A deer killed illegally in Fort Mitchell will be displayed in the city building.
In a news release, the city said that it hopes to educate the public about “the importance of animal conservation.”
In November of 2020, a Union man was charged criminally after killing the deer illegally and was also ordered to pay for the mounting of the dead deer’s head which would then be given to the city.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife investigated the case and charged the man with hunting on private property without permission, illegally killing a deer, and improperly reporting the harvest,
Read LINK nky’s reporting on the case from November 2020 here.
“Once I heard about this, I worked with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and they put me in touch with (Kenton County Attorney) Stacy Tapke’s office,” said Fort Mitchell Councilmember Greg Pohlgeers. “The deer was truly a majestic animal and I hate what happened to it, but I think from an unpleasant situation this was the best ending possible.”
The city sees the situation as an opportunity for others to learn more about animal conservation, an announcement said.
“This story can’t be untold,” said Fort Mitchell Mayor Jude Hehman. “This deer was a legend in Fort Mitchell and through animal conservation the legend will continue.”
According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, hunters are required to report their harvest through Telecheck, an automated game harvest check-in system, either by phone or online by midnight on the day the animal is recovered and before processing the carcass. Entering false information is unlawful.
In the Ft. Mitchell case, the man was charged after falsely reporting that he had killed the deer in Owen Co.
“It’s sad to see a deer poached like this, but you can make a positive out of a negative and use this to teach the public about the importance of animal conservation,” said Sgt. Jason Ping of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.