March 6, 2010
Men arrested for hunting out of season
LAPORTE — Two LaPorte County men have been arrested for hunting deer out of season, Indiana conservation officers said Friday.
Officers received a tip that two men were shooting deer in the 2400 block of west U.S. 20. When they questioned the property owner, Hugh Wozniak, 53, he led officers to a garage where two field-dressed deer were hanging from the rafters.
Erik Perschke, 24, of LaPorte, allegedly shot the deer the previous evening, Feb. 23, with Wozniak’s 20-gauge shotgun, even though the hunting season ended Nov. 29.
Perschke and Wozniak each were charged with two counts of illegally taking and possessing deer, Class B misdemeanors. If convicted, the men will owe $500 to replace each deer, plus court costs and fines. Conservation officers seized Wozniak’s shotgun and the carcasses.
To report fish or game violations, contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division at (800) 847-4367.