Wildlife Mississippi Works to Stop Poachers in Monroe County

Conservation officers in Monroe County are now being equipped with the latest technology to curtail the poaching of deer due to recent efforts of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, or Wildlife Mississippi as it is commonly called.

"Wildlife Mississippi has been working to construct decoy deer and provide them to the local conservation officers. Officers in all 82 counties will have access to the 50 decoy deer that have been donated to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks," said Peyton Self, President of Wildlife Mississippi.

This decoy deer was recently donated to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks by the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Pictured is Jackie Jetton, Conservation Officer for Monroe County, and James Cummins, Executive Director of Wildlife Mississippi.

"Before, an officer had to witness the act of shooting at a live deer. The chances of witnessing that act were about zero," said Randall Miller, District Administrator for Northeast Mississippi for the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, decoy deer can wear out fairly quickly, dependant on the number of times they are shot, so replacements are a beneficial and welcome tool to conservation officers.

"The fine for shooting off a right of way is $100 to $500 plus court costs. Shooting from a motorized vehicle may draw an additional fine ranging from $25 to $100 plus costs. Headlighting or spotlighting deer is even more serious, carrying a penalty of $500 to $1,000 plus costs and making the confiscation of guns, lights and other equipment mandatory," said Jackie Jetton, Conservation Officer for Monroe County.