Tennessee poachers plead guilty in ‘monumental’ turkey case

Dyersburg, Tenn. — Five hunters from west Tennessee and one Mississippi hunter recently pleaded guilty to various violations related to turkey hunting.

As part of their penalties, they were ordered to pay $16,000 in restitution, along with potential fines and costs that could amount to $6,000.

Furthermore, the hunters have forfeited 79 turkey beards, 17 turkey fans, one white turkey, four shotguns, and one compound bow, according to an April 8 press release from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The five Tennessee hunters were ordered to pay $15,000 between them, while the Mississippi hunter was ordered to pay $1,000.

Amy Snider-Spencer, a spokesperson for the TWRA, called the poaching “a monumental case,” and a “blatant disregard for the rules.”

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All six hunters, ages ranging from 18 to 25 years old, pleaded guilty to at least one big game tagging violation and one count of illegal possession.

One of the hunters, 20-year-old Tyler Madden from Dyersburg, pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including 10 counts of illegal possession, seven counts of statewide wild turkey bag limit violation, and a count each of hunting without permission, hunting from a public road violation and hunting from a motor vehicle violation.

Those last two charges typically indicate an individual shot an animal while riding in a car on a public road, Snider-Spencer said.

“They are stealing from all the sportsmen and women of Tennessee,” she said.

“When you’re killing over the limit, you’re going on someone else’s property, you’re stealing the resources from all the other sportsmen and women,” Snider-Spencer said.

In Tennessee, the spring season bag limit for wild turkey is two.

Madden pleaded guilty in three different judicial districts: Dyer, Madison, and Crockett counties.

The investigation was open from October 2024 to May 2025, Snider-Spencer said.

Madden is required to pay $10,000 in restitution and will forfeit his hunting privileges for eight years.