Pictured is an image from a recorded Snapchat video that was posted Wednesday night. The video documented a 23-year-old Potterville man striking a deer in the head with a hammer multiple times until the buck succumbed to its injuries. A Michigan DNR conservation officer located the man and received a full confession within hours that same night. (Photo courtesy of Michigan DNR)
November 13, 2020
By Game & Fish Staff
A Michigan man may face charges after a report this week that he allegedly killed a deer with a hammer and posted a video of the incident on social media.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources described the Snapchat video posted Wednesday night as "disturbing." In a Friday news release, the agency said, "A 23-year-old Potterville man was recorded near Doane Highway and North Hartel Road, in Eaton County, repeatedly striking a deer in the head with a hammer until the buck succumbed to its injuries."
The man was tracked down later that night by conservation officer Todd Thorn and he confessed to the alleged crime. A partially butchered deer and severed head were surrendered.
The man told the officer that while on his way home, he came across the buck that he believed was disoriented from a recent car-deer accident, so he "decided to put the deer out its misery," according to the news release. "The video starts with the deer standing upright in the middle of the road, blinded by vehicle headlights. Words of encouragement and laughter can be heard throughout the video, which lasts less than a minute."
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The case will be presented to the Eaton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Read more here
Rash of Poachings in Oregon County OregonState Police are looking for information on several reported poachings in Lane County in recent weeks. Reports include a decapitated bear, multiple deer and an elk.
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"This is the worst I've ever seen. Things are happening all over Lane County right now," Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Josh Wolcott said in a news release. "Every day is a new report."
Investigators are asking for the public's help on the following cases, according to the news release:
A black bear discovered on Roseburg Forest Products property outside of Veneta. The bear was likely poached about Oct 13. The head, claws, portions of backstrap meat and portions of leg meat were removed. The remainder of the bear was left to waste. Wolcott and K9 Buck located the carcass on Oct 15, in response to a call to the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line. A doe deer discovered on National Forest Property near Fall Creek. The deer was likely poached on or about Oct 14. No meat was taken; the doe was left to waste. Wolcott and K9 Buck located the carcass on the morning of October 15 in response to a call to the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line. A doe deer discovered along US Forest Service Road 2118 near Hills Creek Reservoir. The deer was likely poached on Oct 14 or 15. No meat was taken; the doe was left to waste. OSPF&W Senior Trooper Marshall Maher located the carcass on the evening of Oct 15, in response to a call to the TIP Line. A buck deer discovered on private property near Lowell. The deer was likely poached during the night of Oct 15 or early morning hours of Oct 16. No meat was taken; the buck was left to waste. Sr. Trooper Maher located the carcass on the evening of Oct 16 in response to a call to the TIP Line. A spike buck deer discovered near High Pass Road. The buck was likely poached on or about Oct 16. The buck was field-dressed and left to waste. Wolcott and K9 Buck located the deer on Oct 17, in response to a call to the TIP Line. A doe discovered in the Veneta area. It was likely poached on or about Oct 18. Contact: Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Senior Trooper Josh Wolcott via the OSP Tip Line at *OSP or 1-800-452-7888, or email TIP@OSP.oregon.gov
Change of Story in Texas Two Maverick County, Texas, game wardens paired up with a Zavala County game warden to patrol the county line for illegal dove hunting and managed lands deer program violations. While checking a camp several miles off the highway, the wardens came across a plastic zip lock bag containing two fresh whitetail deer backstraps. After talking to three different individuals in the camp, one admitted to cutting the backstraps out of a deer hit by a car on the highway. After the individual was given a second chance to tell the truth, he admitted to shooting an eight-point buck on the ranch the evening before, cutting the back straps out and leaving the rest of the deer to waste. The individuals were cited for hunting a whitetail deer in closed season and waste of game. One of the individuals was also cited for not having a hunting license for killing a raccoon. From Texas Game Warden Field Notes
