ICYMI: North Country area hunter accused of overharvesting legal limit of bucks in Jefferson County

WILNA- A North Country area resident is accused of poaching over his legal limit of antlered deer in Jefferson County.

New York State DEC received a complaint on December 5 about a Natural Bridge, NY resident, who was believed to have taken more than his legal limit of bucks in the town of Wilna, including a 10-pointer that was actively sought after by other hunters in that area.

Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Seabury was tasked with following up with various local deer processing stations.

ECO Seabury subsequently learned that there were three bucks and three does dropped off at one station by the accused poacher. However, the 10-point buck was dropped off at a different processing site, but was properly tagged and reported as required by New York State law.

A formal interview between the DEC and the alleged poacher took place on December 12, where the suspect admitted to taking four bucks in total during this latest season (including the 10-point), along with three more does.

For context, the DEC says hunters are only allowed one buck during the regular season.

The subject received 11 tickets, including six misdemeanor charges, for the illegal take of big game, taking over the limit of deer, and several deer tagging-related offenses. ECOs confiscated the antlers of the four bucks as evidence.

The charges are pending in the Town of Wilna Court.

NYS DEC image.