Maine and Vermont game wardens say they are seeing an increase in deer poaching, including night hunting.
The Maine Warden Service says it’s received more than 80 complaints about night hunting this year. This happened after biologists cut the number of any-deer permits because of the high death rate of deer killed by last year’s harsh winter.
Warden Sgt. Kevin Adam says poachers are getting trickier. More night hunters are using bows and arrows so people don’t hear shots at night.
Adam says that deer aren’t moving because the wet weather, so some frustrated hunters resort to illegal means to get their deer.
Vermont game officials say that state’s growing deer population is luring poachers. Vermont wardens arrested 14 people in three poaching incidents last month.