Two men have been charged in connection with a deer poaching incident earlier this month in southeastern Carroll County. According to Carroll County District Court records, 19-year-old Tyler Joseph Stork of Carroll and 21-year-old Russell Ray DeWitt of Lohrville were cited by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for alleged poaching activities on Nov. 5, about 2.5 miles east of Dedham. Stork and DeWitt face multiple counts of restriction on taking game—deer by rifle, hunting by artificial lights, first-offense trespassing while deer hunting, shooting firearms over water, highways, or railroads, and abandonment of a dead or injured animal, all misdemeanor offenses. Most of the citations are scheduled violations, meaning they come with a pre-established fine. Of those charges, the total is over $2,00 for each person. Stork and DeWitt also face two citations in which the state is seeking liquidated damages for the poached deer, which could reach $10,000 per buck over 150 inches. Charges with the potential for liquidated damages require a court appearance, and their hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Carroll County Courthouse.
