FWC News Release - FWC Officers bust poaching trio in Pasco

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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For immediate release: March 7, 2014

Media contact: Gary Morse, 863-648-3852

 

Photo available on FWC’s Flickr site: Go to http://flic.kr/p/kMSYxR.

Suggested Tweet: Alleged poaching trio busted by @MyFWC officers in central #Florida https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/a99941 #Crime

FWC officers bust poaching trio in Pasco

A night-hunting detail in northern Pasco County, conducted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers on Feb. 27, resulted in the arrest of three local men for poaching deer on private property and hunting out of season.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Feb 27, FWC officers working on Bellamy Brothers Boulevard in Dade City noticed spotlights in operation and heard multiple gunshots coming from private property nearby. At about 1 a.m. officers discovered three men – Jason Michael Payne (DOB 11/30/77) of 16225 Bellamy Brothers Blvd., Dade City; Eric R. Ohmdahl (DOB 06/10/75) of 6083 Waycross Drive, Spring Hill; and Marc P. Laird (DOB 03/10/82) of 1871 E. Jefferson St., Brooksville – cleaning six deer at the rear of Payne’s residence.

Officers seized three rifles with lights attached and six bags of deer meat. All three men were charged with the first-degree misdemeanors for taking deer at night with gun and light, taking deer during closed season and taking doe deer. A first-degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Additional charges may be filed pending further investigation.

Administratively, hunting privileges of the men may be revoked for up to three years for a first offense and a lifetime suspension for subsequent violations.

For more information on whitetail deer, deer management and deer hunting, visit MyFWC.com/Deer or call the FWC Southwest Region Office in Lakeland at 863-648-3200.

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