OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Game Wardens solved a mystery after dumped deer carcasses and deer legs were found in Jone adjacent to a road.
On November 27, Game Warden Mark Murray was off duty and driving east of Jones when he noticed what appeared to be a dumped deer adjacent to the road.
According to the Oklahoma Game Wardens, upon a closer look, Murray determined it was not just one dumped deer but multiple dumped deer carcasses and deer legs with a large quantity of dumped household trash.
Another pile of deer and trash was found nearly 100 yards from the first pile.
Officials said it was apparent that someone had dumped the first pile and then drove down the right-of-way before dumping the second pile due to the set of tire tracks on the morning’s heavy frost.
The Oklahoma Game Warden said State Game Warden Dalton Buley assisted Warden Murray with the investigation.
The two wardens collected 172 deer legs, with many of them having tags marked with what appeared to be hunting license numbers and confirmation numbers.
The wardens suspected the deer legs were discards from a wild game processor. They searched databases to determine who harvested the deer. Follow-up communications with the hunters confirmed the Wardens’ suspicion. Each deer that was reported was taken to the same processor.
Wardens Mike France, Dalton Buley, and Tim Campbell met with the processor the following day. After a short interview, officials said the processor reported that discards, such as the deer legs and carcasses are given to multiple people who request them for various uses, such as feeding chickens and using them for fertilizer.
After investigating the people who had received the discards from the processor, Warden Buley narrowed down the investigation to one individual who confessed to dumping the deer along with household trash
At this time, charges are pending in District Court.
Improper dumping of deer carcasses is frequently a problem. Wardens throughout the state receive many calls related to such violations. State law dictates the legal ways to dispose of animal carcasses or remains - but leaving them on the side of the road is not one of them. Animal carcasses cannot be dumped in any well, spring, pond, or stream of water, and cannot be dumped closer than one-quarter mile from an occupied dwelling or a public roadway without burying. Please dispose of the carcasses of your legally harvested game in a lawful and appropriate manner to avoid costly fines and to do your part in preserving the integrity of our land and waterways in this great state. - The Oklahoma Game Wardens
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Oklahoma game wardens solve mystery of dumped deer and trash, charges pending - KOKH FOX25
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