Information sought on mule deer poaching

SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking help from the public to solve a poaching case in eastern Washington.

A local rancher recently found a mule deer that was illegally shot on private land along Chapman Lake Road about half a mile east of Chapman Lake near the town of Cheney in Spokane County. WDFW officers believe it was shot sometime on the evening of Aug. 25. The entire carcass of the 4x5 point deer was left.

“This is not only a crime but also pointless,” said WDFW Region 1 Police Captain Dan Rahn. “The shooting was outside of the hunting season for mule deer, which begins in October. It took place on private property without the landowner’s permission or knowledge, and the meat was wasted.”

WDFW is teaming up with the Mule Deer Foundation to offer rewards for information that leads to a citation. If you have information on this case, there are several ways to report it. Call 877-933-9847, email reportpoaching@dfw.wa.gov or send a text tip to 847411. You can also report online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/enforcement/report. Tips can be provided anonymously. A monetary reward or bonus points toward special hunts are available for information leading to an arrest.