Man poaches trophy deer on private land, gets record-breaking fine, Ohio officials say
A man accused of going onto private property without a hunting license to shoot a trophy deer will now have to pay a record-breaking fine, Ohio wildlife officials said.
Christopher Alexander, 28, is set to pay nearly $40,000 in restitution for the 2023 crime, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said in a Dec. 12 news release. He owes $35,071.73 — a record fine for a white-tailed deer in state history — after officials say he shot an 18-point white-tailed trophy buck.
Alexander also owes $4,625 for another unlawfully hunted buck in 2023, according to officials.
The hunter shot the buck on private property in Clinton County on Nov. 9, 2023, according to the DNR.
He did not have written permission to hunt on the private land during the archery hunting season, officials said in a December 2023 news release. Investigators acting on an anonymous tip seized Alexander’s hunting equipment, along with the antlers and cape from the trophy buck, officials said.
Alexander pleaded guilty to 14 charges according to officials. Those charges were:
- Two counts of illegal taking or possession of deer
- Hunting without a license
- Hunting without a deer permit
- Selling illegally taken or possessed deer antlers
- Spotlighting
- Four counts of hunting without permission
- Tampering with evidence
- Theft
- Misdemeanor theft
- Falsification
In addition to his record-breaking fine, Alexander will serve six months in a correctional facility, have all property related to the deer seized and have his hunting license revoked for the next decade, officials said.
Three others were also sentenced in connection with the poaching of the 18-point buck.
A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 90 days in jail on several charges, including aiding a wildlife offender, according to the release. A 37-year-old woman and 31-year-old man will serve 60 days in jail on related charges, officials said.
White-tailed deer are described as “Ohio’s best-known wildlife species” and are commonly hunted in the state, the DNR said.
The species is popular across the United States, according to the National Park Service. Nearly 6 million white-tailed deer are harvested each year.
Clinton County is about a 50-mile drive northeast from Cincinnati.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 8:54 AM with the headline "Man poaches trophy deer on private land, gets record-breaking fine, Ohio officials say."
