State Officials Nail Poachers With ‘Robo Deer’
By Space Coast Daily // December 15, 2014
deer replicas used to stop poachers
MyFWC.com – Sometimes, when opportunity knocks, it hits you in the head.
Once upon a recent time, there was a landowner whose fenced property was posted as private.
Neither the fences nor the “posted” sign stopped people from shooting on his land, so he complained to us.
The Fish and Wildlife officers took the pro-active approach: They planted a “robo” deer in the area.
A robo deer isn’t some exotic species; it’s fake. These replicas are regularly used to stop poachers who apparently think the law isn’t for them.
The replicas work because a deer’s natural instinct when caught out in the open is either to freeze, and hope it is not seen, or bolt for the woods. And those who see the “deer” can’t resist a sitting target.
Fifteen minutes after, officers set up the deer and hid in a safe area, they heard a shot.
A poacher had driven up and fired at the robo deer.
They approached the man and took him to a safe location to talk with him.
While they were talking, another man showed up who also shot at the deer.
Both subjects were transported to the Union County Jail and charged with trespassing by projectile (a felony) and shooting from a public road (a misdemeanor).
Both men were caught red-handed.
