An 18-year-old from Barre has been charged with multiple offenses in connection with an incident involving deer decoys.
Three Vermont Fish & Wildlife state game wardens were conducting a deer decoy operation in Plainfield in the early morning of Nov. 12, in response to multiple complaints of poaching activity in the area.
At 12:57 a.m., a vehicle turned into the field where the deer decoys were placed. The vehicle accelerated, turning its lights on and off as it ran over one of the decoys.
One warden, who witnessed the event, communicated the activity to the other two wardens as the vehicle turned around and headed back toward the roadway.
Wardens attempted to stop the vehicle, but it turned off the roadway, crossed a private driveway, and hit a ditch before accelerating to speeds exceeding 70 mph.
Two wardens briefly pursued the vehicle before the vehicle ultimately escaped.
Wardens examined the scene and discovered a left front fender of the vehicle had fallen off in the ditch.
An internet query of the part number showed that the part belonged to a Subaru Forester. The next day, the local warden received an anonymous tip which produced the location of the Forester at a residence in Marshfield.
The tip also provided information on the person involved, who was residing in Barre.
On Nov. 14, three wardens located a Subaru Forester with a missing left front fender at the Marshfield residence. Deer hair was found on the front bumper of the vehicle. Two wardens interviewed the 18-year-old, who admitted to the crimes.
This individual will appear in Family Court to answer for multiple offenses.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. is asking anyone with information about any poaching activity to contact their local Vermont state game warden through their nearest state police dispatch, or they may leave an anonymous tip to Operation Game Thief at 1-800-75ALERT (1-800-752-5378). For more information visit vtfishandwildlife.com.
