AUGUSTA – The reward for information leading to the criminal prosecution of the individual responsible for the illegal killing of four deer in western Maine has been increased to $3,500, Operation Game Thief announced today.
Wardens believe the same individual or individuals are responsible for four deer that were killed in Chesterville, Leeds, Livermore and Livermore Falls over the past couple weeks. All of the animals were located in open fields, apparently shot at night and left to waste.
Specifically, deer have been located at the intersection of Bragdon Road and East Road in Chesterville, just off Route 106 in Leeds, off Route 133 near the Dodge Road in Livermore Falls and on the River Road in Livermore.
“Anyone who saw suspicious activity in the areas of Leeds, Livermore, Livermore Falls (East Livermore), Chesterville, Jay, or surrounding areas are strongly encouraged to call the Maine Warden Service,” Maine Warden Service Cpl. John MacDonald said in a statement released last week.
Following the Chesterville shooting, in which a doe pregnant with twin fauns was shot in the spine, Operation Game Thief put up a $1,000 reward for information leading to the summonsing and prosecution of the responsible party. This was increased to $2,500 after three more deer were located and tied to the original poaching incident. Since then, Operation Game Thief decided to increase the reward to $3,500, due to “significant public interest.”
“These events have created significant public interest and game wardens and Operation Game Thief feel there is someone who holds the keys to unlock this very troubling case of poaching,” a prepared statement released by the organization said Tuesday. “Our natural resources and the conservation of those resources are the responsibility of all who love Maine.”
Maine Operation Game Thief is a private, non-profit organization that provides rewards for information relating to poaching and other Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife cases.
Anyone with information can contact Operation Game Thief (you can remain anonymous) at 1-800-ALERTUS (1-800-253-7887) or Public Safety Dispatch in Augusta at 207-624-7076 or Gray at 207-657-3030.
$3,500 is a lot of cash ,some one knows what happened or has heard about it and or bragged about it .Let’s put this creep away and make it illegal for him to own or be around ANY weapons for life. Who ever is doing this is not right in their own mind.
The worst part is “left to waste.” Taking a life to feed your hungry family, is one thing, but this is just sad and sick.
Share this on facebook- someone will break for the cash. You know this loser hangs out with other losers
Like Mort says – $3500 is a lot of cash. The fact that you can remain anonymous should make someone spill what they know! It’s not going to effect the person giving the information it’s the low life (plus whoever else is involved) that is going to get punished! Please, please, please if you know something, ANYTHING just call and report it!
I think this is someone who has incurred, what they believe to be, damage or harm caused by deer. My money would be on a car accident where this individual or someone close to them was injured and/or was caused costly damage/problems. I could see this profile thinking they are 1.) getting even 2.) doing a public service by picking off deer near roads.—-as far as profiling goes, this makes the most sense for why they abandon the kill and don’t use it. They aren’t interested in deer as food or even the ethic of hunting—this act reeks of anger and revenge for what they believe was a harm done to them–they hate deer, like you might hate wasps after being badly stung.
Meh, yeah, I guess there could be someone ticked off enough to want revenge on them for eating up their garden….but my money is on an individual who has had a serious deer vs. auto incident that caused them much trouble.
Irene, have you even considered the fact that they could be (high, intoxicated, on crack ,heroin or bath salts or just plane stupid) Just a thought. The fact still remains the same some one knows something and needs to come out and say something . You can call and still remain anonymous and $3,500.00 is a good chunk of change. Let’s stop this fool before he or she kills again.