Here’s one of them, a buck with a .22 caliber hole in his head.

BY CRAIG WENZEL

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks is currently investigating the poaching of several deer in the this area, according to SD GF&P Conservation Officer Michael Kavanagh, of Plankinton.

As many as seven or eight deer have been shot by an unknown poacher, Kavanagh stated last week. There could easily be more animals that have been poached or injured, he said. “Who knows how many more there might be?”

We’ve got some physical evidence regarding this, but we are not going to put out all of the information right now,” Kavanagh said, “We have interviewed an individual regarding this.

A mixture of does and bucks, the deer have been shot and left laying. Sometimes poachers take a buck illegally for its horns, or shoot a deer for the meat. “These deer are being shot and just left there,” Kavanagh said.

The animals have apparently been shot by a .22 caliber firearm. Dead and injured deer have been found in various parts of the county.

A dead deer was found in the southwest part of the county in October and the last one found was in late-November.

The local Jerauld County law enforcement officers have been helpful in this matter, according to Kavanagh, “even though this is not their primary responsibility.”

No one knows for sure how many animals this might include. Wessington Springs police officer Mike Krueger said someone who was cleaning a legally-taken deer found a .22 slug in the animal, according to Kavanagh. And Deputy Sheriff Jason Weber disposed of another animal that had been shot in the head with what appeared to be a .22, he continued.

“I encourage sportsmen and landowners to continue to be vigalant,” he said. “If they see a suspicious vehicle or spotlights/headlights at night, they can call or write down the license plate number and forward it to Jason or me. That would be a big plus,” he concluded. His phone number is 605-201-2835.