SARATOGA COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10)– On Friday, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) announced two deer were seized during two separate illegal hunting investigations in Saratoga County. The deer were then donated to a venison donation program.
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According to the DEC, investigators responded to more than 18,934 complaints and worked on cases that resulted in over 9,000 tickets or arrests. The two Saratoga County investigations led to one arrest and multiple tickets issued.
Stillwater illegal deer take
On October 29, ECOs responded to a call requesting assistance with an injured whitetail deer in the backyard of a Stillwater home. Upon arrival, they found the buck on the edge of the woods.
Officers said the animal was reportedly shot with a bow on a neighboring property. In a subsequent interview with the hunter who took the buck, officers learned the hunter did not have an archery season tag or bow hunting endorsement as required.
The hunter was then issued tickets for the illegal take, returnable to the Town of Stillwater Court. The deer was confiscated as evidence and was later donated to the Venison for Veterans and Seniors of Fulton and Montgomery counties.
Edinburg illegal road hunting
Just over a week later, on November 8, ECOs responded to another deer complaint. According to the DEC, the complaint reported hearing a gunshot and witnessing a white pickup truck parked on the road…