Illegal Deer Hunting Incident in Angeles National Forest Leads to Arrests

On a patrol through the Angeles National Forest during the night, officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) spotted two vehicles off-road. These vehicles were using a spotlight, a prohibited and risky hunting technique according to the agency.

Upon pulling the vehicles over, officers discovered three individuals with bloodstains on their hands and clothes. Their investigation revealed two freshly killed does, as well as loaded firearms and spotlights. Both animals were headless, packed in black trash bags, with one fully skinned and the other quartered.

The suspects were arrested on the spot but released after agreeing in writing to appear in court, the agency stated in a Facebook post. They confessed to the unlawful killing of the deer and attempting to hide the crime.

CDFW seized the firearms, deer, and other related evidence. Violations included the unlawful taking of female deer, taking deer without proper licenses or tags, possession of untagged meat, having loaded firearms in a vehicle, using an illegal hunting method, and spotlighting.

The exact timing of the arrests remains unclear, and CDFW has yet to respond to requests for comments. The agency’s Facebook post emphasized that their officers had received numerous reports in August last year about illegal deer hunting and spotlighting within the forest, primarily located in Los Angeles County.

A public tip led officers to perform “targeted night patrols” in the area, culminating in these arrests, according to CDFW.

Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, praised the officers’ efforts to safeguard California’s natural resources. He acknowledged the risks involved when confronting armed individuals in challenging terrains, particularly during nighttime operations.

He further stressed the significance of public tips, noting that CDFW officers cannot be everywhere at once.

A similar incident in 2020 led to the conviction of a man from Yuba County, accused of killing seven does and abandoning their bodies to elude capture. DNA evidence was crucial, linking the meat found at his home and a nearby waterway to the crimes.

In California, hunting deer requires a license and a specific deer tag. Currently, nearly two dozen hunting zones are open for rifle hunting, including parts of Central Valley and Eastern Sierra.