Hunting guides get probation, $1,000 fine for violating migratory bird law

Two area hunting guides were sentenced Wednesday for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act during 2011 hunts in Reno County, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Tanner Cox, 25, of Wichita and Lane Hensley, 28, of Liberal were sentenced to one-year unsupervised probation and a fine of $1,000.

Both men were employed at Misty Morning Outfitters in Haven when they committed their offenses, according to the release.

Hensley admitted his crime occurred on Dec. 15, 2011, when he took two undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents on a hunt, during which he exceeded the daily bag limit of three Canada geese.

Cox admitted to exceeding the daily bag limit of 15 mourning doves on a Reno County hunt on Sept. 1 and 2, 2011.

Misty Morning’s owner, Ryan Warden, was sentenced to five years’ probation, a fine of $2,500 and restitution of $5,000. During his five-year probation, Warden is not allowed to hunt, fish, trap or accompany anyone performing those activities, according to the release.

Misty Morning Outfitters advertises itself on Facebook as being “a commercial guide service located in central Kansas,” specializing in Rio Grande turkeys and monster whitetails.

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 6:29 AM with the headline "Hunting guides get probation, $1,000 fine for violating migratory bird law."