TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey wildlife officials say they have caught three would-be poachers thanks to the help of a “robotic” deer decoy.
NJ.com reports the lifelike stuffed deer was placed in wooded areas around South Jersey in December as part of a hunting enforcement effort.
Conservation officers say two men used a spotlight to locate the decoy deer two hours after sunset and fired a shot at it.
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Three days later, another man illuminated the deer with his car’s headlights after hours and fired one round of buckshot from a shotgun at the decoy.
Officials say the three men were ordered to pay a combined $4,500 in fines. The first two men face multiple charges, while the third man has pleaded guilty.
The firearms season took place Dec. 3-8.
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