A California poaching suspect was arrested after authorities seized nearly a thousand black bass and multiple deer antlers during a pair of search warrants.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the Bakersfield resident was taken into custody on Sept. 24 following a months-long investigation into poaching activity across Kern County. Officers had identified the suspect through repeated wildlife crimes in the lead-up to the raids.
“In the months leading up to the search, a wildlife officer identified a suspect who was involved in numerous poaching incidents,” the CDFW said in its announcement.
The evidence gathered established probable cause to believe the suspect had illegally harvested several deer without obtaining proper hunting licenses or deer tags, according to the agency. Some animals were taken out of season, including does and spike bucks that are not legally harvestable under state regulations.
Search warrants were served simultaneously on two properties: one in Bakersfield and another in Stallion Springs, a town located in the Tehachapi Mountains. At the Bakersfield residence, agents said they “uncovered significant evidence connecting the suspect to numerous wildlife crimes.”
The seizure from that location included 931 black bass, six sets of deer antlers, numerous packages of suspected deer meat, and packaged bear meat. Images posted on social media by authorities displayed the scale of the operation, showing an ice chest packed with black bass and deer heads with antlers arranged on the lawn.
The suspect was booked into Kern County Jail and faces multiple charges. These include unlawful possession of deer, unlawful take of deer, and taking fish and wildlife in excess of three times the daily bag limit.
“Samples of the deer and bear meat, along with samples of the antlers were sent to CDFW’s Wildlife Forensics Lab where the DNA will be analyzed to determine the sex and genetic profile of each sample,” the CDFW stated.
“With this information, the investigating officer will be able to determine exactly how many deer and bear the suspect was in possession of,” the agency added.
The arrest came just one day before a separate poaching bust in Los Angeles County. On Sept. 25, officers arrested three individuals in the Angeles National Forest after receiving tips about illegal deer hunting. During targeted night patrols, officers observed two vehicles off-roading and shining spotlights into the forest, a method the CDFW described as “an illegal and highly dangerous method of hunting.”
“After receiving a tip from a vigilant member of the public, officers conducted targeted night patrols in the area,” the CDFW said. “Officers stopped both vehicles and detained three individuals. During initial contact, officers noticed blood on the suspects’ clothing and hands, prompting a comprehensive investigation.”
Officers discovered firearms and two female deer in the vehicles. One animal had been completely skinned, while the other had been quartered into four pieces.
The three blood-soaked suspects were caught red-handed with the illegally killed deer, according to authorities.