But it's still a good story.

I know the source of that story personally, and he's a rather complicated character.At it this point I'm not sure what you can believe out of him.
It's obvious that you are a wildlife officer and have waded through your share of B.S., both on the net and in the flesh.I have a degree in wildlife management and have worked with our state wildlife people in several projects:I'm involved and fairly informed.That said,knowing some of the people in our agency, I don't doubt the validity of that story.
Don't take offence.Nobody is dissing LEOs on here.I used to take it personally when people criticize wildlife biologists.(I still get hot when they say "I don't understand why we don't have quail?")
It's the internet and it's best not to even worry about what you hear.
I just made a phonecall to try to verify the story. I was told that the story was probably bunk.Sorry