24-04-2025
Local wildlife officers honored for top poaching investigation
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Two wildlife officers out of Xenia were recognized Tuesday for their work on a white-tailed deer poaching investigation.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife announced that Ohio Wildlife Officers Isaiah Gifford and Matt Roberts received the national Pope and Young Club's Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer Award for their work.
They are the first officers from Ohio and the first co-recipients to receive this award.
The Pope and Young Club is a nonprofit conservation organization that works to manage big game animal populations.
The officers were chosen for their investigation of a 28-year-old from Wilmington, who was sentenced in December 2024 for unlawfully shooting a trophy buck in November 2023.
The case is significant because the man was sentenced to pay the maximum restitution for the 18-point trophy buck, $35,071.73, which was the highest restitution value for a single white-tailed deer in Ohio's history.
Anyone who witnesses a wildlife violation can call the Turn in a Poacher hotline at 1-800-POACHER (1-800-762-2437). Tips are kept anonymous.
To learn more about the Division of Wildlife, click here.
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