Oh deer! Baker City man busted for shooting buck decoy
By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY — A hunter from Baker City found himself in hot water after taking a shot at what he thought was a prime-time buck — only to discover it was a cleverly disguised deer decoy used by Oregon State Police.
OSP says in a recent Wildlife Enforcement Decoy Operation carried out in the Dark Canyon area of the Sumpter Wildlife Management Unit, 25-year-old Chase Martin of Baker found himself on the wrong side of the law after shooting a buck deer decoy outside legal shooting hours.
After taking his shot, OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers arrested and charged Martin with Hunting During Prohibited Hours – a misdemeanor.
The use of decoys in such operations is a common tactic employed by wildlife enforcement agencies to identify and deter individuals engaging in illegal hunting practices. The decoys, often lifelike and strategically placed, help authorities detect violations of hunting laws, including shooting animals outside of legal hours.
