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Two Danville men were charged with several violations of the Game and Wildlife Code for the unlawful killing of multiple white-tailed deer in Northumberland and Montour counties recently. The incidents took place between Oct. 30 and Nov. 15.
According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northeast Region Office, Kevin J. Smeltzer, 18, of Boyd Station Road, and Isaac A. Troutman, 20, of Tower Drive, both face charges of killing multiple deer outside of legal deer hunting hours and through the use of a light.
Charges were filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge Marvin Shrawder by Northumberland County District Wildlife Conservation Officer Jason Kelley. Smeltzer and Troutman were each charged with two misdemeanor counts and several summary counts of Unlawful Killing or Taking of Big Game. On the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 16, Kelley, along with other Game Commission officers, responded to information concerning two antlerless deer carcasses that were located along railroad tracks near the Smeltzer residence. A subsequent investigation revealed that the deer were unlawfully killed and linked five other unlawfully killed deer, including one eight-point buck, to the defendants. Only the backstraps were removed from all except one of the deer, with the remainder of the meat left to rot.
Wildlife Conservation Officers seized one rifle, one crossbow, one compound bow, one spotlight, and several pounds of venison as evidence.
“Hunters who follow the law find these acts of poaching repulsive and should be thankful that these individuals were apprehended,” Northeast Region Law Enforcement supervisor Mark Rutkowski said. “Our officers did an outstanding job in responding to the poaching information received and conducting a thorough investigation.”