Man illegally hunted five mule deer, officials report
A search of a Flagstaff man’s home found what investigators suspect to be five illegally hunted mule-deer trophies, state officials said Friday.
The discovery follows a multiyear investigation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Several state and federal agencies served a search warrant on the residence of Loren McReynolds, whose hunting activities had been been under investigation for several years, Game and Fish said in a press release.
Investigators found five mule-deer trophies, which they suspect to be illegally taken, Game and Fish said.
Among them was “nontypical” mule-deer antlers that authorities suspect were illegally taken from inside Grand Canyon National Park boundaries. Investigators believe the trophy buck was an easily identifiable, well-known deer from inside the park, officials said.
“We have been working on this case for several years and all of the hard work finally paid off with the service of this search warrant,” said Gene Elms, law-enforcement branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
McReynolds has a history of violations, among them an arrest early this year for a weapons violation and for killing burros that were federally protected north of Williams, Game and Fish said.
“The department has received many complaints about McReynolds’ hunting activities over the years. Thanks to those individuals who came forward and the diligence of our investigators, we have the evidence to pursue criminal charges for McReynolds’ actions,” Elms said.
McReynolds had not been arrested as of Friday, officials said. Charges are pending and are expected to be filed at a later date, an agency official said.
In addition to possible jail time and fines, Game and Fish could seek restitution for the loss of wildlife, officials said. McReynold’s hunting privileges could also be suspended or revoked, officials said.