Theresa Vail, former Miss Kansas, allegedly shot Alaska grizzly bear illegally

Theresa Vail, a former Miss Kansas and a host of an Outdoor Channel reality series, has been charged with illegally shooting an Alaska grizzly bear earlier this year.

Vail, 25, shot a male grizzly, then allegedly shot a female grizzly nearby while filming Outdoor’s Limitless with Theresa Vail in May, Alaska State Troopers say. She was also charged with trying to cover up the shooting. Two hunting guides also face the charges, all misdemeanors.

According to Fox News, police said that master guide Wade Renfro and assistant Joseph Andrew Miller tried to cover up the shooting by getting another bear tag and giving game authorities the wrong information. Renfro’s attorney said it was a mistake to shoot the female bear and they are all cooperating with police.

“Outdoor Channel is committed to legal and ethical hunting,” a rep for the channel told Fox. “We have strict policies and procedures in place that require all of our talent and producers to abide by all hunting regulations. In June, Theresa Vail and the Limitless production team alerted the authorities of the situation.”

The network said that the hunt did not air during an episode of the show.

Vail made headlines in September 2013 by becoming the first Miss America contestant to show off her tattoos. She is also a sergeant in the U.S. Army and serves in the Army National Guard.

UPDATE: Vail has sent a statement to Fox News, apologizing for her mistakes.

"This May, during an Alaskan guided bear hunt, I unintentionally harvested a second bear while attempting a follow up shot," Vail said. "I then followed poor advice and allowed the second bear to be improperly tagged. A few days later, the film crew and I reported the incident and have since fully cooperated with the proper authorities."

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