. Mhm. >> Do you mind if we look at your call history? >> Yeah. >> Down on recents. [snorts] >> This was the Iron County Sheriff's Department here. >> Yeah. Gotcha. Okay. So, you didn't call anybody, just text. >> Mhm. >> Okay. What about Snapchat? >> No, didn't use Snapchat. I have it if you'd like to look at it, but I did not use it. >> Oh, that's that's all right. um about your photos here. [clears throat] >> You mind if I >> Yeah. Yeah. So that was 353 and he's laying there. >> Mhm. >> Right. And so you told me part of the truth but not the whole truth, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So just just lay it out, man. I mean, you know, I'm not I'm not >> I'm not going to lie. I was scared. >> I'm not a hard I know where you're at. >> I was scared to get in trouble because of shooting it. >> Okay. So So lay it out. Give me the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Okay. And it's going to be a lot it's going to be it's going to feel a lot better. Okay? Because if you don't give me all the truth tonight and you go back in there and you lay your head down, >> you're not gonna sleep very well, right? >> Because I can tell you're a good person, right? And you've got morals. Okay. >> So, >> let's hear it. >> I got scared. It walked underneath our deer stand. >> Okay. And your wife was in the stand with you? >> My wife was in the stand and it walked into the stand and I looked down over it. And I didn't ever hear it until it got right beneath our stand. >> Yeah. >> I looked down and I realized what it was. And in the spur of the moment, >> you're like, "Holy crap, I've never seen a mountain line." >> I' Yeah. I I I swear to God, I didn't know that it was a mountain line. I had no idea what it was. I've never seen a mountain line. I've never seen a bobcat. >> Yeah. >> I grew up in St. Louis for 20 26 years in my life before me and my wife got married. >> Right. And that's the my first thing of on my conservation that first year. >> I'm not sure what year it was. Two, three years ago, something like that. That was my first time ever hunting. >> So, I got adrenaline rushing. I didn't know exactly what it was. I was thinking that, hey, that's a bobcat. So, I thought, well, I need to shoot it. >> Okay. >> I >> just because you haven't ever shot a bobcat before and it would be cool to shoot a bobcat. Well, I thought it was along the same lines as what a pig was because there's hogs out here >> and I know that as >> sure, >> you know, we can shoot hogs at any time because they're a nuisance. >> I knew that. >> Yeah. >> And I thought it was along the same lines as that. >> Gotcha. >> I didn't know that there was a season for it. I didn't know that there was a, you know, for Bobcat. I didn't >> I I honestly did not know. >> Okay. All right. >> I was terrified of getting in trouble for shooting it. I didn't think anything of it at the time. >> I was thinking it was a Bobcat. It wasn't until I seen the tags on its ears and then I'm like, "What do I do?" >> Sure. >> And I got scared. >> Yeah. Well, and that stemmed the call to the sheriff's office and all that. I I get it. Um and I again I I can tell you're a good guy. Okay. And I mean, we're all we're all humans >> and we make mistakes. You made a mistake tonight. Would you agree? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um it's not anything that, you know, we can't work through. Okay. But, um, you know, I'm not going to write you any tickets tonight, but I'm going to be back in touch. Okay. Um, what I would ask from you is is for you to just write a statement basically, you know, what you just told me. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, but just while it's fresh on your mind, um, as to what transpired while you guys were in the stand. And quite honestly, I would prefer not to even drag your wife into it as far as having to visit with her and you know what I mean. >> Yeah. >> Um >> because you're the one that shot it, right? You shot it twice. >> I shot it twice. >> She did not shoot it. >> She did not shoot it. >> Okay. All right. >> She did not shoot it. She didn't even realize what was going on until after I shot it. >> Okay. All right. Um and so are you willing to provide a statement? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. >> It's all right. I was so scared of getting in trouble. >> I didn't know what was going to happen after I shot it and realized >> I understand. >> I didn't want to get in trouble. My my biggest thing was cuz I found a love for hunting and I was terrified that I wouldn't be ever be able to hunt again. I was terrified that I'd get arrested. I didn't know what was going to happen. >> Well, I'm I'm not here to arrest you, okay? Um and quite honestly, it's it's a new one for me, okay? I mean, we just we don't have very many mountain lines to begin with. I mean, um they pass through here, you know, fairly frequently. Um we have a few hit on the road and and whatnot, you know, and a few sightings. more game camera pictures than anything. Um, but honestly, I've never had anybody shoot one. Okay. So, it's going to be something that we have to work through together. Um, but as I said, um, you know, you've been pretty truthful with me thus far and as long as you know, um, you're honest with me. Um, you know, I mean, here's the deal. The only time the truth can hurt you is when you tell it too late. >> Does that make sense? Yeah. And so, you know, if you lay the truth out, then you, like I said, it's off your mind. It's off your chest. And when you go in there tonight, Yeah. you're you're probably going to wonder what's going to happen. But you don't have to worry about what's going to happen if I find out. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? Um, and so I would much rather be in that in those shoes than the other way around, right? >> Yeah. >> Um because that's no way to live live your life, right? >> No. I don't want to be constantly afraid, >> right? Um, >> I don't want to be looking over my shoulder wondering what's when is this going to come out. >> Right. Right. And so that's that's what I was alluding to, you know, and that's that's why I said what I said because I truly mean that. And I don't want you to, you know, um I don't want it to affect your your family. Um, you know, as far as um you being all tied in knots about, you know, no wondering when it's going to come out. Yeah. >> Okay. It's out. Okay. I know what happened. You know what happened. Um, and we're gonna work through it. Okay. >> I'm really sorry. >> Well, don't don't be sorry to me. Um, like I said, just in the future, um, don't make those, you know, split-second decisions that could potentially affect you from now on, right? Because just like you said, I mean, you know, um, whether it's, you know, a Say two bucks come running through and you know you only have one buck tag. Yeah. >> Um the opportunity is there, but the right thing to do is what? >> To only shoot one. >> Only shoot one. Right. And so you're going to as a as a hunter, you're going to find yourself in those situations where the adrenaline dump is there and you're like, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe this is happening." But you got to make the right decision. >> Right. >> And I know ignorance is no excuse. So, what I need you to do here, um, and this is a request. It's not something that I'm telling you to do. I want to make that clear. Okay? Um, but your name goes here. And then just a, you know, kind of a summary of what transpired. You know, fact that you were, you know, deer hunting on, you know, Mr. Property and, you know, what you just told me. I mean, I can't tell you what to write, obviously, but >> write down what happened without, you know, no, don't write a book. >> Right. Right. Okay. >> Mhm. Can I write on top of this? >> Yes, sir. >> Do you mind if I take pictures of your pictures here? >> Yeah. >> No, I don't mind. >> Okay. >> Sorry. I was trying to be >> Do you mind if I go back to the text there? >> Yeah. Go ahead. I just don't want to have to seize your phone. I don't like taking people's phones. >> Not sure what honestly I'm not sure what else outside of what happened. >> I don't know if there's any specific details. >> Okay. My wife and I were deer hunting on Rodney Mill's property and a mountain lion walked under the treeand. I noticed it underneath me and stood up as it was walking in front of the stand. I got excited at what it was and in the spur of the moment I decided to shoot it. Um, >> do I need to put in that I didn't know at the time? >> I would just >> that it was a mountain lion or >> I don't think that's, you know, necessarily relevant. Um, you know, it's your it's your statement, you know, whatever whatever you want in it. Um, >> you know, I would put how many times you shot. Um, you know, when that I assume the cat dropped right there, right? I mean, with a 308. >> It did not actually drop right there. >> It didn't It didn't run far though. >> It did not run far. It was about 50 or so yards. >> You could see it from the tree stand though, right? >> I actually didn't see it from the treeand. >> Gotcha. >> I had to get down and I looked for blood and there was one little old spot of blood. >> Yeah. >> On grass. And I looked around and didn't immediately see any. It wasn't until I walked over, I walked a little further around and saw that there was a blood trail. >> Gotcha. Did your wife stay in the stand at that time? >> She stayed in the stand. >> She was like, "I'm not getting down." >> No, she was not getting down. >> Right. Well, that was probably one of the better decisions you made there. So, um, but you know, cuz a injured cat like that, I mean, um, they can be, >> you know, I mean, as any large animal, I mean, they, you know, they can attack you. So, um, but anyway, again, it's your statement. So if you want to add any additional is fine and if not it's there's all right. So I shot two times and it ran roughly 50 yards behind brush. I got down and looked for blood and I found a blood trail and followed it to the animal. What's this say? Once >> once. >> Okay. Once I realized what it was, we left the woods and came home. We went back and retrieved it later. Once we got back, I called the sheriff's department. Okay. And then just your signature right here. >> All right. So, the bad news is is the rifle that you shot that with I will have to seize for the time being. Okay. Um just, you know, just because I need to be able to show that, you know, that cat was shot with that rifle. um you know in the event that you know it goes to court or whatever um you know there's possibility that um you know we'll have to send it to the lab and you know have analysis run and and u you know I don't know if the bullets still in it or if it was passed through or whatever but irregardless um you know just show that it was shot with that 308 that you said it was. So um that doesn't mean that you won't get it back. Um, basically anytime I take something into possession, um, it's not the conservation actually seizing it. It's property of the court in that county at that point. So, um, if they no longer need the gun, like after the case is disposed of, >> then, you know, I fill out a evidence, you know, return form or disposal form, and basically the judge and prosecutor decide what they want to do with that gun. And um I can't tell you, you know, what that will be, but typically if it's not a um you know, if it's not a a violator that continues to offend, um then most of the time that goes back to that, you know, to the person. Um now, if it's a gun that we've seized like three times, then they're probably not getting it back, right? So, >> um you know, they've got to got to learn their lesson at some point. So, >> um and I feel like that this has probably been a a real hard lesson for you, right? Yeah. Um, and you know, I I don't intend to to make it hard on you. Um, you know, when like I said, um, I I'll you know, I'm a I'm an easy guy to get along with, but I've also got a job to do. >> I know. >> And so, um, this is not something that we run into often. And so, we're just going to have to work through it together. Okay. >> All right. So, is that gun in the house or >> Yes, the gun is in the house. >> Okay. All right. Well, we'll go uh we'll load this cat up first. Um, then I'm going to uh sees the gun, I'll I'll give you a basically a number for that. Um and then um you know, just a more or less like a a tag that you hang on to that shows that you know, I've taken possession of personal property of yours. >> Um and then make sure that you you know, don't lose that or whatever. Just hang on to it, throw it in your wallet or you know, put it in a safe place once you get back home. >> Okay. Um, and then, uh, what I would like to do is I want to drive over there and just lay eyes on where this took place. And then at that point, as long as everything matches up, um, and you know, which I'm sure it will now that you've told me the truth, I don't think it would have before. Um, right. I mean, I've been doing this almost 20 years and, >> um, you know, I mean, I've looked at a lot of deer that have, you know, supposedly been shot here and, you know, how all that stuff goes. And so that's why I was hopeful that you would tell the truth because I knew I was getting a little bit of the truth but not the whole truth initially. Okay. >> Um so that's that's what I would like to do. We'll load this cat. I'll have you grab the gun. Um we'll fill out the seizure uh form for that and then um you know basically uh we'll just drive out there, take a you know quick look around and then um you know if I don't have anything further then you'll be free to go. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. And if Rodney's good with you just riding with me, I don't care, you know, to just transport you out there and >> Okay. >> Um, we can take a look at it and >> is that that fair enough? >> That's right. >> Um, or if he wants to go and you want to ride with him, I don't have an issue with that either. So, >> all right. >> How are you? >> Good. >> Nice and warm in there, Billy. I got chilled. I didn't put enough clothes on this morning. So, anyway, been about a 16- hour day now. So, you know how those go. >> Oh, yeah. >> Law enforcement, right? >> Yeah. >> So, >> yeah. And you got about what, >> 12 more days of it? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> 12 13 more days. >> 10 10 more days. So, >> Well, I know normally you guys go a little bit over sometimes. >> Yep. Yep. No, it'll it'll be busy. >> Then you get to take your vacation for a few days. Well, yeah, >> maybe. >> Yeah, maybe. >> Well, here's here's the deal. I mean, we visited um obviously, you know, the cat's going with me. Um >> and then what I would like to do is I want to run out there um and take a look at, you know, where it was shot. >> That's fine. >> Um and I told him if if you want to go I mean, it's your property, so you're certainly welcome to go. >> I have to get the key for the gates. >> Yeah. Yep. And if you don't, I mean, I can, you know, take him out there and drop him back off. I mean, if >> uh you know, whatever you want to do. I mean, basically there's um, you know, it's all out in the open at this point. I mean, um, and >> my my ask is that we don't embellish the story locally. Um, meaning, you know, that it was attacking her when she was going to the bathroom. >> No, all I all I done was I put that he was uh protecting his wife cuz the cat was stalking her a little bit. >> Gotcha. Well, >> cuz I did post that on Facebook. I'll let you know. I'm being truthful. >> Yeah. I would I would ask that you I mean, it's your Facebook page. You you do what you want. I would ask that you edit that because that's not the truth. Is that the truth? >> Okay. Um and so >> I'm sorry I was told. >> Yeah. Um anyway, all I'm asking is don't embellish it. Um you know, essentially what it was is heat of the moment. Oh my god, what is this thing? Shot it twice and then it's like now what? You know, and that that's what happened, right? Um, and so I don't I don't want to get a bad rap for, you know, something that I didn't do. I mean, I've got a job to do. You've been in my shoes. >> Um, and he he made a mistake. We all make mistakes. Um, but, uh, my point is is he wasn't protecting anybody or anything. Okay. >> Um, he shot a mountain lion. >> End the story. You know, >> I wasn't around there. >> I was off down in a hole, >> right? But I'm just saying, you know how that stuff goes. And it's like, "Oh my god, I can't believe the game board wrote that guy a ticket when he was protecting his wife, you know." >> Yeah. >> Well, when you're 15 foot in a tree, you know, um there there's no no protecting it as it's walking past you. So, get my drift. >> I get you. >> Okay. Well, let's load it up and uh >> get your cup out of the way. Yeah, cuz that can't handy. >> You care to drop my tailgate, Brett? Got it. >> Yeah. >> All right, let's set it down. >> Ready? >> Yeah. All right. >> Where are they all going? >> Where they going? >> Huh? So, it's big timber somewhere. I'm sure. >> I don't know if it's big timber or if it's what it is. >> Yeah. >> Where they're at. >> It's unloaded. >> It's unloaded. >> Okay. Like I told Joel, I said I'm pretty well under the assumption that it's going to be uh that they're chasing acres somewhere off, >> right? Yeah. >> It's just the luck of the draw. >> Well, it's a matter of finding that hot dough. >> Yeah. And then right in here somewhere. That's right. It started getting more and more and more >> and just kind of fell off this hill here just a little. I can find it. There it is. >> Yeah. >> It came down here. Turn the light down. Came down here. Come down there. >> Yep. >> Went down behind them tree tops down there. >> Yeah. >> And them cedars. I don't know if you can see it through your light. >> Yeah. I see the cedars. Yeah. >> Yeah. Over them two tall trees. >> Yeah. >> One down here and one over there. And right there by that cedar is where I found it. >> [snorts] >> That see cedar there or >> no that pine trees tall ones in the back. >> He's he's looking at the pine and saying they're cedars. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Yeah. >> There's a cedar to the left of it. But >> yeah. Okay. I'm just glad that you're getting them out and hunting. They are for sure. He died right here by the fence. What's that? >> Oh, he went on across that fence, didn't he? >> Yeah. >> Right here. Huh? >> All right. There's some blood right there. The first spot. Okay. All right, guys. That's all I need. >> Hobble back up the hill. >> Really? >> How's it going? >> Keep got >> What's the matter? >> She won't bite you. >> What's the matter? >> She's a big baby. >> Well, I'll get out of you guys hair. So, anyway, good luck. >> I'm just going to go get cleaned up and Yeah, if you don't mind, you can just hop in and All right. Um, so as I mentioned to you, um, for, you know, everything that has transpired here is with the mountain lion, um, you know, you're going to get one citation. Um, the citation is take protected species of wildlife. Okay, it is a class A misdemeanor. Um, it's not not a felony. Okay. Or and as I told you from you know uh day one there um you know not looking at arresting you and taking you to jail or whatever. But um obviously as I mentioned we can't just you know shoot things um for for no reason um that don't have a season and that you obviously don't have a permit for you know. So uh mountain lines are protected and as I mentioned to you the the ear tags are you know from Nebraska. So that thing took a pretty good hike. So, um, curious, you know, actually where it was tagged and and all that, and I don't have that information at this time, but, um, anyway, you're going to have a court date of February 20th of 25. Okay. I put it a little further out than I normally do just because of the holidays and all that stuff, you know, and um, but anyway, um, you'll have to appear. Um, it's a mandatory appearance, okay? And it'll be at 9:00 u in Ironton there at the courthouse. Okay. >> Okay. Um, make sure that you appear cuz you don't want to, you know, warn is of your arrest over over wildlife, right? So, um, I need your signature here. Understand that it's not a plea of guilt. It's just, uh, stating that you understand what you've been charged with and that you agreed to be here on February 20th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in >> Can you believe all the buzz around this? >> Oh my god. >> It's It's crazy, isn't it? Yeah, >> it's just unbelievable. Um, you know, I knew and that's kind of what I alluded to that evening, like I wanted to get here and hear your story before I hear, >> you know, 500 other people's. Um, you wouldn't believe, you know, how many calls and texts and, you know, stuff I've got and I'm like, "Yes, I'm I'm aware." >> Well, and, you know, I after we got out, I knew Rodney had posted something about it. >> Right. >> The next day, Kendra was uh my wife. >> Yeah. She came, she got up. I never even got on Facebook. I was like, I'm not I'm tired. >> I want to lay down. I want to go to sleep. I get up the next morning. >> She comes outside. I'm sitting there smoking a cigarette and she goes she shows me her phone. She had posted on Facebook and it got on um that buck hunters thing. >> And I'm [clears throat] like, now I really wish you wouldn't have done that because it's one thing to post private. >> Sure. where it's just in the community that's national. >> And do you realize how much >> hate we're going to get? >> People sending nasty comments and >> right, >> you know, it's like it's not it's not a matter of not, you know, I understand you wanted to post it, but why do something like that, >> right? >> You know, it's >> Yeah. Yeah. Honestly, some things are better left private, you know? You know, I I personally I didn't want to post it, but I can't control what everybody else does. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I get it. Um and it is what it is at this point, you know. I mean, it's out there and and you know, not that it's any you know, I mean, it it's one of those deals you're just going to have to work through and and you know, deal with the consequences and move forward. But, um >> you know, a year from now it's it's probably not going to be that big a deal. you know, um, right now, I mean, it feels like I'm sure the world's, you know, coming down on you. >> Um, but this time next year, deer season or whatever, it'll probably be something you look back and be like, man, I know what I'm not going to do. Yeah. >> You know what I mean? >> Um, but yeah, there's there's a lot of a lot of people that um are keyboard warriors. >> Yeah. >> And, you know, go to fire and um, you know, hate mail and, you know, comments and so forth and so on. But um again um you know to alleviate that in the future I would keep things private and not you know put it out for the world to see you know and >> um and that's kind of what I tried to express as I left that evening you know like hey you might want to edit that post or just delete it you know and then because I knew that you know I've been through >> you know stuff with elk and and a v you know bears and and different things that are kind I hope high-profile and uh they just blow up, you know. And anyway, I figured this probably would as well. So, um and it doesn't didn't help, you know. I mean, obviously, you know, from my standpoint, it's all just been internal, you know, informing my uh chain of command and and so forth and so on and and the agents in the area in case questions come up, you know. Uh and but outside of that, I mean, I think Facebook is what fueled the fire, you know. So, anyway, Um it's a great great thing to be able to communicate with people and and you know high school friends and you know college friends and that kind of stuff but often times in situations like this it just makes matters worse. >> So anyway, >> but well this is your copy. Um and you've got my number. So just uh you know program that into your phone if you haven't already. And you know, if anything surfaces between now and then that you have questions about or you know, want to visit about, just give me a shout. But like I said, at this point, it's essentially out of my hands. You know, I'm just a factf finder and I present the facts to the court and um I mean, pretty cut and dry, you know, as to what went on, what went down and um but obviously you'll have the the opportunity to to, you know, plead your case there on, you know, the the 20th if you wish to do so. So, um, anyway, if you don't have any questions for me, then you're free to go and, um, wish you the best of luck the rest of season and I do think that it'll actually get better. Well, good luck to you and hate that we had to cross paths, you know, this way. Um, but rest assured, you know, you did the the right thing as far as calling. I know that you were probably torn in the, you know, like what what do I do? Um but um you know again as I told you that evening like that's not something you want to walk away from or you know pretend didn't happen because eventually it'll come out and and I can promise you the the outcome would have been a whole lot worse. So um now with that said if you would have let the sucker just continue walking um you know neither one of us would have been here in this situation you know so but we're all humans. We all make mistakes and we just learn from it and move forward. Mhm. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> All right, man. >> All right. >> Take care. >> You, too. Good luck this season. >> All right. Thank you. >> Through the course of the investigation, it was later determined that the mountain lion was tagged in 2023 when it was only 4 weeks old. The mountain lion ultimately died almost 800 m away from where it was originally tagged. In the end, Joseph was charged with taking or possessing a protected species of wildlife. He plead guilty to the charge and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. Points were assessed against his license and he was suspended from hunting for one year. His rifle was later returned to him by the courts. If you like this video and want to see more like it, subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching.