Three bag 10 deer in one day, then arrests

Three Adams County hunters also paid $3,325 in fines and costs for illegally killing the deer in West Virginia.

By CARYL CLARKE, York Daily Record staff

December 7, 2002

Complaints of heavy gunfire in a West Virginia farmer’s field Tuesday drew state game officers, who found three Adams County hunters with 10 deer killed illegally.
The hunters were arrested, paid their fines and returned home.

Lt. Jon Cogar, head of the law enforcement division of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, said Friday that if the men had had hunting licenses, each could have taken one doe or one buck a day.

Pennsylvania allows a licensed hunter to kill one buck a season and more than one doe with additional licenses.

“The men couldn’t run,” Cogar said. “The officers caught them by surprise.”

Harrison County Magistrate Warren Davis arraigned Laramie R. Hughes, 30, and Buddie E. Sowers , 18, both of New Oxford, and Landon J. Rife , 18, of Conewago Township, on a total 23 counts of illegally killing and possessing deer, failure to tag deer, and license violations, his clerk said Friday. They paid $3,325 in fines, court costs and restitution.

Three hunting rifles were impounded. The carcasses were confiscated to feed zoo animals, Cogar said.

“I am sure they were going to take them home to eat,” Cogar said. “They were for personal gain.”

Hughes, Sowers and Rife could not be reached for comment.

“The people trust us to care for the wildlife,” Cogar said. “Hunting brings in millions and millions of dollars for the local economy.”

Out-of-state hunters are always welcome to hunt in West Virginia, Cogar said, so long as they buy a $110 license and obey the laws.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach Caryl Clarke at 771-2032 or caryl@ydr.com.