Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are calling on the public’s help in bringing illegal hunters to justice. The DNR’s Mick Klemesrud says people are tracking deer and other animals from their vehicles and communicating with other hunters by cell phone. “This type of activity has taken hold in certain counties in western and southwestern Iowa,” Klemesrud said. “Our officers are aware of it and it’s something we don’t like to see.” Recently, the DNR charged three men with multiple hunting violations in Cass and Audubon Counties. The men — from Adair, Stuart, and Denison — are accused of illegally shooting two buck deer.

“We think we’ve got one of the most valuable natural resources in our deer herd — it’s world renowned and people come from all over the country and the world to hunt our deer. We want them to do it by the rules,” Klemesrud said. “There are rules we have set up that say you can’t use vehicles and two-way radios to pursue deer.”

The investigation into the illegal activity in Cass and Audubon Counties was launched after the DNR received calls from the public. The three men charged in the case are scheduled to make their initial court appearance on January 7.

(Radio Iowa)