OSP: Four charged in Lake County wildlife crimes
The La Pine Office of the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division has completed a four-month investigation into the unlawful killing of several winter range trophy-class mule deer bucks, which resulted in charges against four people.
They were assisted by Fish and Wildlife troopers from both the Klamath Falls and Salem offices, OSP Sgt. Jeff Proulx said Friday in a news release.
The investigation that ended Wednesday began when a trooper located a trophy-class buck deer shot near Cabin Lake Road in Lake County, with the assistance from the OSP Fish and Wildlife aircraft during winter range patrol, Proulx said.
That led to a search warrant being executed Jan. 31 at the Salem home of G.W. Todd Fulfer 40, and his wife, Samantha German-Fulfer, 27. Evidence at the residence, along with additional information, led Fish and Wildlife troopers to the Albany home of Scott Allan Harris, 55. Upon the service of a second search warrant, more evidence was seized, including several trophy class antlers.
A fourth suspect, Jacen Todd Fulfer, 19, was contacted at his residence Lebanon home, as officers conducted their investigations in Salem and Albany.
All four suspects were cited into Lake County Circuit Court on a variety of charges, ranging from felony take/possession of a buck deer to felon in possession of a firearm, waste of game mammal and hunting a game mammal with a prohibited method.
Investigators accused the Salem couple of committing wildlife crimes in Lake, Jefferson, Benton, Linn and Marion counties. In addition to the multiple deer suspected to have been poached by the Fulfers last year, troopers said evidence at the home suggested that a wild turkey and pheasant were also harvested illegally. The suspects were also cited into the other counties on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and various wildlife crimes.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact either the TIP hotline at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677) or by calling Oregon State Police Dispatch at 541-776-6111.
** Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators**
Poaching wildlife and damaging habitats affects present and future generations of wildlife, impacts communities and the economy, and creates enforcement challenges.
The Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) reward is paid for information leading to the arrest/conviction of person(s) for the illegal possession, killing, taking, and/or waste of deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar, wolf, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose, furbearers and/or game birds.
TIP rewards can also be given for the illegal taking, netting, snagging, and/or dynamiting of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and/or large numbers of any fish listed in Oregon statute as a game fish.
* $1,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and Moose
* $500 Elk, Deer and Antelope
* $300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf
* $300 Habitat Destruction
* $100 Game Fish and Shellfish
* $100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl
* $100 Furbearers
How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 (24/7)
TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM)
