Yallwire News

Montgomery Gentry’s Troy Gentry issued an apology following the release of a video posted on YouTube last month that showed the singer illegally hunting and killing a bear back in 2006. It was obtained by an animal rights group that went to court and forced U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials to release it. In the video, Gentry is reportedly "hunting" in a one-acre enclosed area surrounded by an electric fence. “Cubby” was actually a tame bear owned by Gentry's hunting partner, Lee Marvin Greenly, who did not want to pay to have needed dental work done on the animal.

Troy’s apology reads, "Four years ago I was charged for illegally tagging and taking the hide of a black bear across state lines. For that, I paid a $15,000 dollar fine, served a period of probation and gave up my rights to hunt or fish in the state of Minnesota for five years. At that time I apologized for the crime that I committed but failed to apologize to the public for the unethical way the bear was taken." Gentry continues, "There's no one who feels as bad about this as I do. I have beaten myself up about this over the years. I made a mistake, a bad decision and it has been an embarrassment to both me and my family." He concludes, "I have learned my lesson and have paid a huge price personally and professionally. Since this happened, I know in my heart that I am a different and better person. I am not proud of what I did and I am truly sorry."