September 29, 2016
From NewYorkUpstate.com
State Environmental Conservation Officers recently ticketed individuals for an illegal bear hunting tactic and for shooting a trophy buck out of season, and assisted in marijuana eradication efforts in three Western New York counties.
The following incidents, and others listed below took place during August and September. Specifics were supplied by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Illegal baiting of a bear — Sullivan County
“On Sept. 10, ECO Matthew Baker investigated a complaint of a bear being shot with the aid of pre-established bait in the town of Lumberland. Upon ECO Baker’s arrival at the hunting camp, the bear was already field dressed and prepared for transport by the hunter. While at the camp, ECO Baker observed multiple empty donut boxes in a fire pit. ECO Baker located the stand nearby, along with a large pile of chocolate donuts and fresh blood on the ground. The hunter confessed to shooting the bear over bait, and ECO Baker ticketed him for hunting with the aid of bait and the illegal taking of a bear.”
Illegal Deer Hunting – Tioga County
“On Sept. 14, ECO Stan Winnick was contacted by the Tioga County Sheriff’s Department regarding an illegal hunting incident that had occurred the previous evening in the town of Richford. The Sheriff’s department reported that a Richford resident heard a shot around 10:30 p.m. close to a car parked on Sears Road. The complainants were able to record the license plate and a description of the suspect’s vehicle. A large, recently killed whitetail buck was found in an adjoining field. ECO Winnick met with the property owner and complainant at the scene and recovered a bullet from the deer carcass. ECOs Brent Wilson and Andy Kostuk assisted ECO Winnick with taking statements. ECO Tom Fernandez Winnick located the suspect’s vehicle at the Marathon High School. ECO Winnick determined that the boyfriend of the vehicle’s registered owner may have been involved in the shooting of the deer. The suspect admitted that his older brother had been driving the car and had shot the deer. ECO Winnick took written statements from both brothers and the older brother admitted to having shot the deer. The older brother was charged with discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, taking deer during the closed season, taking deer with the aid of a motor vehicle, and hunting without a license. Both the bullet and the deer head were held as evidence.”