A $1,000 reward is offered for info on illegal deer poaching in Downeast Maine, where five deer were killed between September and November 2025.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to a conviction in the poaching of five deer in the Cherryfield area of Downeast Maine between September and November 2025. The deer, including bucks with antlers removed and a fawn, were shot and left to decay in various locations. Authorities say the killings involved illegal activities such as night hunting, exceeding bag limits, deer baiting, and false registration. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and the Maine Warden Service are urging the public to report any tips, especially about vehicles or license plates, through Maine Operation Game Thief at 1-800-ALERT-US or maineogt.org. The investigation is ongoing.