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(Provided by Indiana DNR)

Northern Indiana conservation officers have been kept busy this season with illegal deer hunting activity. Here are some of the cases being investigated:

Witnesses reported an illegal deer kill in LaGrange County where officers say that a 15-year old teen admitted he shot a deer with the muzzleloader, did not fill out a temporary transportation tag, and also shot 2 antlerless deer during the special youth season and did not deliver those deer to a state deer check station or check the deer in online within 48 hours of time of kill. The teen's muzzleloader and deer, a very small antlerless deer was seized as evidence. The deer was then donated to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Program. The charges will be forwarded to Lagrange County Juvenile Probation.

A concerned citizen reported persons spotlighting deer and a shot fired in Allen County. A Sheriff's Department Officer stopped a vehicle matching the description and discovered an antlered deer in the bed of the pickup truck. According to police reports, Todd D. Thrush, 35 of Garrett and David S. Demarco, 45 of Garrett, admitted to shooting the deer while illuminating it with a spotlight with a high powered rifle. Upon searching the vehicle, 2 high powered rifles, a spotlight, and a handgun were discovered. Both men were charged with multiple hunting violations, as well as traffic citations. All firearms, spotlight, and the deer were seized as evidence.

Indiana Conservation Officers arrested Robert Allen, 24, of North Judson for allegedly spotlighting deer from a motor vehicle while in possession of a loaded firearm. A concerned citizen placed a call to the Indiana Turn-In-A-Poacher Hotline for possible deer poaching with firearms and the aid of spotlights. Officers responded, saw men in the woods with a spotlight and later made a traffic stop on them. Officers discovered a loaded .50 caliber muzzleloader inside the cab of the vehicle, along with a spotlight, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Allen was then arrested for the class C Misdemeanor of spotlighting deer from a motor vehicle while in possession of loaded firearm. Additional charges are pending at this time, regarding the possible illegal taking of deer earlier in the season as this investigation continues.