Deer shooting on MDI under investigation

BAR HARBOR – State, local and federal law enforcement officers are investigating an incident in which a deer allegedly was shot from a pickup truck on Schooner Head Road, which borders Acadia National Park.

Deer hunting is not permitted in Acadia National Park or on Mount Desert Island.

Bar Harbor police Officer Eric McLaughlin said Monday that local police initially received a report late Saturday afternoon that a deer had been shot with a crossbow, but that turned out to be inaccurate. He said he and other officers with the park and with the Maine Warden Service found the deer alive Sunday morning near where it had been shot. The deer had one bullet lodged in its body.

“It definitely did some severe damage,” McLaughlin said of the rifle round.

Police had to euthanize the deer because of its injuries, he said.

McLaughlin said no charges have been filed so far in the case but that mutliple charges could result. He said hunting from a vehicle is illegal.

“The deer was standing on national park land,” he said. “There is a dead deer and there are suspects. I foresee charges coming out of this.”

The case is still under investigation, he added.

Attempts Monday to contact law enforcement officials with Acadia National Park and the Maine Warden Service who are involved in the case were unsuccessful.

btrotter@bangordailynews.net

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