ROME, Maine (WABI) – The Maine Warden Service and Maine Operation Game Thief are asking for the public’s help to identify those responsible for a recent deer poaching incident in Rome.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, August 24, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.
According to Sgt. Josh Beal of the Maine Warden Service and Operation Game Thief, the crime took place in a privately-owned field at the intersection of North Pond Road and Rome Road.
“We received a complaint early morning of Monday of August 24, just a complaint that there’s a dead deer in the field,” Beal said. “After responding and looking into it, we found that the deer had been shot and killed and left.”
Game wardens emphasize that poaching is not just a criminal violation of state hunting laws, but a direct threat to local wildlife populations and conservation efforts.
“The natural resources in our state, they’re all a perishable resource,” Beal explained. “As game wardens, we work for those which don’t have a voice. The animals of the state can’t call and complain and tell us what is going on and where it’s happening.”
Investigators suspect this crime is not an isolated incident. Evidence points to a potential connection with a poaching case that occurred late July in Mercer, just one town over.
“There are a lot of similarities between the two situations,” Beal said. “Both were doe deer, both were killed at night, both were killed with a rifle, and both were just shot and left… left behind.”
With leads limited, authorities are turning to local communities for information.
Maine Operation Game Thief (OGT) is offering a $3,000 reward for any tips that lead to the arrest and apprehension of those responsible.
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators anonymously at 1-800-ALERT-US or by visiting the Maine Operation Game Thief website.
Citizens can also submit anonymous tips directly to game wardens from their smartphones by downloading the “Hunt Regs” app.
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