Rogue Hunters Give New Meaning to the tune: “Jimmy Cracked Corn”

Fourteen hunters in Western Maryland were charged in the opening days of spring turkey season with hunting over bait.

WESTERN MARYLAND — Some of those out to hunt wild turkeys in Western Maryland are headed for court and will likely be paying big fines for showing that they are allegedly a bunch of cheats who refused to abide by the rules and regulations of hunting season. Perhaps they will find better values in the meat section of the local grocery store or by simply visiting one of the many Maryland turkey farms to buy a turkey. One can count on the cost per pound in the grocery store will be less than the cost per pound of the fines laid down by the court.

Here are the latest scores in the battle of the woods between rogue hunters and the NRP Officers:

In Garrett County, Patricia Kay Demoss, 58, and Donald Dorsey Pyles, 64, both of Oakland, were charged on April 18 after officers found them hunting near two corn feeders at 6:30 a.m. They are scheduled to appear in Garrett District Court on May 22. Hunting over bait carries a maximum fine of $1,500.

Later that same day, officers charged four hunters on private property near Barton for hunting over cracked corn: Charles Herman Leiss Jr., 59, Donna Kaye Walter, 47, and David Paul Walter, 52, all of Baltimore. Another member of the hunting party, Brian Matthew Leiss, 35, of Rosedale, was charged with hunting over bait and hunting without a license, which also carries a maximum fine of $1,500. All four hunters are scheduled to appear in Garrett District Court on July 23.

In Allegany County, Dale William Durbin, 53, of Cumberland, was charged at 6:30 a.m. on the opening day of the season. He also received warnings for hunting turkey with an unplugged shotgun, hunting on private land without written permission and failing to place a confirmation number on his Big Game Harvest Record. Durbin is scheduled to appear in Allegany District Court on June 9.

In a separate incident, Shawn Edward Golden, 34, of Frederick, was charged with illegal baiting and with placing bait in a Chronic Wasting Disease Area. He is scheduled to appear in Allegany District Court on June 11. If found guilty of both charges, he could be fined as much as $750.

In Washington County, Zachary Hunter Clipp, 19, of Clear Spring was charged at 7 a.m. on opening day after officers saw him in an area that had been baited with corn before the start of the season. He is schedule to appear in district court on June 9.

Near the Gambrills State Park campground in Frederick County, officers found two hunters positioned near decoys and two baited areas on April 18.

Michael Lee Crouse, 41 and Harry Lee Wachter, 71, both of Frederick, received citations. Watcher also was charged with failing to carry a second form of identification and received a warning for hunting within a safety zone.

Officers on patrol in Carroll County before the turkey season started found four areas strewn with whole-kernel corn. Returning on opening day, they encountered Brinley Robert Fried Jr., of Dundalk walking out of the woods toward his truck.

Fried told officers the corn was for deer and later said he had scattered corn on the ground two weeks before the season.

Guided by Fried to his blind, officers found whole-kernel corn and turkey scratch marks in the dirt. Under state law, all corn must be removed from a hunting area for 10 days before the area is hunted.

In addition to the baiting charge, Fried was cited for hunting turkeys with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, an offense carrying a maximum fine of $1,500. ($50 per pound for a 30 pound turkey)

Fried is scheduled to appear in Carroll District Court on July 16.

Officers in Frederick County responding to a complaint, located an area that was baited for Turkey.  Officers observed, Kenneth Radford Sweeney, 55 of Thurmont, MD spreading sunflower seeds near his hunting blind.  Officers issued citations to Sweeney for hunting wild turkey with the aid of bait.

In addition to the baiting charge, Sweeney was cited for hunting turkeys with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, an offense carrying a maximum fine of $1,500.

Sweeney is scheduled to appear in Frederick County District Court on June 18.

The origin to the tune Jimmy Crack Corn (from Wikipedia)

Jim Crack Corn! I Don’t Care. (1847)^[13]
If you should go in summer time,

To Souf Carolina sultra clime,^[15]

And in de shade you chance to lie,

You’ll soon find but dat blue tail fly.

Jim crack corn I don’t care!

Jim crack corn! I don’t care.

For massa me gave away.

When I was young I used to wait,

On massa’s table and hand de plate,

I’d pass the bottle when he dry,

An brush away de blue tail fly.

Jim crack, &c.

When ole massa take his sleep,

He bid dis nigga sight to keep,

And when he gows to shut his eye,

He tell me watch dat blue tail fly.

Jim crack, &c.

Ole massa ride in arternoon,

I follow arter wid a hickory broom,

De pony he is bery shy,

Kase he bitten by de blue tail fly.

Jim crack, &c. De pony run dar jump an pitch,

He trowed ole massa in the ditch,

He died an de Jury all did cry,

Dat de verdict was de blue tail fly.

Jim crack, &c.

Ole massa’s dead now let him rest,

Dey say all tings am for de best,

I nebber shall forget till the day I die,

Ole massa and de blue tail fly.

Jim crack, &c.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1288/who-is-jimmy-and-why-does-he-crack-corn