Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - ECOs Combat Poaching in Delaware County

NY State Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) are tasked with protecting the states wild game through law enforcement and public outreach. In Delaware County, officers stayed busy throughout the 2024 hunting season enforcing a broad range of regulations from hunting while intoxicated, hunting over bait, shooting deer from a public roadway to taking over the limit and hunting with the wrong implements. Through enforcement during the 2024 hunting season, Conservation Officers in Delaware County donated a total of 22 deer to Feeding New York State venison donation program. 

Here are a few cases highlighting their efforts combatting poaching in Delaware County during this past deer season:

Illegal Deer Killed with Rifle During Archery Season

On 11/9/24 ECO Dustin Osborne received a complaint of shots fired in the Town of Deposit.  ECO Osborne located the suspect exiting the field near the caller’s home. The suspect said he did not have any luck hunting that morning, but further investigation revealed the suspect had an untagged deer in the vehicle which did not meet the antler point restrictions of Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 4O. The suspect claimed to have just shot the deer with a crossbow which was determined to be an illegal crossbow. ECO Osborne continued interviewing the suspect regarding the shots fired complaint earlier that morning when he admitted to harvesting the deer with his rifle, after shooting and missing with his illegal crossbow. ECO Osborne issued a total of 6 tickets, for the unlawful taking of a deer, hunting with an illegal crossbow, killing a deer with the wrong implement, not tagging the deer, and killing a sub-legal buck. 

Over Limit and Untagged

On 11/15/24 ECOs Jared Woodin and Nate Doig received information regarding five untagged deer hanging at a property. Upon their arrival, the ECOs found the untagged deer and located two individuals preparing to process two additional deer in a nearby outbuilding. There was a total of three bucks and two does. During an interview, one of the individuals stated, “we don’t have tags for four of the deer, but we use the farmers nuisance permits.”  ECO Woodin checked with the landowner/farmer, who stated he had not had nuisance permits in over five years. It was determined that four of the seven deer were killed unlawfully. The unlawfully taken deer consisted of one buck and three doe deer, all of which were confiscated.  The two individuals were charged with killing 3 does without proper tags, killing a buck over the limit and failure to tag deer as required. All charges are returnable to Delhi Town Court. The confiscated deer were donated to the Feeding New York State Venison Donation program. 

Illegal Deer Over Bait

 On 11/11/24 ECO Dustin Osborne and ECO Nate Doig received a complaint of a deer killed over bait. The caller discovered a bait pile and evidence of a deer harvested on property he shares with other hunters. The ECOs then located and interviewed the suspect who ultimately admitted to killing a deer with his bow, over bait earlier in the season, failing to tag the deer, and continuing to hunt the baited site with his rifle during the early archery season. The subject was issued a total of 5 tickets for the illegal deer, hunting over bait, feeding deer, failing to tag the deer, and hunting/possessing a firearm afield during early archery season. 

The ECO duo of Osborne and Doig worked together again on 11/16/24 when they received an anonymous tip about multiple deer killed over bait in the Town of Franklin. They responded to the hunting camp and spoke with the landowner who explained he owns several properties across North America, and he feeds approximately 2 ton of corn per property every week. Further investigation revealed 5 subjects hunting over bait, with 4 killing bucks over the corn piles. The ECOs issued a total of 12 tickets for the unlawful taking of 4 deer, hunting over bait, feeding deer, and hunting with a license.

Later in the season on 12/14/24, ECOs Doig and Osborne teamed up once again when they received an anonymous tip about a deer killed over bait in the Town of Middletown. The ECOs responded to the hunting camp locating 2 untagged deer hanging off the porch. They located a large corn pile outside the camp, with a motion sensor positioned over the bait, and a second story bedroom window open in the freezing temperatures. ECOs interviewed the hunting party who admitted to harvesting the 2 deer earlier that morning way over the mountain with their crossbows. ECOs then asked to see the crossbows which were retrieved from the 2nd story bedroom under the window. The hunting party provided ECOs with 2 illegal crossbows, that do not meet the legal hunting requirements in NYS. Further investigation revealed 2 separate blood trails originating from the bait pile matching the 2 deer that were killed. ECOs ultimately issued a total of 13 tickets for the 2 illegal deer, hunting over bait, feeding deer, hunting with illegal crossbows, killing deer with the wrong implement, and failing to tag the deer as required. 

Hunting While Intoxicated

On 11/20/24 ECOs Osborne and Doig responded to a complaint that a subject killed a deer while intoxicated in the Town of Stamford. ECOs responded along with NYSP who determined the subject was intoxicated as he was driving out of public property with a deer he just killed. The subject admitted to drinking several beers while afield hunting at which time he shot and killed the deer. The subject was arrested and transported to the nearest State Police Barracks where he was processed for driving while intoxicated and hunting while intoxicated. It was determined the suspects blood alcohol content (BAC) was .09, which is above the legal limit for both driving, and hunting. ECO Osborne issued a total of 3 tickets for the unlawful taking of the deer, hunting while intoxicated, and failing to tag the deer as required. 

Illegal Deer/Hunting Without a License

On 11/21/24 ECO Dustin Osborne & ECO Nathan Doig responded to a complaint of a subject who killed a deer with the aid of a motor vehicle and potentially without a hunting license. One of the callers stated they observed the subject kill a deer along a roadway while another caller reported they knew the subject and suspected he did not possess a valid hunting license. Further investigation revealed the subject did not have a license at the time the deer was killed. Their investigation revealed the subject was driving down the road and observed the deer, he then stopped and exited his vehicle, stepped off the roadway and killed the deer. The subject was issued 3 tickets for the illegal deer, hunting without a license, and hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle. 

Deer Shot from the Road

On 12/6/24 ECO Dustin Osborne and ECO Jared Woodin received a complaint of a deer shot from the roadway in the Town of Walton. The caller reported observing a subject driving a grey pickup truck shoot from the vehicle. He then exited the vehicle and enter the woods at the Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area. ECO Osborne responded to assist and located a truck matching the description of the shooter and conducted a traffic stop. He observed fresh blood and hair on both the driver and the vehicle matching the description the caller provided. Their investigation confirmed the subject shot the deer illegally from his vehicle. Further investigation revealed the deer did not meet the antler point restrictions of WMU 4W and the deer was tagged with the suspect’s daughter’s tag. He was then issued a total of 6 tickets for the illegal deer, hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, shooting from a public highway, killing a sub-legal buck, and possessing tags of another. 

Kudos to the ECOs in Delaware County for a job well-done! It’s particularly encouraging to learn the officers take the time to donate deer to those in need while tirelessly combatting poaching in their county. 

Children’s Ice Fishing Derby February 23rd at Tannersville Lake

The Catskill Mountain Fish & Game Club in conjunction with the Stony Clove Rod and Gun Club is hosting their Annual Children’s Ice Fishing Derby at Rip Van Winkle/Tannersville Lake on Sunday, February 23rd. Registration begins at 9:00 am. Kids up to 16 years of age can compete in two divisions for prizes. Live bait, refreshments, and a few tips ups will be available. For more information, call Bob Monteleone at 518-488-0240.

Fly-tying Classes in Ashokan Begin in February

Ashokan Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited is offering fly-tying classes in February.
Winter fly-tying classes begin at the Olive Free Library on NY 28A in West Shokan on the following dates: February 8th, 15th, 22nd, and March 1st and 8th. These Saturday classes are held from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Classes are FREE and open to all. No experience or equipment/materials needed. Pre-registration required for those seeking instruction. To register, email Tony Cocozza at: Flyfish@hvc.rr.com. Classes are sequential in that tying skills taught each week building upon techniques learned in prior weeks, so beginners should try to attend all classes. Experienced tyers are always welcome to assist or just tie flies.

Save the Date for the Ducks Unlimited Greene County Chapter Banquet on March 8th  

The Greene County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is holding its annual banquet, dinner and auction on Saturday, March 8th at Anthony’s Banquet Hall located at 746 County Route 23B in Leeds. Doors open at 3:30 pm with buffet dinner starting at 5:00 pm, followed by a live auction. Tickets are available online at www.ducks.org/newyork/events. For more information you can call Dana Hanusik at 518-821-1773 or Jeff Holiday at 965-6105. 

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at: 

1-844-DEC-ECOS.