The Massachusetts Environmental Police reported via Facebook Sunday that their department had assisted Aquinnah and Chilmark Police in investigating a motorist with an untagged deer.
“A brief investigation determined that the operator pulled over to the side of the road, exited his vehicle, and discharged a firearm, subsequently killing the animal,” the post states.
“The individual’s shotgun, license to carry, and hunting license, as well as the deer, were seized. The deer was donated to the Aquinnah tribe. Additionally, the individual received a criminal summons for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, discharging a firearm within 150 feet of a public way, and possession of an untagged deer.”
On Dec. 4, Aquinnah Police Sgt. Paul Manning was dispatched to investigate a hunting complaint in the vicinity of Lighthouse Road.
“The reporting party states he witnessed a male party shoot a deer from roadside, [load] the deer into their truck and drive off,” a report states. A description of a pickup truck with a licence plate registered to Raymond Oliver of Oak Bluffs was given by a witness.
Manning found the vehicle near the Chilmark Store, and pulled it over. Manning was assisted by Chilmark Police Officer Elizabeth Rogers.
“I asked the operator if he knew why he was being stopped, and he stated that it was because he had shot a deer from the road,” a report states. Manning observed a “recently killed deer” in the bed of Oliver’s pickup. Manning requested Oliver’s driver and firearms licenses, as well as his hunting permits. “I asked Mr. Oliver where he had shot the deer, to which he stated Lighthouse [Road],” a report states. “Upon asking Mr. Oliver if he was wearing hunter orange clothing at the time, he stated he was not.” Manning confiscated Oliver’s shotgun and alerted the Environmental Police. In addition to the shotgun, Manning seized Oliver’s firearms license.
Oliver was issued a ticket for violating a town bylaw.
Oliver was then released from the scene, according to the report.
Discarded carcass on Land Bank property is also not the right way to hunt.