Keith Lusher 01.02.26
An investigation sparked by a tip from the public uncovered a wide-ranging wildlife poaching operation in Middle Tennessee that ultimately led to guilty pleas and severe penalties for two men, including a lifetime ban from hunting.
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, game wardens in Wilson and Rutherford counties began looking into suspected poaching activity near the county line in the fall of 2024. The tip prompted wardens to dig deeper, eventually identifying Robert E. Comer and Carson Smith as the individuals involved.
Investigators determined the pair had been illegally harvesting white-tailed deer and selling or trading deer meat, violations that strike at the core of wildlife conservation laws. Authorities said Comer was already under a three-year hunting license revocation at the time of the investigation due to previous poaching offenses in Tennessee.
As the case developed, wildlife officers executed multiple search warrants that revealed the scale of the activity. Wardens seized 50 white-tailed deer heads and antlers, along with the head of a wild turkey and an illegally possessed fox squirrel. A rifle, muzzleloader, and crossbow believed to have been used in the violations were also confiscated.
Comer later pleaded guilty to two felony counts related to the possession and trafficking of protected wildlife, along with additional charges tied to the illegal taking of wildlife and hunting while under revocation.
The court sentenced him to 60 days in jail and ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution, which included penalties connected to a prior conviction. He was also permanently barred from hunting, fishing, or trapping and is prohibited for life from entering any lands managed or controlled by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Smith pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife violations, including illegal take and possession of wildlife, exceeding statewide big game season and bag limits, and failing to properly tag harvested game. His sentence included a three-year revocation of his hunting privileges.
Wildlife officials say the case highlights the importance of public involvement in protecting Tennessee’s natural resources. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency encourages anyone who witnesses or has information about hunting or fishing violations to report them through the state’s poaching hotline.
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