In a case that began three years ago, a poacher was mandated this week to forfeit his vehicle and weapon, and was ordered to pay fines and lose his hunting privileges for his wildlife crimes.
Shane Phillips, 43, of Johnson, Vermont, was cited for “deer jacking”—also known as illegally shooting deer at night—after being caught in the act in October 2020 during in a sting operation conducted by game wardens from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, according to VFWD.
“During the field operation game wardens witnessed an occupant of a black Buick Regal use an artificial light to illuminate two ‘deer facsimiles’—lifelike model deer placed by game wardens to draw out poachers after the close of legal shooting hours or outside of the legal hunting season,” the VFWD stated. “Wardens watched as the suspect then shot the buck facsimile with a crossbow.”
The suspect fled the scene when confronted, but the subsequent investigation led law enforcement to Phillips.
Law enforcement confiscated his car and executed a search warrant whereupon officers discovered the crossbow and determined “it had been fired.”
Philips was cited in court in 2020 for taking big game by illegal means, taking big game in a closed season, shooting from a motor vehicle, shooting from a public highway and possessing a cocked crossbow in a motor vehicle.
From VFWD:
Phillips must pay $2,877 in fines and will lose his privileges to hunt, fish, and trap for three years. In addition, on October 2, 2023, the Lamoille County Superior Court mandated that Phillips forfeit the 2011 Buick Regal and Bear Saga crossbow that he used while deer jacking to the state.
“Prosecuting law violators takes time,” said Game Warden Lt. Carl Wedin. “Catching a deer jacker in the act is one thing, seeing justice served is an entirely different operation. Vermont hunters can be gratified to see this poacher forfeit his vehicle and weapon, in addition to his fine and loss of his hunting privileges for the next three years.”
Photo of artificial deer courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife.