Deer remains found on College Ave Extension

November 30, 2006
By Greta Sproul

 Plastic bags containing the remains of a mutilated doe were discovered on College Avenue Extension over the weekend. Dave Georgia, of the Maine State Game Warden service, said that the doe was probably killed on Marsh Island at least two days prior to the discovery of the bags and then “dumped” at the scene. The fact that the location in which the remains were found is a popular local jogging and walking area doesn’t necessarily point to any ulterior motive on the part of whoever is responsible for leaving them there, according to Georgia.

“The deer definitely was not killed where it was found,” he said. “It looks to me like it was dumped hurriedly by someone who decided that this was a good spot.”

Georgia says that this is the second illegal deer killing to occur on Marsh Island over the last month. And in those local areas where it is legal to kill deer, the poaching numbers are on the increase as well.

“This last month had the highest number of illegal does taken that I’ve seen in my entire career,” he said. “It’s too bad, too, because we’ve been trying to build up a better deer herd in the Milford, Bradley and Greenbush areas, and then someone comes along and does something like this.”

Georgia added that the poacher who shot and discarded the doe was not just breaking the law, he or she was showing disrespect to the community in general.

“The deer was found in front of a closed gate with a ‘No Trespassing’ sign nailed to a tree right beside it,” he said. “So the poacher was showing disrespect to the landowner by dumping the deer there, and a complete lack of respect to the public, who had to see it. They’re also giving hunters a black eye.”

 Maine state law calls for a $1,000 fine and three days of jail time for a first-time poaching offense. But in some cases, the penalties can be a lot harsher. Georgia cites an illegal poaching incident last spring that resulted in two weeks of jail time for the offender.

“If anyone has information about a poaching incident and wants to talk anonymously with a game warden, we will respect that,” Georgia said. “The poacher who shot the deer on Marsh Island earlier this month was apprehended because of the calls we got from concerned members of the community. So calling and reporting this kind of incident does work.”

Anyone who has or thinks they might have information pertaining to an illegal poaching incident can call Operation Game Thief at 1-800-253-7887, or they can just contact the state police or the Maine State Game Warden Service headquarters in Bangor.