Tips Sought In 2 Oregon Deer Poaching Cases

Oregon wildlife troopers are asking for tips to help solve the illegal poaching of a pair of mule deer in two different parts of the state east of the Cascades in late August.

They say that someone used a high-powered pellet gun to shoot and kill a buck south of the town Hood River between the hours of 6 p.m., Thursday, August 24 and 6:30 a.m., Friday, August 25.

The deer was discovered in the 5900 block of Billings Road just off of Dee Highway on the way to Parkdale, an area of orchards and farms on the northeast side of Mt. Hood.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Turn In Poachers hotline, (800) 452-7888, text *OSP or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov. The case number to reference is SP23-274719.

The other poaching incident occurred 10 miles south of Baker County, along Highway 245 at the junction with Stices Gulch Road, and involved a doe that was shot and left to waste. Troopers responded to the scene August 29.

Tipsters are urged to contact Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Sergeant Isaac Cyr via the above phone number or text.

Recently, rewards for info leading to a citation or arrest were doubled by the Oregon Hunters Association, which now offers up to $1,000 for deer poaching cases.

Tipsters can instead opt for preference points for controlled hunt draws.

Recent weeks have seen Oregon officials highlight their efforts to combat poaching across the state. They say that in 2022, a minimum of nearly 5,000 animals were poached in Oregon, and that’s just the ones that are known. Poaching is also a factor in suppressed mule deer populations east of the Cascades.