Michigan Conservation Officers Conduct Operation Targeting Illegal importation of Deer

Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in southwest Michigan recently conducted enforcement operations targeting illegal importation of harvested deer into Michigan from states with chronic wasting disease (CWD) in their free-ranging deer herds.

Conservation officers conducted operations near the I-94 corridor of the Michigan/Indiana border, resulting in the seizure of six harvested deer. Five deer were transported into Michigan from Illinois, and one was transported from Wisconsin. Michigan law prohibits importing deer from CWD-positive states and provinces.

Read the story here

24 Hour Checkpoint in South Dakota Off I-90 Nabs 147 Violations

WHITE LAKE — Dead pheasants were flying from a vehicle cruising down the interstate.

Tossed out the window by a couple of hunters, the birds were over the limit wildlife evidence obtained recently by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department.

For 24 hours from Sunday to Monday afternoon, GF&P and a collection of other agencies conducted a game stop on an Interstate 90 rest area, just east of the White Lake exit.

Read the rest of the story here

Hunting Show Host, Four Hunters, Production Company Plead Guilty in Alaska to Lacey Act Poaching Violations - Aircraft Forfeited

Anchorage, Alaska

U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a cable TV hunting
show host and four other individuals charged in the investigation have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced in Anchorage United States District Court for their participation in a multi-year poaching operation on the Noatak National Preserve.

Read the press release from the US Attorney's Office here

Pennsylvania Conservation Officers Charge Subjects for Multiple Illegal Deer Shot After Hours Using Lights

Nov. 25, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TWO DANVILLE MEN CHARGED WITH POACHING MULTIPLE DEER

    DALLAS – The Northeast Region Office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that two Danville men were charged with several violations of the Game and Wildlife Code for the unlawful killing of multiple white-tailed deer in Northumberland and Montour counties.  The incidents took place between Oct. 30, and Nov. 15, 2015.

Kevin J. Smeltzer, 18, of Boyd Station Road, and Isaac A. Troutman, 20, of Tower Drive, both face charges of killing multiple deer outside of legal deer hunting hours and through the use of a light.

      Charges were filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge Marvin Shrawder by Northumberland County District Wildlife Conservation Officer Jason Kelley. Smeltzer and Troutman were each charged with two misdemeanor counts and several summary counts of Unlawful Killing or Taking of Big Game.                

         On the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 16, Kelley, along with other Game Commission officers, responded to information concerning two antlerless deer carcasses that were located along railroad tracks near the Smeltzer residence.  A subsequent investigation revealed that the deer were unlawfully killed and linked five other unlawfully killed deer, including one eight-point buck, to the defendants.   Only the backstraps were removed from all except one of the deer, with the remainder of the meat left to rot.   

          Wildlife Conservation Officers seized one rifle, one crossbow, one compound bow, one spotlight, and several pounds of venison as evidence. 

          “Hunters who follow the law find these acts of poaching repulsive and should be thankful that these individuals were apprehended,” said Northeast Region Law Enforcement Supervisor Mark Rutkowski. “Our officers did an outstanding job in responding to the poaching information received and conducting a thorough investigation.”