Oologah Man Gets Prison Time For Killing Cattle With Arrows

An Oologah man is going to prison for his part in killing cattle with a bow and arrows.

A Rogers County judge sentenced Traton Vanderpool, 23, to 40 years on eight counts of animal cruelty.

8/9/2011: Related Story: Sheriff Investigates After Arrows Used To Kill Cattle Near Oologah

The judge suspended all but two years of the sentence as long as Vanderpool makes monthly payments as restitution. 

Vanderpool and Jared Barlass were each 19 when they used compound bows to kill eleven head of cattle in 2011. 

The cattle were owned by Lyle Blakely and Steve Branen. Initially, a judge gave both Vanderpool and Barlass deferred sentences and ordered them to pay more than $84,000 in restitution to the two ranchers. Branen wrote a letter to the judge recently saying Barlass was making regular payments, but that Vanderpool was not. 

In his letter Branen said the two men admitted to shooting the cattle out of boredom. He told the judge Vanderpool had posted hunting photos on Facebook and Instagram which Branen said showed a direct violation of the terms of Vanderpool's original probation. Branen reminded the judge those terms ordered Vanderpool not to do any hunting.

Branen and Blakely said two of the eleven animals shot managed to survive. Several of the cows were due to calve in about a month.