Bakersfield man charged after reportedly killing black bear illegally with a crossbow

When Missouri conservation agents followed up on a tip that a black bear had been killed near Udall, they discovered more than just a rumor - they found packages of bear meat labeled as “deer” in the freezer and a confession, they say. Now, 39-year-old Curtis Hastings is charged in Ozark County court with illegally killing the bear, hunting deer over bait and trapping without a permit.

According to the probable cause statement prepared by MDC Agent Tom Leeker, on Thursday, Oct. 2, he spoke with two people separately on the phone regarding a bear being killed in the Udall area.

“Both individuals gave me the name of the suspect, Curtis Hastings, a Udall resident,” Leeker’s report says. “Neither of the [reporting parties] had any evidence that a bear had been killed but were both confident that it happened.”

Leeker said that he and MDC Cpl. Mark Henry went to Hasting’s home in Udall around 8:30 a.m. Oct. 3, to confront him about the allegations. Hastings reportedly met the officers in the front yard. It was there that they asked him about the bear. 

“After briefly denying that he had any knowledge of a bear being killed, he admitted that he shot the bear with a crossbow around 7:15 a.m. on [Sept. 27] from his ground blind while he was deer hunting. He then told us that he hauled the bear out on his ATV and then took it to his friend’s [name redacted] house, where they skinned the bear,” Leeker’s report states. “He said he left the bear skull at [the friend’s] house. He then brought the bear home to process the meat, which he labeled as deer meat on the freezer bags he used...”

Leeker said that the officers retrieved the meat and bear hide from the friend’s home then went to Hastings’ deer blind on property off O Highway. The agents found corn scattered in front of the hunting blind. Hastings reportedly said he had been baiting the area since June, even though he knew it was illegal to hunt deer over bait. The officers also noted that two foot-hold traps were set for raccoons, although Hastings did not have a trapping permit. The bear skull had been returned to the house when the officers arrived back there.

Hastings is charged with killing a black bear illegally, attempting to take deer with bait and trapping without a trapping permit. All are class A misdemeanors, which could carry up a sentence of up to one year in the county jail, up to $2,000 fine or both imprisonment and a fine. He is ordered to appear in Ozark County court at 9 a.m. Dec. 9, before Associate Judge Raymond Gross for the charges. 

Bear hunting in Missouri

Although Hastings is alleged to have illegally killed the bear (as the incident was out of season and he did not have a permit), Missouri does allow bear hunting. 

The first regulated season was held October 2021, following the successful restoration of Missouri’s black bear population, which had declined to extirpation in the early 1900s. 

The 2025 season runs from Oct. 18-31, and those interested had to apply for a random drawing lottery, which determined who was allowed to buy tags and participate. There were 200 hunters drawn for tags in bear management zone 1, which incorporates Ozark County and areas in 14 other counties (whole or partial). The zone stretches along the southern part of the state from far southwest Missouri at the Oklahoma border to the western half of Howell County. 

There are also strict bear harvest quotas for each management zone. In bear management zone 1, only 20 bears can be harvested. Once the quota is met, all hunters with tags have to cease bear hunting efforts.

Baiting deer over corn

The use of bait, including corn, grain or other feed placed or scattered to attract deer or turkey, is prohibited in Ozark County. The regulations are in place to help limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer and to ensure fair chase.

Hunters should be aware of and follow these baiting regulations:

• An area is considered baited for 10 days after complete removal of the bait.

• A hunter can be in violation if they take or attempt to take a deer by the aid of bait where the hunter knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited.

• It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.

• Doe urine and other scents may be used to attract deer while hunting if the scents are not used on or with grain or other food products.

• Mineral blocks, including salt, are not considered bait. However, mineral blocks that contain grain or other food additives are prohibited.

• The use of mineral blocks and salt is not allowed on conservation areas.

• It is legal to hunt over a harvested crop field, but it is not legal to add grain or other crops, such as apples, to the field after it has been harvested.

Additional rules apply if hunting in a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone.

• Manipulating crops, such as mowing or knocking them down, is not considered baiting for deer.

Want to make a report?

Local residents who would like to provide information to Leeker about local wildlife code violations can reach him at 417-989-1693.