Hunter Arrested After Photo of Trophy Buck Appears in Newspaper - State Journal

WELLSBURG -- A Brooke County man was arrested Dec. 2 after a picture of a trophy buck he had killed appeared in a local newspaper, according to a news release from the state Division of Natural Resources.

Raymond Allen Owens, of Bethany, had said he killed the deer on his property on opening day of the bucks-only firearms season Nov. 23, according to the DNR report.

The deer was the first one checked at a Brooke County checking station and was categorized as a landowner kill, the news release states. The buck was taken to Cabela's in Wheeling where Owens allegedly inquired about a big buck contest. While there, a photographer from the Wheeling Intelligencer took a picture of the deer. It was published on the front page of the paper's Nov. 24 edition.

"Division of Natural Resources Sgt. Dave Shriner saw the photo in the paper and told Conservation Officer Steve Himmelrick about the large buck being killed in the Bethany area," the news release states. "Himmelrick knew the hunter who had killed the deer and coincidentally had received a spotlighting complaint the previous Sunday night in the Bethany area."

The officers determined that Owens had been hunting without a license on another person's property. He was charged in Brooke County Magistrate Court and the deer was confiscated from a local taxidermist, according to the news release.

The deer was “green scored” and measured in150s class, according to the DNR.

They should invent "Spotlight an azzhole day" for people like him and let them see how fun it is to try and 'get out of dodge'. Spineless excuse for a male. May a pissed off deer attack him one day. :)

There is no sporting skill involved in spotlighting. A monkey could do it if someone would load it's gun for it. People who do this are cowardly and lazy . They start hunting a month before season opens and then they display dozens of antlers on their garages and fences for all to see. I guess that makes them feel like a "man". They are usually weak little warped men who shouldn't even be allowed to own a gun. If you see someone who is displaying dozens of deer antlers , be suspicious and keep your eye on them.

i dont agree with spotlighting BUT the determined that it was him spotlighting there is no way they could prove it and should not have taken the deer!!

Weak Sauce. Spotlighting the Sunday night before season? C'mon!!! Get in the woods and freeze in the cold and wet like a real man.

THANK'S TO THE DEP.OF NAT.REC.FOR INFORCING THE LAW.WISH IT HAPPEND MORE OFTEN.