An unnamed female deer poacher from McIntosh County went online to perhaps find a date with a man, but instead landed a date with justice. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
An unnamed female deer poacher from McIntosh County went online to perhaps find a date with a man, but instead landed a date with justice.
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Warden Cannon Harrison, who is responsible for McIntosh County, recently posted what he thought was a humorous, but harmless, message on Facebook.
The message quickly went nationwide, with stories appearing in such esteemed publications as the Washington Post newspaper and Sports Illustrated magazine.
Harrison’s Facebook message described how late one night about a month ago he was contacted by a woman by way of a dating APP called Bumble.
During the course of their messaging back and forth, the woman boasted that she had just illegally killed a “big ol’ buck.”
She had no idea the man she was messaging was a game warden. Apparently she thought she would bag a “dear” while she was bagging a “deer.”
Harrison told The Washington Post that he initially thought the text was from an acquaintance who was just trying to be funny.
But he quickly realized he might have a poacher on his hands.
The poaching took place at the McIntosh County line on the western side of the county, but in Hughes County, according to Harrison.
He asked her if she had used a bow, since rifle-hunting season was over, and she became evasive.
Since it was night, Harrison asked her if she used a spotlight, which is illegal. Then he asked for pictures of the deer.
She readily sent pictures of herself and the deer.
Harrison used social media to track her down and she was confronted at her home the next morning.
She and a male accomplice were charged with hunting out of season and possession of an illegally taken animal. Fines reportedly totaled $2,400.
Harrison said poaching is an everyday problem in McIntosh County.
“There is an abundance of deer, there’s a large lake and a lot of sportsmen in the area. Being a rural community, there is a lot of opportunity,” he said.
Harrison, who has been a game warden for two years, says he has used social media several times as an investigative tool.
“It doesn’t always lead to an arrest. You have to have all the evidence,” he said.
Harrison was surprised at the response to his Face-book posting.
“I went to bed not thinking that it was a big deal and the next morning my phone started ringing. It shocked me,” he said.
Harrison declined to reveal the name of the poacher.
“I think there could be a lot of backlash on her,” he said.
