FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2010

 Southwest Ohio Father and Son Pay High Price for Poaching Deer

Poaching of trophy class deer results in fines and restitution totaling more than $5000

HILLSBORO, OH – Two men received restitution costs and fines in Hillsboro Municipal Court for  wildlife violations including taking deer in a closed season and providing false information to a check station according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

During the 2009 archery season Highland County Wildlife Officer James Carnes received information from a landowner on possible deer hunting violations.  A Wildlife Investigator from Wildlife District Five followed up on the lead that resulted in multiple charges related to the illegal harvest of deer for a father and son living in southwest Ohio.

The illegal hunting activity took place September thru November 2009.  The investigation found that one of the men, Brandon Hill, shot a deer the day prior to the opening of the Ohio archery season in Highland County.  On the following day he checked it in at an Adams County check station as an archery harvest. He then cut the head off of the deer and disposed of the carcass along a township road. Brandon Hill then used one of his deer tags to check in a deer shot by his father, Richard Hill, on November 3rd at an Adams County check station.       

Brandon S. Hill, 28 of Milford pled guilty to charges of taking deer in a closed season, litter, and tagging deer taken by another hunter in Hillsboro Municipal Court. Hill was ordered by Judge David McKenna to pay restitution totaling $5,047.81.  The deer Hill illegally harvested the day prior to the opening of archery season scored 152 4/8” exceeding the 125” limit and the restitution price of the deer was determined under the 2008 revised restitution laws.  His sentence included three years of hunting license revocation, forfeiture of the bow used to kill the deer and the shoulder mount of the deer.  Mr. Hill also paid a waiver for $825 in the Adams Co. court for two charges of providing false information to a check station.   

Richard S. Hill, 51 of Middletown was charged with hunting without permission, hunting without a license, and failure to temporary tag deer.   He paid a waiver of $825 in the Hillsboro Municipal Court for the three charges.

Under Ohio's new law, the restitution value for individual white-tailed deer is derived from the formula listed in 1531.201 of the Ohio Revised Code. The value is determined by measuring the antlers and using a mathematical formula plus the value derived for wildlife. The formula for white tailed deer will be applied to all individuals whose gross score exceeds 125 Boone and Crockett (B&C) inches.

To report a hunting violation, contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) hotline, 1-800-POACHER (1-800-762-2437).  Callers may remain anonymous.  Citizens who provide accurate information that result in a criminal wildlife conviction of the guilty party may be eligible for a monetary reward once the case is settled in court.