An 18-year-old Oregon man has been charged with wildlife harassment and animal abuse after video surfaced showing him riding on the back of a mule deer.
Oregon State Police identified two men suspected in the Dec. 6 stunt after reviewing the footage – since removed from social media platforms – as part of an investigation that also involved the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Jacob Belcher, of Riley, was identified as the man riding on the back of a buck that had become trapped inside a fenced area in Harney County.
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“Throughout the video, the mule deer buck can be heard grunting and/or bleating and after escaping the rider, the buck jumped into a linked fence, multiple times, attempting to escape the enclosure,” Oregon State Police stated in a news release issued Tuesday night. “The buck was eventually freed and its status at this time is unknown.”
Belcher, who was arrested and sent to Harney County Jail, was charged with wildlife harassment and animal abuse.
The secondary suspect, who was not identified, was said to have videotaped the stunt and faces charges of “Aiding in a Wildlife Offense.”
Charges were referred to the Harney County District Attorney’s Office.