News Release

Retiring FWC lieutenant makes unusual case

October 22, 2007
Contact: Lt. Jeff Hahr, 850-265-3676

Lt. Jeff Hahr retires from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in two weeks after a 34-year career enforcing fish and wildlife laws.

Even after working all over the state and making thousands of arrests during his career, an incident that occurred on Saturday, Oct. 13, may represent one of the more unusual cases in his tenure with FWC.

Hahr, who supervises FWC law enforcement officers in Walton and Okaloosa counties, patrolled on the east side of Walton County on the afternoon of Oct. 13. He decided to cross Highway 2 into Holmes County, and continue his patrol south along the Choctawhatchee River.

He turned onto Mount Ida Road about 3:30 p.m. and traveled only a short distance when he topped a small hill and saw a man standing in the road holding a flapping, struggling wild turkey in each hand.

“When he saw me, he turned the birds loose, and they flew and then landed in a pasture where they began running away,” Hahr said.  “The guy tried to get in his truck and leave like nothing happened, but I stopped him.”

Johnny Lloyd Lumpkin, 45, Westville, told Hahr he was driving along the dirt road when he saw a drove of turkeys attempt to cross the road.  The sound of the truck startled the birds and two ended up entangled in a fence, Lumpkin said.

“I couldn’t resist the temptation,” he told Hahr.  “They were going to be dinner.”

Lumpkin was charged with taking or attempting to take turkeys during the closed season.  The charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and a year imprisonment.

“Had I been 60 seconds later, those turkeys would have been history.  They’d have been in his dog box, and he’d have been gone,” Hahr said. “I’m glad I came along when I did.” 

Holmes County was closed to turkey hunting in 1998, and the county restocked the wild turkey population.  Landowners, hunting groups, the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and local residents worked with the FWC to protect the birds and expand the population.

Limited spring turkey hunting has been allowed during a three-day season since 2006 in Holmes County.

Violations of any wildlife or fish laws can be reported to the Wildlife Alert number, 888-404-3922.  Callers may remain anonymous.