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

[imusintheevening]

he should get jailed for that birdie!

[jsarets]

He'd probably get along famously with our president:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpJrkruusK4

Now watch this drive!

[johnnycanuck]

It must have been a lucky shot ... it's extremely difficult to be that accurate..pro , or not. I think he should get a hefty fine but no jail time.

[JessWonderin]

"LUCK" . . . you did read "repeated" shots at it . . . seems "luck" increases with frequency and skill . . . he INTENDED harm, let him learn what a "hole-in-one" means in jail . . .

[McJeff]

NOW he's remorseful. He says he's an animal lover. If so, why was he even launching any golf balls AT ALL towards the poor bird. Dipshit.
I love to golf, but golf courses are a real environmental disaster. The hawk had way more right to be there than he did. The course is probably ancient territory, and the hawk was pushed out so (mostly male) humans could swing at a round object with a stick! Losers.
Play it the ancient Scottish way, ya wimps! Roughs only.
And this guy should be hit with a much larger fine. Adopting three cats, whoop de doo!

[Bearcat75]

Remorse my a$$. If the PGA had any guts, they would throw him off the tour. I say, lock this yuppie scum SOB up for as long as the law allows. What a piece of dogcr@p!!!

[FrankFurter]

Yep, they should pull his ticket for three years or more.

[DRaymond]

Also the article suggest that he be forced to spend some time at an Audobon center. No, hit him with the full 10K fine. The center could get a couple of months of somebody who was both skilled and caring at that price.

[Cubancoffee]

This reminds me of the Andy Griffith Show episode where Opie kills the mama bird with his slingshot. Maybe Isenhour will adopt the hawk's chicks -- Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod? -- until they're old enough to fly.

[eatsleepswim]

Right On!

[Portmanteaux]

I watched a guy drive a shot straight at a goose at Cog Hill outside Chicago years ago....I was with a prospective client at the time. I yelled at the guy who took the shot. Geese are majestic birds. I wish I had called the cops. My client said he understood my anger. He was an animal lover too. We ended up doing business together. I still get angry thinking about that guy hitting the goose. Hope this sends a message.

[MagnaCarta]

Mandann beat me to it. What a shallow, hidious brain this golfer has. 8th circle of hell for him.

[dotmafia]

Throw his a** in jail for the maximum.

[gcallaghan]

Did that count as a birdie on that hole?

[Counterglow]

More like an eagle.

[manndan]

What an ahole. Probably like most of the guys on the tour. A class act would probably just be bemused and maybe shoo the bird away.

[handyallen1]

not cool hope he gets the full sentence what an a hole to kill a living thing on a golf course he shames all golfers and i am ashamed