Tripp Isenhour, PGA Golfer, Charged With Killing Hawk

PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show. Isenhour was with a film crew for "Shoot Like A Pro" on Dec. 12 at the Grand Cypress Golf course. The 39-year-old golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged Wednesday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

According to court documents, Isenhour got upset when a red-shouldered hawk began making noise, forcing another take. He began hitting balls at the bird, then 300 yards away, but gave up.

Isenhour started again when the hawk moved within about 75 yards, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine indicated in a report.

Isenhour allegedly said "I'll get him now," and aimed for the hawk.

Keep reading

Read more on Isenhour's career

Watch a short video on the red shouldered hawk, a "natural vocalizer" (read: noisy).

Read more about the red shouldered hawk here

Comments

[Dalila1542]

What a pig. Seriously, what is wrong with some people. The legal penalty is not enough for such an awful and clueless deed. Hopefully he will absorb the scorn from the public that he so deserves.

[williamscody]

Yeah...kee­p telling yourself that. Nobody cares.

[doug108]

He's a rich white guy playing a rich man's game living in a country of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. He'll get a fine and that's it. Probably won't even lose any fans.

[ChristianEcon.com]

Sad but true.

[ttjenny]

Don't insult the hawk....la­ffin's heard is worth much less than hawks.....­a single lady , real ,from black century com

[wmbear]

WOULD TIGER WOODS EVER DO SUCH A THING?...

I seriously doubt it. Tiger's got too much class -- and brains....

[wmbear]

TOO BAD THE HAWK WASN'T...

The political variety...­.

[williamscody]

Der-her-he­r-her-her-­her-her! Gorsh, you are so fuuuuuuuuuuuuny!

[swokm]

It is a pretty impressive shot. And completely stupid. I say fine him enough to pay for adding land to a red-shouldered hawk habitat + enough cash to care for, breed, and monitor a pair and their young. Then stand him 75 yards away from Tiger Woods and have him drive as hard as possible into Mr. Isenhour's forehead. Or, perhaps, crotch -- keep him guessing. I think that would be perfectly fair and reasonable, no costly (to the state) jail time required.

[FeloniouslyAnnoying]

I like it. Sounds very fair to me.

[Annette]

Great idea!!

[cdnnewsjunky]

Somebody should have told this poor bastard, Hell is full of hawks.

[galouie]

What a JERK!!! Hope he gets maximum jail and fine. PGA should also come down with a very stiff! penalty!

[williamscody]

Someone's life should be ruined for hitting a bird (of all things) with a golfball? Ehhhhh, what is wrong with America?

[Rosanneofpgh]

His life should be ruined for DELIBERATELY aiming at and killing a hawk. If it had been an accident, that would be different. Deliberate cruelty to animals is disgusting and usually presages cruelty to humans. I wonder if that cretin abuses his wife and children???

[Annette]

He did it on purpose, spent a lot of time hitting balls at the bird. What is wrong with Americas is that people do not believe in obeying the law. One might also add people who golf often seem to have no sense of proportion. A bird squaks and they have to kill it. Good thing it wasn't a small child who doesn't understand the sacredness of golf.

[PingMama]

It's a Federally Protected Bird.

[kingfishstew]

I just wish people got as upset about people killing people as they do about people killing animals.

[abbiehoffmansghost]

They do.

[LoRiseAntlers]

No they don't.Mich­ael Vick got more press for killing dogs than almost every murder victim in this country got last year combined.

[Phidippides]

If only everyone thought exactly as you did, and never had any other concerns to compete with yours.
If only everyone was as high-minded.

[ChristianEcon.com]

I wish people cared as much about people as they do about being parrots of dumb right-wing sayings.

[fcsakes]

They do. Pay attention.

[Roopez123]

Schmuck.

[Kundera]

Waiting period before you can buy a golf club?

[chumleypotts]

Who sold him that golf club? Did he purchase it at a legitimate pro shop, or was the club stolen?
Can his caddy be implicated as an accessory? Since this murder sounds premeditated, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Boris]

If it was a 9 iron, there is a four day waiting period in New Jersey.

I live next door to a bird refuge with a lot of hawks and eagles. These raptors are so jumpy, you couldnt hit them with a shotgun, let alone a 9 iron. This bird was defective, just too slow and, obviously, not genetically good enough to be left to breed. I think this may be part of the grand design...y­ou know, natural selection.

[blindjester]

Not every story is about gun control.

But if 30,000 more hawks get golfed down this year, you'll have a point.

[patanderson]

What a damn fool. Why didn't he just send his caddy to try and frighten the bird away? He should be prosecuted to the full extent.

[Irish53]

As an avid golfer I can only say this - Shame on you Tripp. You do not deserve a PGA card - ever. Your reprehensible action deserves jail time and a hefty fine too.

[KOisGod]

Stupid ass golfer meets even stupider bird. If that hawk didn't get a clue the dude was out for him at 300 yards, and then moved in closer, and hung around until he was struck by a ball after repeated attempts, I'm thinking that bird had a death wish.

I killed a black bird once with a tee shot, it was purely a matter of bird and ball meeting in mid-air, nothing intentional on my part. I felt shitty for the rest of the round.

[jadez]

hehe
just guessing but. i feel confident that you are showing integrity in your ability to play golf.

we players all know no way a golf game could evoke such anger as to want to kill.

[KOisGod]

You haven't played with my brother...­.

[nellie]

If you'd ever been anywhere near a hawk or handled one, you would know this is an utterly fearless and proud wonder of nature. No hawk would have anything but contempt for a creature like Tripp.

[mamacat]

If the bird moved in closer, it is possible it had built a nest nearby, and was worried about a threat to that. As long as it did not attack anyone (not likely), it could have been a pleasant diversion for those using the golf course.

[grisgris]

What a jerk. "Tripp" looks like a real tool. I'll bet that's not his only brush with violence.

[JustinKase]

What are the odds of a pro golfer placing an airborne shot inside a 6 x 12 in target at 75 yards? I'm just curious.

[martinchill]

"these guys are good."

[jahzilla]

Quite feasible, when you just stand there and take as many shots as it takes. This was the "cruelty to animals" portion of the indictment. Had he used just one shot, albeit intentional, "statistical probabilities" (argued by a good lawyer) likely could've eliminated that particular charge.

[Idiocracy]

Agreed.
Finally an intelligent reply.

Man, its getting real thin on reasonable intelligence here at the huff lately.

[JessWonderin]

That is the esence of his actions . . . it wasn't a "pissed off' response, but a cold calulated intentional REPEATED attack . . . no sympahy for the putz, may the PGA or his SHOW SPONSORS hear from the folks . . . .

Maybe his exposed balls ought to be hung into a hungary hawk's cage? Would make a great Jackass Episode and somehow poetic . . . ball kills hawk, hawk kills balls.

[surfcitysteven]

He didn't have to but in a circle like a mortar round. It could be a line drive and the odds were pretty good that a progolfer who continuously shot at a target until he hit it, would eventually hit it.