Two Wrestlers Suspended for Hunting Rabbits

Two University of Iowa freshman wrestlers were suspended from the team this week because they illegally hunted rabbits to make rabbit-skin caps, according to an article on macon.com.



Connor Ryan and Alex Meyer were arrested Tuesday night after campus security reported the two near the nursing building of the University of Iowa Campus. One of them had a gun, according to the police report.



Police found them in their residence hall and searched their dormitory room, finding an unspecified number of rabbit skins.

The two admitted to hunting rabbits on campus using air rifles. They stated that they went hunting two nights with friends in order to get rabbit skins so that they could make hats.

The policed seized at least two air rifles from the two.

The rifles are not allowed on the University of Iowa Campus. In addition, the two violated a city code as well by discharging the rifles within the city. Both are facing a misdemeanor charge for this. They also violated a state law against hunting after dark, which carries a fine.

Meyer was cited for hunting without a license as well, which is an added fine.

Because of the arrests and charges, the two wrestlers were suspended from the team by athletic director Gary Barta, and will potentially face discipline on campus in addition to the city and state violations.

According to the spokesman for the State Department of Natural Resources, rabbits are in season and the two could have found a place outside the city and off campus to do their hunting instead of in town and would have avoided the trouble.
Please login to post.