SIDNEY, Maine – Seven people were arrested Thursday night and 14 others also face charges in what the Maine Warden Service described as one of its largest poaching busts ever.

The suspects, most of them from the Belgrade area, face a range of wildlife charges that include killing multiple deer, night hunting, killing wildlife in closed seasons, hunting on posted land, shooting from a motor vehicle and driving deer towards shooters in large organized groups, the warden service said.

“This group possessed a blatant disregard for the laws that are designed to protect Maine’s wildlife for everyone,” said Major Gregg Sanborn. “They killed multiple deer, they killed at night, out of season, and fired out of their trucks. They killed whatever and whenever they felt like it.”

The arrests and other enforcement activities Thursday night capped an operation that involved 80 people, including 65 game wardens, six sheriffs, two state troopers and support staff.

Evidence seized after search warrants were served at 19 central Maine locations included deer meat, deer antlers, deer parts, moose meat, wild turkey meat, wild turkey parts (beards and feathers), firearms, bone saws, and archery equipment.

“This group would kill multiple deer, and at times have three deer hanging in a shed or garage, waiting to be cut up and distributed among the group,” said Sanborn. He said deer meat would be passed around to fellow poachers and family members.

Arrested were Peter Tukey, 52, of Belgrade; Albert (Joey) Languet, 31, of Belgrade; Vernon Dexter, 57, of Gardiner; Patrick Dexter, 32, of Belgrade; Glenn Glidden, 43, of Rome; Andrew Seamon, 38, of Augusta; and Paul Stevens, 37, of Belgrade.

“This group boasted about killing more than 50 deer this past season in the Belgrade area, which is near the amount that was legally registered in Belgrade,” said District Game Warden Dan Murray, who patrols that area.

Officials said additional charges are expected.