Authorities Offering Reward For Info on Who Shot Two Deer in Maine Illegally

Hunting season is underway in Maine. Hunters all across the state are out in their blaze orange hoping to bag a deer this season and I saw several that got their deer on the opening day of the hunting season. These hunters followed hunting laws to get their deer, but others did not.

Two Deer Illegally Killed on Mount Desert Island

The Maine Warden Service and Operation Game Thief are offering up to a $4000 reward for information that leads to the apprehension of people involved in the shooting of two deer at night.

Hunting at night is illegal in Maine as is leaving a deer to rot after killing it. Hunters are required to properly dress the carcass and care for the meat to prevent spoilage.

Two Bucks Found Dead and Rotting

The Maine Warden Service posted information about their investigation on Instagram, but it includes a photo of the dead deer, so we'll summarize their statement here for those who might be disturbed by the photo

According to the Maine Warden Service, the first deer was killed on the night of October 5th or the early morning hours of October 6th when a large buck was shot and killed at night in the town of Mount Desert which is located on Mount Desert Island. The deer was shot and left to rot and discovered on the morning of October 6th when a concerned citizen noticed it dead in a small field and called the Warden Service.

The second deer, another large buck, was shot during the early morning hours of November 6th in the town of Tremont which is also located on Mount Desert Island. Similar to the first deer, this buck was killed illegally at night. The individual or individuals who shot the deer cut off the deer’s head and left the remainder of the animal to rot. It seems someone just wanted a trophy and let the meat go to waste.

It's Illegal to Hunt on Mount Desert Island

Mount Desert Island has been closed to hunting for a long time, so these people shouldn't have been there in the first place, much less at night which is not only illegal but very dangerous.

Anyone with any information about these two deer is asked to call 1-800-ALERT-US.