Whitetail buck rescued from artisian water well in Niagara County
From the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, pictured is ECO Smith
Traffic Stop Leads to Poaching Charges – Steuben County
On November 3 near midnight, ECOs received a call from New York State Police requesting assistance with a traffic stop. State Police advised that while conducting the stop they observed a deer still moving around in the cargo area of the vehicle. ECOs arrived at the location, observed a cocked crossbow inside the vehicle and two deer in the rear cargo area still warm to the touch. The Stueben County Sheriff’s Office assisted. The two occupants initially stated they shot the deer about six hours earlier during legal hunting hours but eventually admitted to illegally taking both animals with crossbows much later in the day from a nearby field illuminated with their vehicle lights. The Officers checked both subjects’ hunting licenses and discovered neither one possessed the required privileges to use a crossbow in New York State, including a bowhunting education course. ECOs charged both the driver and the passenger with the illegal take of deer, taking deer with the aid of an artificial light, hunting deer after permitted hours, hunting without the proper privilege, failing to tag deer as required, failure to carry license/tags, and possessing a cocked crossbow in a motor vehicle. New York State Troopers ticketed the driver for applicable traffic law violations.
Traffic Stop Leads to Charges – Steuben County
On November 8 at approximately 2:30 a.m., ECO Parker received a call from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office regarding a shot fired near a residence in the town of Erwin. Steuben County Deputies located and stopped the suspect’s vehicle and spoke to the driver who stated he was attempting to take a fox. ECO Parker arrived at the location, determined the individual did not possess a hunting license, and charged the subject with possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a residence, hunting without a license, and attempting to take small game in an unlawful manner. The driver also received a host of additional unrelated charges from Steuben County Deputies. DEC K9 Officer Shane and handler ECO Jankowski assisted with the investigation.
Deer Rescue – Niagara County
On November 6, ECOs assisted the Lewiston Police Department following a report of an antlered deer that fell into a 10-foot-deep dry well and became trapped off Upper Mountain Road in the town of Lewiston. ECO Scheer, along with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and the Niagara County Tech Rescue Team were able to hoist the deer from the well and release it safely without incident. The well was covered as a preventative measure.
