“Operation Jackhammer” cracks down on deer poaching
ALBANY – Over 100 people were charged with over 250 offenses as the state DEC conducted “Operation Jackhammer,” targeting people who take deer by using artificial light.
“Deer jacking” involves hunting where poachers shine a spotlight on a deer feeding in fields to “freeze” the animal long enough to shoot it, killing deer when they are most vulnerable.
Over 100 EnCon officers from the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Capital Region and Adirondacks spend six weeks targeting rural areas with stakeouts at all hours of the night. During the operation, DEC officers charged 107 people with 187 misdemeanors and 87 violations. That included 27 instances of deer jacking to kill deer and 48 instances of hunters using lights but not yet killing a deer when caught.
Other related charges were filed, including carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle, hunting after hours and firing a gun within 500 feet of a house.
Approximately 40 guns were confiscated and 42 illegally taken deer recovered.
