Pat Brand
389 Country
HAYESVILLE, N.C. — A Clay County resident’s report of active gunfire near their home led to a tense encounter between law enforcement and a local hunter on Wednesday morning, January 29, 2024. The incident, which unfolded on Walker Point Road, resulted in a citation and highlighted jurisdictional authority over wildlife-related matters.
At approximately 9:00 a.m., a resident on Walker Point Road contacted Clay County 911 to report gunfire originating from a gravel pull-off across from the Deerfield Inn. The caller expressed concern about the proximity of the gunfire to their home and noted that a silver truck was present at the scene.
Sheriff Mark Buchanan, responding to the dispatch, located a silver truck with a small boat parked at the pull-off. As Sheriff Buchanan approached, the truck quickly departed, traveling to the end of Ledford Chapel Road and backing down a boat launch, seemingly ignoring the sheriff’s presence. Sheriff Buchanan parked in front of the truck, exited his vehicle, and identified himself to the driver, later identified as Paul Michael Hudson, 57, of Hayesville. Hudson’s son was also in the truck during the encounter.
Sheriff Buchanan informed Hudson that a complaint had been filed regarding his shooting activity. Hudson admitted to shooting a duck at the location but became argumentative, questioning the Sheriff’s Office’s authority over wildlife matters. Sheriff Buchanan clarified that his office has jurisdiction over all laws within the county, including those enforced by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. He requested Hudson’s driver’s license or hunting license to proceed with the investigation.
Instead of complying, Hudson began recording Sheriff Buchanan and other officers on his cell phone, taunting them in an attempt to provoke a reaction. Sheriff Buchanan noted that such behavior has become a growing trend nationwide, often prolonging routine investigations for the sake of social media attention. Officers with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, however, are trained in de-escalation techniques to handle such situations calmly.
The investigatory detention lasted approximately 40 minutes, during which officers struggled to confirm Hudson’s identity due to his refusal to provide a driver’s license or hunting license. North Carolina Wildlife Officer Dan Cable eventually arrived on the scene and reiterated to Hudson that Sheriff’s Officers have full jurisdiction over wildlife laws. After reviewing Hudson’s hunting license and verifying the truck’s registration, officers were able to confirm his identity.
Hudson was issued a citation for Failure to Produce a Driver’s License. Additional potential charges, including Resist, Delay, or Obstruction of an Officer and Failure to Produce a Hunting License Upon Request, were postponed pending consultation with the District Attorney’s Office.
The incident underscores the importance of cooperation with law enforcement during investigations and the broad jurisdictional authority of Sheriff’s Officers in Clay County.