Local News

Trophy Deer being killed in Okanogan County; Public Help Being Sought

By NCBI
Jan 07, 2013

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Program has been investigating several incidents of trophy mule deer being poached in the Omak, Okanogan, and Malott areas. In the past month, we have had at least four large bodied deer killed, some with only the heads removed. In all the cases the animal's bodies were left to go to waste. Each buck killed is one less buck for a legitimate hunter to be able to harvest next year. It is a stolen opportunity. WDFW can tell by the size of the body, or from statements of persons that have been watching these deer, that they are all four point, or larger. Those charged with taking such deer face $6,000 per animal in additional penalties beyond the fines set by a court, and may have their vehicles and weapons seized for forfeiture. "Cases such as these are the types of cases where the highest penalties are most often sought. And due to a new law passed in 2011, the killing of multiple animals as part of a pattern of conduct is classified a "spree killing" and is now considered a felony. Possession of these animal parts is a crime, indefinitely, so we can pursue the cases beyond the normal statute of limitations," according to local WDFW Sergeant Jim Brown.

WDFW is looking for additional information or witnesses than can help them sort out what happened to each animal. Details of the killings are being withheld pending the outcome of the investigations. They have requested citizens with information on these, or any other cases to please contact our officers. Any officer can take that information. There is up to a $1,000 dollar reward for anyone coming forward with information that leads to an arrest related to any of these deer. "This is the public's resource that is being killed and then left to go to waste, and we take these incidents very seriously. Someone out there knows something and we are again appealing to them for their help. Sometimes even the smallest detail can solve a case. The public has been very helpful to us in the past in solving the theft of their natural resources," stated Brown.

The best phone number to leave information on this, or any other case, is the WDFW Poaching Reporting number at 1-877-933-9847. Urgent calls with in-progress violation information should go to the WSP Dispatch at 509-422-3800, extension 0.


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