Cheney lacked permit when he shot hunter

Texas authorities said they would issue a warning citation to Cheney but impose no penalty.

US Vice President Dick Cheney did not have a legal permit to hunt quail when he accidentally shot a 78-year old hunting partner over the weekend, the White House said.

HT Image

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department informed Cheney that he lacked a stamp for hunting "upland game birds" in the state when the shooting incident occurred, the vice president's office said in a statement.

Texas authorities said they would issue a warning citation to Cheney but impose no penalty or fine for failing to have the seven-dollar stamp.

"The investigation reveals that there was no alcohol, or misconduct involved in the incident," the Kenedy County sheriff's office said in a statement.

Gaming officials said they had been issuing oral warnings instead of fines to hunters who had failed to update their licences under the new rule.

Cheney's staff members had asked state authorities for all necessary permits beforehand and were never informed about the need for a seven-dollar stamp for quail hunting, his office said in its statement.

While awaiting a warning from game wardens, "the Vice President has sent a $7 check to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which is the cost of an upland game bird stamp," it said.