Animals
$3,000 Reward For Information After 2 Deer Illegally Killed In Maine
Maine Game Wardens are offering a reward for information after a second deer was found illegally killed following a similar case a month earlier.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said the Maine Warden Service is investigating two recent deer killings that may be connected, and they are seeking information from the public.
On Aug. 24, Game Wardens received a tip on the Maine Operation Game Thief hotline reporting a dead deer in a field off Route 225 in Rome, and gunshots heard in the middle of the night. Responding wardens located a deceased female deer that appeared to have been shot with a small-caliber rifle.
After interviewing residents in the area, investigators believe that deer was shot sometime between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24.
Investigators say the case may be connected to a similar incident in the neighboring town of Mercer. In Mercer, a deer was killed and left in an apple orchard on West Sandy River Road sometime between 11 and 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 26.
A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered by Maine Operation Game Thief for information regarding the killing of the Rome deer or the Mercer deer.
Anyone with information about either or both cases is asked to submit a confidential report with Maine Operation Game Thief at maineogt.org or 1-800-ALERT-US, or to contact the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207-624-7076.
