[h=1]Indiana hunter freezes 'buck of a lifetime' to avoid poaching charge. It didn't work.[/h]A Holland, Indiana, man has been convicted of illegally killing what many hunters would consider a "buck of a lifetime," according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Mark Gill, 56, harvested a non-typical, 20-point buck with more than 200 inches of antler during the 2016 season after he had already taken a buck earlier in the season, the DNR says. This is a violation of Indiana's one-buck rule, which limits hunters to one antlered deer per hunting season, according to Joe Haywood of the DNR.
Gill froze the buck until the 2017 season, and then checked it in with the state to make it appear that he killed the buck during the 2017 season, Haywood said.
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As part of a plea agreement with the Dubois County prosecutor’s office, Gill's hunting license will be suspended for two years, he will serve 100 hours of community service, serve 540 days of probation and pay $741 in fines. He pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a white-tailed deer and providing false information to a check station, both misdemeanors.
This is the 20-point buck with more than 200 inches of antler that the DNR says 56-year-old Mark Gill killed illegally. Gill had the deer mounted. (Photo: Provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources)
The buck has now been forfeited to the state, Haywood said, and will likely be displayed for educational purposes. Gill previously had the deer mounted, Haywood said.
Law enforcement, he said, learned of Gill's actions through the Turn In a Poacher (TIP) program, which gives money to people with information that eventually leads to an arrest. To make a report, call 1-800-TIP-IDNR or submit an online form. TIP received 277 reports in 2018, according to the DNR.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news...time-department-natural-resources/3080388002/
Mark Gill, 56, harvested a non-typical, 20-point buck with more than 200 inches of antler during the 2016 season after he had already taken a buck earlier in the season, the DNR says. This is a violation of Indiana's one-buck rule, which limits hunters to one antlered deer per hunting season, according to Joe Haywood of the DNR.
Gill froze the buck until the 2017 season, and then checked it in with the state to make it appear that he killed the buck during the 2017 season, Haywood said.
It costs money to report the news. Help us keep you informed and subscribe today.
As part of a plea agreement with the Dubois County prosecutor’s office, Gill's hunting license will be suspended for two years, he will serve 100 hours of community service, serve 540 days of probation and pay $741 in fines. He pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a white-tailed deer and providing false information to a check station, both misdemeanors.
The buck has now been forfeited to the state, Haywood said, and will likely be displayed for educational purposes. Gill previously had the deer mounted, Haywood said.
Law enforcement, he said, learned of Gill's actions through the Turn In a Poacher (TIP) program, which gives money to people with information that eventually leads to an arrest. To make a report, call 1-800-TIP-IDNR or submit an online form. TIP received 277 reports in 2018, according to the DNR.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news...time-department-natural-resources/3080388002/