BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officers cited four hunters in separate Martin County cases after investigators said the men harvested deer without the required licenses or permits.

Kaiden Pierce Prater of Salyersville, James Mason Gordon of Inez, Johnny M. Meade of Inez and Michael Dale Dingess of Tomahawk face charges of illegal take or pursuit of deer or wild turkey and resident hunting or trapping without a license or permit. Prater also faces a charge of hunting without a hunter education course completion card.

Prater case

For Prater the citation came Feb. 24 on Davis Branch in Debord after a wildlife officer investigated the harvest of a buck deer taken during the 2025 season.

KDFWR Game Warden Stone Harris interviewed Prater about a buck harvested Nov. 8, 2025. During the interview, Prater allegedly admitted killing a 10-point buck that day and said he had forgotten to purchase his deer permit before hunting.

The citation states Prater later purchased the permit after harvesting the deer and did not possess a hunter education course completion card.

Prater is to appear in the Martin District Court at 9 a.m. March 30.

Gordon case

In a second case, Harris cited Gordon Feb. 28 at Zip Zone Express in Inez after determining Gordon had harvested a deer before obtaining the proper license and permit.

According to the citation, Gordon harvested an 8-point buck Nov. 11, 2025, and checked the deer Nov. 18, 2025. Investigators said Gordon had not purchased a hunting license or deer permit before harvesting the animal.

Gordon is on the docket for Martin District Court at 9 a.m. March 30.

Meade case

In a third case, Harris cited Meade Feb. 28 on Moore Branch in Inez after investigating the harvest of another deer taken during the 2025 season.

Authorities said Meade harvested an 8-point buck Nov. 18, 2025, but failed to purchase a hunting license and deer permit beforehand. Investigators said Meade later purchased the license and permit after taking the deer.

Meade’s date in the Martin District Court is March 23 at 9 a.m.

Dingess case

In the fourth and latest case, Dingess allegedly harvested an 8-point buck Nov. 13, 2025, on Alpha Branch in Martin County while not possessing a Kentucky hunting license or deer permit.

According to the citation, Dingess told KDFWR Sgt. John Fields that he had purchased his license and tag. However, Sgt. Fields noted the purchase was not visible on Dingess’ profile. He also said Dingess was unable to produce a license or tag.

Dingess is on the Martin District Court docket at 9 a.m. April 20.

All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.