My wife and I did a short day hike on the AT from I-77 westward. The trail was about 1/4 inch compact ice and a half inch to one inch of fresh powder.

closest trail marker - http://stormbear.com/images/trail_marker.jpg

We did run upon a troubling scene of a deer poaching dump where someone has been killing deer and decapitating them for their antlers. I counted at least five rotting spines.

deer poaching photo 1
http://stormbear.com/images/deer_poaching_1.jpg


deer poaching photo 2
http://stormbear.com/images/deer_poaching_2.jpg

Here is a link to the exact location, the carcuses are on the north side of the trail.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.135140+-81.139441&spn=0.040823,0.074771&t=k&hl=en

Anyone know who I can report this too? Not my neck of the woods.

Stormy

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http://stormbear.com

might be poaching, might not... most hunters keep the head as a trophy in any case. bone is worthless weight and might have been left in the field when they butchered the meat for packing out. Five deer is not an unusual take from an area as remote and probably overpopulated with deer as western VA. I don't know the exact game laws and daily limits, but in some parts of the country(e.g. AL and PA), 6 deer per season per hunter is normal, along with whatever game management/doe tags are allowed. there are also separate rules for bow and muzzleloading, so a party of 6-8 hunters together could easily harvest 5 deer in a weekend.

however, butchering is normally done after aging the carcass awhile, just like beef... heads are left on through the 'field dressing' or gutting portion... so it might just be poaching... purely for the rack and prime quarters... local game warden is in your phone book.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what state are we talking about?

Panzer

The state fish and game department is a good option. Tell them where and they will alert the local game wardens and look into it. Most Fish and Game departments consider reports of poaching very serious issues.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what state are we talking about?

Panzer

Between Bland and Bastian, Virginia.