OH: Clinton County man indicted for poaching unique whitetail

Clinton County man indicted for poaching unique whitetail (local12.com)

5/10/2024

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the indictment of a Wilmington man accused of poaching an 18-point antlered white-tailed deer.

“Blinded by greed, the defendants set their sights on fame and fortune while disregarding basic hunting regulations,” Yost said. “Instead of the cover of Field & Stream, their notoriety will be a booking photo.”

The indictment accuses Christopher Alexander, 28, of unlawfully harvesting the deer in November of 2023. He faces multiple other charges, including illegally hunting deer, theft by deception, tampering with evidence, and more.

Alexander claimed the animal had been harvested on his sister’s property, and he provided her written permission to a wildlife officer. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife discovered Alexander killed the buck on private property around 10 miles from his sister’s land. Additionally, the written permission presented to wildlife officers was falsified and created after the deer was killed.

Wildlife officers also learned that Alexander made $20,000 from selling deer antlers to an antler collector, a hunting magazine, and a company specializing in deer products.

Corey Haunert, 29, faces multiple charges for helping Alexander including hunting without permission, tampering with evidence, and falsification.

Christopher Alexander’s sister, Kristina Alexander, faces a falsification charge alongside a charge for aiding a wildlife offender. Corey Haunert’s brother, Zachary Haunert, faces two misdemeanor counts of aiding a wildlife offender.

The white-tailed dear is notable in Ohio for being one of the state’s most prominent wildlife species, the state’s only big game animal, and acting as Ohio’s state mammal. The specific white-tailed deer Alexander is accused of poaching is the largest typical white-tailed deer in Ohio, and the third largest typical white-tailed deer in North America.

“This once-in-a-lifetime deer embodies the great natural resources Ohio has to offer,” Yost added. “It is shameful that this deer ended up in an evidence room rather than adorning an ethical hunter’s wall as a prized trophy.”

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