Deer poacher in Lake Country

Photo: Contributed - Wikipedia

Local conservation officers in the Central Okanagan are dealing with a poacher on the loose after a mule deer was shot out of season.

Conservation officer Terry Myroniuk says he was called to Moberly Road in Lake Country Saturday morning to find the animal had recently been killed.

“That location is basically between Carrs Landing Road and the Lakes. There’s actually some forest up there and some trails. And what happened was mule deer were closed (for hunting) and someone poached a mule deer buck that had ran down into a residential area,” he explains.

“When I went to investigate, I actually observed the suspect, who had shot (the deer) in the area. It looked like he had come back to try and retrieve it, and he basically caused a pursuit.”

Myroniuk says he contacted the RCMP for assistance and gave chase to the man who escaped on an ATV.

“He took off and fled on his quad up the paved road through a residential area up in Carrs Landing and the police were called in for backup as well. We set up a perimeter and encountered the same suspect again a little later on that morning.

The man fled once again, with Myroniuk saying he weaved between two marked patrol vehicles that were attempting to stop him.

The suspect is described as:

• Caucasian male
• 25-35 years old
• Brown goatee
• Longer face
• White camouflage jacket
• Dark pants
• Stainless barreled rifle, believed to be 30/06
• Driving dark coloured quad, with chains on rear tires.
• Believed to have been in the area from 9-11 a.m.

“The person definitely blatantly poached this animal and blatantly chose to not stop (for authorities) and caused a pursuit,” says Myroniuk. “It’s someone that’s purposely poaching, and it’s just unacceptable, so we’d like any help we can in identifying them.”

Mule deer have been closed to hunters since Nov. 10 for conservation reasons, and anyone with information is asked to call 1-877-952-7277.