KGUN 9 On Your Side, Tucson News, Weather & SportsGame and Fish looking for deer poachers near Wellton AZ

Game and Fish looking for deer poachers near Wellton AZ

YUMA, Ariz. – Reward money is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the illegal killing of an adult female mule deer near Wellton, Ariz.

The Thanksgiving Day poaching is under investigation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The deer was shot in the front left shoulder and left waste in the desert. The subjects also left beer cans and trash behind.

This was a closed season poaching which occurred near a popular hunting area known as "Radium Hot Springs" located just east of Wellton. This incident occurred at night or in the early morning on or near Nov. 25 and 26.

"The doe was shot with a small caliber rifle and just left to waste," according to Richard Myers, law enforcement specialist for Game and Fish. "Poachers are not hunters and those who commit these acts not only steal from the resource, they steal from the residents of Arizona." 

Anyone with information which leads to an arrest in this case can get a cash reward of up to $1,000 by calling the Operation Game Thief hotline toll-free at (800) 352-0700. Caller identities may remain confidential upon request. You can also report online at www.azgfd.gov/thief.