Photo Courtesy AZGFD: The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest of the person or persons responsible for the poaching of a mule deer buck in Pima.
PIMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with the discovery of a headless mule deer buck found along the northern bank of the Gila River on Dec. 19, 2023.
The deer was found off Canal Road near the Main Street Bridge. Physical evidence was recovered at the scene. The deer was likely dumped at that location after being killed elsewhere.
There was no firearms deer season open at the time.
“Poachers are criminals. They are thieves who steal wildlife from Arizona citizens,” said Acting Regional Supervisor Michael Rice of Game and Fish in Tucson. “In addition to the deer apparently being killed in a closed season, most of its remains were left to rot in the field.”
Individuals with information about the case are urged to call Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief Hotline at 800-352-0700, anonymously if need be, and reference OGT#23-003577.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has trust responsibility for managing more than 800 native wildlife species – the most of any inland state – for current and future generations of Arizona citizens.
