CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Robert Garner Gambill, 91, of Sparta, N.C., pleaded guilty in federal court today to killing a bald eagle, a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, according to U.S. Attorney Dena J. King. Gambill admitted to the unlawful shooting of the federally protected bird with a high-powered rifle in June 2024.
Court documents revealed that on June 5, 2024, Gambill used a Ruger M77 Mark 2 22-250 rifle, equipped with a Nikon Monarch scope, to shoot a bald eagle perched in a tree near the Farmers Fish Camp Road Bridge in Sparta. Gambill left the scene, abandoning the eagle’s carcass along the New River. Two witnesses reported the incident, leading to the recovery of the eagle by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A forensic necropsy confirmed the bird died from a gunshot wound.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, enacted to protect bald eagles from extinction, prohibits the killing or possession of these birds without a permit. Gambill faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. He has also agreed to pay a $9,500 fine and is currently out on bond. A sentencing date has not yet been set.