Undercover humane officer reported practice

MANHEIM -- A sportsmen's club pleaded no contest Friday to charges that it violated animal-cruelty laws by using dozens of live turkeys as targets in an archery contest.

The Elstonville Sportsmen's Association was fined $400 and ordered to pay court costs for eight summary violations involving the cruel treatment of animals and offering live animals as prizes in a contest. Authorities said about 40 domestic turkeys were killed in the Sept. 9 contest.

Sportsmen's club fined for using live turkeys as targets

Participants paid $12 for three attempts to shoot at the birds, which were secured to straw bales at their feet but able to flap their wings. Archers who drew blood won the birds, authorities said.

The club was charged after a humane officer with the animal welfare agency Farm Sanctuary of Pennsylvania, who was working undercover as a club member's guest, took photographs of the action and reported it to state police.

Since the event, the club has elected new leaders who have adopted a rule forbidding the use of "any living entity" as a target, the club said in a statement issued through its attorney.

"Although we did not set out to cruelly mistreat the animals involved nor did we intentionally violate the laws of the Commonwealth, we have chosen to plead 'no contest' ... in order to put this matter behind us and focus on restoring our reputation as responsible citizens and sportsmen," the club said.

Christine Wilson, a Lancaster County assistant district attorney, said she hoped the fine imposed by District Judge John C. Winters would deter the club from holding similar contests in the future.

"The club's conduct was egregious that day, and they've now been held accountable," she said.

The undercover officer, Keith Mohler, said the club's plea is "an acknowledgment of guilt and responsibility for unacceptable and illegal behavior."