Elgin man accused of harassing bowhunter

Brian Gibson, 44, of rural Elgin, faces weapon-related charges following allegations that he harassed a law-abiding bow hunter.

Gibson is accused of intentionally shooting a rifle in the direction of the hunter while he was in his deer stand on Nov. 6.

The hunter also alleges that on Nov. 11 Gibson again fired shots in the area, intentionally spat tobacco juice around the hunter's deer stand, turned his dog loose in the area and urinated near the deer stand while the hunter occupied it.

The results of a joint investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Dave Elledge were turned over to the Fayette County Attorney's Office, which charged Gibson with two counts of hunter harassment, two counts of assault with use or display of a dangerous weapon and reckless use of a firearm.

Elledge said he has seen “borderline cases” of hunter harassment “but never anything this flagrant.”

Competition for big bucks “stirs the blood” and sometimes leads to bad behavior, Elledge said.

Gibson is set to appear Dec. 14 in Iowa District Court in Fayette County.