Vermilion man charged after bear found shot to death

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a southwestern Louisiana man on March 19 for allegedly illegally taking a Louisiana black bear in Vermilion Parish.
Agents cited Shannon R. Parker, 50, Abbeville, for taking a bear during a closed season and failing to comply with wild quadruped times and methods of taking.
Agents received information that a black bear was killed near the Palmetto State Park on private land in early March. Agents located the deceased female bear, which was about 10 years old and weighed about 200 pounds.
A necropsy was conducted on the deceased bear and it revealed the bear was shot with a high-powered rifle on or about Feb. 28 or March 1.
Agents made contact with Parker on March 19 and during questioning, he admitted to taking a black bear at night with his .270 rifle around Feb. 28.
Parker said he shot at a dark silhouette that he believed was a wild hog and failed to identify his target prior to firing his rifle.