‘Cubby’ killed, singer charged
Country star allegedly shot captive bear in hunting scam
Between singing and strumming his guitar, country vocalist Troy Lee Gentry has billed himself as a hunting enthusiast and avid archer. But according to federal court documents released Tuesday in Minnesota, the U.S. government believes that image may have been partly staged.
Gentry appeared in federal court Tuesday in connection with the killing of a tame black bear that officials say he bought, shot in an enclosed pen with a bow and arrow, and falsely tagged as a wild kill.
The Allegations
Gentry, 39, of Franklin, Tennessee, and Lee Marvin Greenly, 46, owner of a wildlife refuge in Sandstone, Minnesota, made their initial appearances before a federal judge in Duluth. The hearing was related to a sealed indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Minneapolis the previous month.
According to the indictment:
- Gentry allegedly purchased a captive-raised bear named “Cubby” from Greenly in October 2004 for approximately $4,650.
- The bear was shot inside an enclosed pen, and the killing was videotaped.
- The footage was then edited to make it appear as though the bear was killed in a “fair chase” hunting situation with a bow and arrow.
- The bear’s hide was shipped to a taxidermist in Kentucky.
- Gentry and Greenly allegedly tagged the bear with a Minnesota hunting license and registered it with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as if it were a wild kill.
This act, according to prosecutors, violates the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits the trafficking of illegally taken wildlife.
Potential Penalties
If convicted, both Gentry and Greenly face:
- Up to five years in federal prison
- A fine of up to $20,000
Both men were booked by U.S. marshals and released on a signature bond Tuesday.
Gentry’s Background
Troy Gentry is one-half of the hit Kentucky country music duo Montgomery Gentry, which won the Country Music Association’s Vocal Duo of the Year in 2000. Alongside co-singer Eddie Montgomery, Gentry recently released the single “Some People Change.”
In an August 2005 interview with the Standard Democrat (Sikeston, MO), Gentry spoke about bear hunting:
“I did get to see a bear and had a great hunt. I am looking forward to going back next year.”
Gentry could not be reached for comment. His agent, Steve Dahl of Nashville, did not return phone calls.
Greenly’s Role and Wildlife Operation
Greenly operated a facility called the Minnesota Wildlife Connection, an 80-acre property in Pine County—about 80 miles north of the Twin Cities. According to court documents, the property housed wolves, bears, and other wildlife for photography purposes.
His mother, Lavonne Greenly, described her son as an “all-American outdoor kid” and said he had run the refuge for 15 years.
“He started just showing people animals, then got talked into photography,” she said.
“Sometimes things go wrong. It hurts me he has to go through all this.”
Lavonne declined further comment. Greenly himself could not be reached.
The government also alleged that Greenly worked as a commercial bear guide, offering illegal hunts near the Sandstone National Wildlife Refuge, where black bear hunting is prohibited. In late August and early September 2005, one of his clients allegedly killed two black bears during one such hunt.
If convicted on these additional charges, Greenly faces up to five more years in prison and an additional $20,000 fine for each illegal kill.
Previous Media Attention
In 2004, Gentry made local headlines when he offered to pay for the relocation of a herd of deer trapped on Minneapolis Water Works property. The Minnesota DNR was preparing to euthanize the deer when Gentry proposed moving them to Greenly’s preserve.
At the time, Greenly described Gentry as a frequent visitor:
“He’s gone fishing with me. We’ve gone on motorcycles. I’ve been to tour dates with him,” he told the Pioneer Press.
