Pro Golfer Charged With Killing Protected Bird With Golf Ball
Incident Happened During Taping Of Show
POSTED: Thursday, March 6, 2008
UPDATED: 4:18 pm EST March 6,
2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- PGA tour golfer Tripp Isenhour has been charged in Orlando with intentionally killing a protected bird with a golf shot from about 75 yards away.
The incident happened in December at Grand Cypress Golf Club while Isenhour, 39, was filming a video segment for his television show "Shoot Like A Pro."
Prosecutors said a red-shouldered hawk was making noise, forcing a video crew to film another take.
Isenhour, who earned nearly $500,000 on the PGA tour in 2007, initially attempted to hit the bird from about 300 yards away, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report obtained by Web site The Smoking Gun.
Those attempts failed, but the hawk flew to a tree closer to Isenhour and again began chirping, prompting Isenhour to say, "I'll get him now," according to the report.
After about 10 shots, Isenhour struck the hawk, knocking it out of the tree and about 30 feet to the ground, the report stated.
According to the report, Isenhour said "I didn't think I would hit it" after striking the hawk.
A witness said the bird fell to the ground, bleeding from both its nostrils. The species is protected as a migratory bird.
The golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.
Court records do not list an attorney for Isenhour.
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