Wildlife officers cracking down on illegal hunting near neighborhoods

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By John Paul

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Channel 9 has uncovered dozens of reports of poachers shooting deer on the side of the road from their vehicle.

Officials cited 41 people in the Charlotte area last year -- and so far this year they've cited a dozen.

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Channel 9 got permission to tag along with the North Carolina Division of Wildlife on a sting operation. They set up a deer decoy in Union County in an attempt to catch people shooting from their cars, after receiving multiple complaints from neighbors in the area.

  • PRESS PLAY for video of deer decoy:

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“You shoot from a car, that's dangerous,” said state wildlife officer William Laton. “That's what we run into. It's not just a resource violation, it's a public safety issue.”

Illegal hunters shoot at deer from vehicles, sometimes while they’re still moving. So the officers set up a stuffed deer decoy on the side of the road to see if anyone would fire.

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They had a lookout watch the decoy from about 250 yards away, and another officer waiting in a chase vehicle.

Channel 9 watched dozens of vehicles drive by the decoy -- some circled back and slowed down. At one point a shot could be heard in the distance, but no one took aim at the decoy itself.

  • RAW: John Paul discusses how officials use a bait deer:

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“We'd prefer nobody shoot at it,” said Laton. “Taking a shot like that could have consequences that you don't anticipate having due to the proximity to a home just over the hill.”

That is a growing concern as the Charlotte area develops and expands. Encounters with wildlife are much more common. One hunting advocate Channel 9 spoke with said people who shoot from cars are giving them a bad name.

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“I don't call these people hunters,” said Gary Steeley. “I won't. They're not hunters in my book. They need to go to jail.”

There is a serious danger that goes along with shooting at wildlife from a vehicle, since bullets can travel so far.

“(It) has the power to go a mile and a half and kill somebody,” said Steeley.

Laton said they set up decoys for a number of reasons, including protecting resources and property. They want anyone who is willing to take a dangerous shot like this to think twice.

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“We’re out here, and we're working and we're going to be persistent,” said Laton.

If caught, the punishment ranges from fines to having your license suspended. Officers said that in many cases, offenders are wanted on outstanding warrants.

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