A Crossville hunter cleared to take part in this year's elk hunt is accused of killing a bull in the wrong zone, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Timothy C. Copeland, 56, faces four violations: shooting from a public road, hunting from a vehicle, hunting in a closed area and possession of illegally killed big game. He's set to appear Nov. 15 in Campbell County General Sessions Court.
If convicted Copeland could face up to an $8,000 fine, loss of his hunting license and perhaps the loss of his Browning .30-06 rifle.
Copeland had won a state drawing to take part in an elk hunt in the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area.
On Tuesday night, he was in what's identified as Elk Zone 2 of the management area, near Adkins Mountain, according to the TWRA. He was cleared, however, to hunt in Elk Zone 5, according to the TWRA.
According to the agency, Copeland saw the bull while driving a truck. He got out and shot it.
"Mr. Copeland and two accompanying hunters took the elk to the NCWMA headquarters for analysis by TWRA, and biologists became concerned when Mr. Copeland could not produce accurate GPS coordinates for the location of the kill," a news release from TWRA states.
TWRA began investigating Wednesday morning. The elk's carcass, weighing 580 pounds, had been taken to a Crossville meat processor but now is being held by authorities.
Copeland's rifle also was seized.
