Story by Lone Star Outdoor News, Photo from U.S. Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Texas

Four men were sentenced for an exotic hunt taken illegally from a helicopter.

In federal court in Laredo, Cody Morganthaler, of Oklahoma, and Edelmiro Martinez, Eduardo Lopez and Inocente Sanchez, each of Laredo, were sentenced to one year of probation.

According to prosecutors, Martinez owned Laredo Hunting Resort and Sanchez was the helicopter pilot. Lopez helped organize the $12,000 hunt, taken in 2017. During the hunt, Morganthaler killed four antelope and sheep.

Each of the defendants pleaded guilty to violating federal law that bans using aircraft to shoot animals for sport. Morganthaler, Martinez and Lopez were fined $5,000, and Sanchez was fined $2,500.

“The circumstances in this particular case would make any sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts furious,” Texas Game Warden Kevin Winters told CBS Channel 11 in Dallas. “The fact that these individuals organized a trophy hunt from a helicopter, which resulted in the harvesting of a trophy aoudad and blackbuck, is unethical and is a violation of both state and federal laws.”

While feral hogs can be hunted from aircraft in Texas, applicable permits are required. “Sport hunting” from aircraft is explicitly prohibited by the federal Airborne Hunting Act.