ILLINOIS — A federal judge has ordered the closure of a well-known waterfowl hunting club in southern Illinois after its owner admitted to illegally baiting ducks during the 2020–2021 hunting season. The club, owned by 67-year-old Hugh Burns, will be shuttered for two years and must pay over $60,000 in penalties following a guilty plea in U.S. District Court for Southern Illinois.
Club Used Corn to Illegally Attract Waterfowl
According to court documents, Burns and his co-defendant, Michael McKinney, 52, were charged with violations of the Lacey Act, which prohibits the unlawful sale of wildlife. Both men pleaded guilty — Burns on March 27, and McKinney on April 17.
The men were accused of scattering corn to attract ducks onto club property. On January 9, 2021, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents and Illinois Department of Natural Resources officials observed McKinney distributing bait directly into hunting areas.
Two days later, on January 11, club members were guided to the baited pits and proceeded to hunt at least seven migratory birds, which violated both federal and state wildlife laws.
Legal Consequences and Restitution
As part of his sentence, Burns was ordered to pay:
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$11,000 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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$50,000 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
He will also serve two years of probation, during which he is barred from hunting or providing any guiding services.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft condemned the baiting operation in a written statement, saying:
“Baiting a duck hunting landscape is like other forms of illegal poaching, which disadvantages honest hunters and violates federal law.”
He emphasized that the court’s ruling reaffirms the importance of ethical and legal hunting practices across Illinois.
Broader Context of Hunting Violations in the State
This is not the first high-profile baiting case in Illinois. In 2020, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Danny Cox and Freeburg Mayor Seth Speiser were both investigated for allegedly baiting deer and improperly issuing out-of-state hunting permits. Those cases remain unresolved and are still in litigation.
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