PIKEVILLE, Ky. –  Last weekend was opening weekend of Kentucky’s firearm season for whitetail deer.   Pike County saw a lot of activity, as more than 200 hunters reported their harvests. But, Conservation Officers were also busy on two significant poaching cases, seizing nearly 40 sets of antlers and 2 guns.  On Sunday, officers were dispatched to the home of 64 year old Roy Pinson on Joe’s Creek on a poaching complaint. There, officers found 23 sets of deer skulls, many of which Pinson admitted to killing without tagging. According to the citation, Pinson killed the Kentucky limit of one buck earlier in the season with a crossbow, but did not report it. On Saturday, the citation says he killed a 10 point buck which he did not tag, and was continuing to hunt on Sunday. Officers seized the deer skulls, illegally harvested turkey beards and a Savage 30/06 high powered rifle.   In the stopover community, Conservation Officers seized 15 sets of illegal antlers and a 12 gauge shotgun from 48 year old Brian K Hurley, who admitted to killing a buck with the shotgun during bow season.   Both men are facing multiple counts of the illegal taking of wild game. Hurley is facing an additional charge of taking game with a firearm during archery season.

Both cases were successful because of anonymous calls to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. Anyone wishing to report illegal hunting activity is urged to call 800-25-ALERT.

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