DEC Uncovers Illegally Baited Tree Stand

EAST HAMPTON, NY — An illegally baited tree stand was uncovered in East Hampton, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Environmental Conservation Police Officer Sean Rockefeller located the stand and ECOs Jeremy Eastwood and Michael Unger checked the stand the following day and found a fresh gut pile nearby, the DEC said. A week later, ECO Rockefeller once again checked the tree stand in in hopes of catching violators, but came up empty-handed.

While speaking with another hunter, the ECO learned that a white pickup truck had been seen in the area; ECO Rockefeller visited the site a short time later and spotted a truck that met the description, the DEC said.

The officer walked quietly through the woods to view the tree stand and found two hunters sitting in it; he announced his presence, and after a short interview, one hunter admitted to shooting a small buck out of the tree stand on Oct. 5 and placing bait at the stand in the spring, the DEC said.

Nine tickets were issued to the two hunters for violations, including hunting with the aid of bait; hunting after legal shooting hours; failure to wear a back tag; placing a salt lick on lands inhabited by deer; failure to tag deer as required; and illegally taking the small buck, the DEC said.

In addition, two compound bows, one trail camera, a mineral block, and a set of antlers were seized; all tickets are returnable to the East Hampton Town Justice Court, the DEC said.