3 charged with poaching 24 deer

[Lee Borgersen]

3 charged with poaching 24 deer, including 36 point whitetail
on November 5th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Three people have been charged with poaching twenty-four deer, including a potential state record whitetail deer.  According to the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources (IDNR), charges were filed against the three people after an 11-month investigation.  Specific charges were filed against Christopher Kiernan, 45, of Minooka, Illinois; Garret Armstrong, 31, of Avon, NY and Larry Smith, 49, of Williamsburg, Ontario Canada, according to conservation officials.  State officials say the investigation focused on the illegal taking of a 36-point buck scoring 261 5/8 and valued at $35,000.  “The IDNR Office of Law Enforcement has zero tolerance when it comes to poaching matters,” said IDNR Conservation Police Chief Rafael Gutierrez.  The deer were allegedly illegally taken over a 10-year-period.