FIELD REPORTS FROM OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE OFFICERS

$301.60 in fines and court costs.

In November and December 2021, several illegal tire dumps were located in Mahoning County. State Wildlife Officer Tom Frank, assigned to Mahoning County, located a large tire dump on private property in Berlin Township. Officer Frank assisted the landowner and coordinated with the Ohio EPA for removal of the tires. This effort provided critical assistance to community residents and alleviated a frustrating problem. licenses and taking a deer without a valid deer permit. The suspect posted bond amounts in Monroe County Court totaling $385. The suspect was advised that the multiyear licenses he had purchased were invalid and he would need to purchase a nonresident license in the future.

State Wildlife Officers Chris Gilkey and Chris Dodge, assigned to Meigs and Hocking counties, respectively, received information from the Turn-in-a-poacher hotline about a large buck deer found in someone’s yard. The officers arrived at the scene, found a buck with large antlers, and determined it was killed with a gun. The officers traced the deer to a corn pile at a nearby house, with a light nearby so the corn pile could be seen at night. Three individuals were staying at the house. Further investigation revealed the homeowner shot the deer with a rifle at 5 a.m. The deer and the rifle were seized, and the suspect was issued two charges and ordered to appear in court. The suspect pleaded guilty but disputed the restitution value. Officer Gilkey was called upon to explain to the court the importance of the restitution value. The judge found the suspect guilty on both counts. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail with 30 days suspended and ordered to pay $240 in fines and court costs, with $5,445 in restitution. The individual was placed on two years of probation and had his license revoked for three years.