Two people had to collectively pay over $7,000 in fines for illegally killing and taking a trophy white-tailed deer, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
In a Facebook post, the commission’s Southwest Region said that Zachary Burgan and Matthew Koenig illegally shot a 169″ Boone and Crockett trophy at 12:15 a.m. Dec. 8 in Portage Township, Cambria County.
The pair shot the deer from a vehicle, with the headlights on, the commission said. The pair then attempted to take the animal to a taxidermist the next day with last year’s tag on it.
The investigation was led by state Game Warden April Whitsell.
Koenig was sentenced to pay more than $6,350 in fines and restitution, with multiple years of license revocation. Burgan, meanwhile, was sentenced to pay over $1,100 in fines and multiple years of license revocation.
The commission asks that any wildlife crimes be reported by calling 888-742-8001 or by visiting the Operation Game Thief section of the commission’s website.