Game fowl businesses stay active despite ban on cockfighting

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Despite a cockfighting ban approved by Oklahoma voters in 2002, many in the game fowl business continue to operate. <br/><br/>In McCurtain County, Rupert Cogburn and his wife Merilynn

Sunday, April 24th 2005, 11:47 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Despite a cockfighting ban approved by Oklahoma voters in 2002, many in the game fowl business continue to operate.

In McCurtain County, Rupert Cogburn and his wife Merilynn continue to crate up occasional orders for roosters and hens and deliver them by air mail, but the couple's flock has shrunk by about a third.

While cockfights have been driven far underground, the breeding industry appears to have survived.

Law enforcement officers and prosecutors say without proof that the birds are used for fighting, there's little they can do.

An informal survey found just four incidents leading to arrests under Oklahoma's felony ban on the activity. All involved actual cockfights or substantial evidence of one.

The only convictions to date involved three people in Oklahoma City who received two-year deferred sentences. The other defendants, all in southern and eastern Oklahoma, are awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, breeders have been spared the law's possible ten-year sentence and $25,000 fine.