Deer poaching in the
Wabash Valley

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - With deer hunting season well under way in the Hoosier state, opportunities for poaching increase.

That's when people illegally hunt for deer.

One way poachers operate is to shine a spotlight directly at a deer, when it's dark out.

"Usually it's a handheld spotlight that they use," said Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Max Winchell. "It plugs into a cigarette lighter jack or something like that. They'll drive and shine different areas looking for dear."

The spotlight causes the deer to become disoriented and unable to see, giving the poacher an opportunity to kill the deer.

Poaching deer is a criminal offense.

Conservation officers have all sorts of tools at their disposal to track down poachers.

"Night vision goggles," said Winchell. "You can pick up a spotlight for miles if you can't see with your naked eye."

Another high-tech way of catching poachers is by using a thermal imaging monitor, which uses heat to locate deer and anyone illegally hunting them.

"You can pick up people at several hundred yards with it," said Winchell. "All the way across most fields."

Using spotlights to distract deer isn't the only form of poaching.

Folks hunting on restricted land or outside of legal hours can also be charged with poaching.

Charges that range from misdemeanors to felonies.

Conservation officers say another way to catch poachers is with the public's help.

If you know of anyone poaching deer or any other wildlife, you're asked to call the Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-TIP-IDNR.