Poachers suspected of running down deer

OCEAN SHORES, Wash. – Washington state investigators say poachers apparently are using cars to run down deer near Ocean Shores.

Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Brad L. Rhoden says a search warrant was served on Wednesday, and the meat and hides from about four illegally taken deer were found at a home in the coastal town.

A resident of the home and three people from Bellingham are under investigation, but no arrests have been reported.

Rhoden says the poachers apparently have been knocking down relatively tame deer with motor vehicles around Ocean Shores since at least October.

He explains that once a deer was on the ground, the poachers would leap out of their vehicles and slit the animal’s throat.