Deer-poaching incident being investigated
CORY -- Indiana Conservation Officers will turn in charges to the Clay County Prosecutors' Office on a deer that was taken by illegal methods.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a poached deer complaint called in by a concerned citizen, Josh Stoelting of Cory.
Stoelting reported that a farmer in the area had advised him about a deer with a fresh gunshot wound lying dead in a field near County Road 200 North in Clay County.
Once Conservation Officers arrived at the scene, they discovered three individuals identified as Dustin Langley of Poland, and David Cure and James Snyder, both of Brazil, in illegal possession of the head of a large, antlered deer.
They had left the remainder of the deer in a wooded area nearby.
After questioning the individuals, Langley admitted to shooting the deer with his Winchester 30-30 rifle out of his truck window. He was cited for illegal possession/taking of the deer, taking the deer by illegal weapon/ammunition, hunting with the aid of a motorized conveyance, and wanton waste. All of the violations are misdemeanor offenses.
Langley's firearm and the deer head were seized as evidence in the case.
In any poaching case, equipment, devices or machinery used in the incident are subject to seizure, and the illegal possession/taking of a deer comes with a $500 replacement fee. In addition, individuals cited for fish and wildlife violations are subject to having their hunting privileges suspended.
There is a monetary award for individuals who turn in hunting or fishing violators. To report a violator, individuals are encouraged to call 1-800-TIP-IDNR.