December 19, 2011
From TheDailyNewsOnline.com
Several local residents are among dozens in the Finger Lakes region
recently ticketed for deer poaching, the state Department of
Environmental Conservation reported.
Environmental conservation officers worked to target illegal deer
hunting in the recent weeks. A primary focus was aimed at those shooting
at night with the use of an artificial light, a practice commonly known
as deer jacking.
Typically, deer jacking occurs in remote rural areas, throughout the
night, the DEC reported.
"The vast majority of hunters pursue and take game legally," said DEC
Law Enforcement Major Steve Gerould. "We work closely with the sporting
community to educate individuals on safe and legal hunting practices to
try and stop them from illegally taking game to the detriment of
wildlife populations and the legal efforts of honest hunters."
In Orleans County, the following were charged:
-- Christopher Albone, 27, of Medina was charged Nov. 8 with
possession of an unsecured firearm (bow) in a motor vehicle while
spotlighting, a violation. He was issued a summons returnable to Barre
Town Court and faces a fine up to $275 and up to 15 days in jail.
-- William Grathouse III, 38, of Clarendon was charged Nov. 15 with
hunting wild deer with a crossbow during the early archery season. He
was issued a an appearance ticket returnable to Clarendon Town Court and
faces a fine up to $1000 and up to 90 days in jail.
-- Bruce Prentice, 46, of Batavia was charged on Nov. 20 with
possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was
issued an appearance ticket returnable to Shelby Town Court and faces a
fine up to $1000 and up to 90 days in jail.
-- In Livingston County, the DEC on Nov. 21 charged David J. Olin,
47, of Perry with possessing deer slugs afield while not in possession
of a big game license, and with failure to carry carcass tags while
hunting. He was issued appearance tickets answerable in the Town of
Conesus and faces fines of up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail.
-- Vernon Finch, 42, of Pavilion on Nov. 24 was charged with shooting
within 500 feet of a dwelling without permission, a misdemeanor. He was
issued an appearance ticket for York Town Court and faces up to $1,000
in fines and/or up to 90 days in jail.
-- Mark Elliott, 23, of Le Roy on Nov. 27 was charged with taking
over the limit of antlered deer, a misdemeanor, taking over the limit of
antlerless deer (two counts), a misdemeanor, possession of another's DMP
tag un-consigned (three counts), possession of another's antlered deer
carcass tag, and failure to report deer harvest within seven days, all
violations.
He was issued appearance tickets returnable to Avon Town Court and faces
up to $7,250 in fines and/or up to a year in jail.
-- In Monroe County, Jacob Johnson, 24, of Pembroke was charged on
Nov. 1 with trespass on posted property, failure to display back tag
while hunting big game and failure to present hunting license on demand
to landowner, all violations. He is to appear in Town of Wheatland court
and faces fines of up to $750 and up to 15 days in jail.
-- In Seneca County, Derek K. Sheldon of Bergen, on Nov. 20 was
charged with possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a
misdemeanor. Sheldon was issued a summons to appear in Seneca Falls Town
Court and faces a fine of $1,000.00 plus up to one year in jail.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The DEC did not report charges for hunters in Genesee
and Wyoming counties.)
