A group of Northern California poachers are facing numerous charges after allegedly killing dozens of deer. According to Sacramento Bee, This is one of the largest poaching cases in Golden State history.
Six individuals, led by ringleader Bradley Chilton, systematically poached deer in Nevada County for several months in 2023. The group illegally killed the deer at night in residential areas using car headlights and spotlights. . The culprits used a 7mm rifle and 12 and 20 gauge shotguns to commit their crimes.
The individuals then allegedly removed valuable parts of the deer, including their antlers and hides, while leaving the rest to rot. But the scale of the crimes does not stop there. The defendant also conspired to falsify and alter tag information in order to cover his tracks.
Following an investigation involving the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), District Attorney Jesse Wilson indicted six individuals on criminal conspiracy to commit poaching charges in Nevada County Court . Chilton was also charged with attempting to elude a police pursuit and illegal possession of a firearm. A seventh person faces charges for trying to help Chilton escape police.
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“These charges are about everything except hunting,” said CDFW Legal Division Captain Patrick Foy. Sacramento Bee. “If left unchecked, blatant poaching of deer in a limited geographic area (could) begin to affect the local deer population.”
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