Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is investigating the poaching of a mule deer doe that occurred the evening of Jan. 24 or possibly the following day on the Kaibab National Forest near Williams in Game Management Unit 8. The deer was found southwest of Bill Williams Mountain along U.S. Forest Service Road 122.

Officials investigating this case received information about the dead deer through the department’s Operation Game Thief hotline. The deer was discovered about 20 yards from the road with an arrow wound through the lungs.

When the poaching occurred, an archery deer season for bucks only was open. Officers investigating this case have very limited evidence and are requesting the public’s help in solving this poaching.

“Poaching is not hunting; it’s stealing Arizona’s valuable wildlife resources,” said Unit 8 Wildlife Manager Mike Rice. “Without help from the public, we have little information or evidence to go on. It’s probable that the out-of-season doe was shot from the road. This was a blatant violation of laws in place to protect Arizona’s wildlife.”

Anyone with information regarding this case can call the department’s Operation Game Thief Hotline toll free at (800) 352-0700 or use the online form at http://www.azgfd.gov/thief.

Callers should provide case number 14-000205 when calling. All calls may remain confidential upon request. A reward of up to $250 may be available for information leading to the arrest of the violator(s).

To learn more about Operation Game Thief, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/thief.