DEC: Men Caught 'Deer Jacking' in Water Mill

Two of nearly 140 people charged throughout New York as part of a major crack down on deer poaching, the largest in the state history, were arrested in Water Mill during this bow and arrow hunting season.

State Department of Environmental Conservation officers set up a decoy that was shot with a bow at night on Schwenks Road, a residential area off Edge of Woods Road during the open weekend of archery hunting season, according to Captain Timothy Huss, the chief environmental conservation officer on Long Island. The decoy, a stuffed deer, was used as part of an initiative called "Operation Dark Night," which focuses on the illegal taking of deer by artificial light. The practice is known as "deer jacking."

Poachers "shine a spotlight on a deer feeding in fields to 'freeze' the deer long enough to shoot it — killing deer when they are most vulnerable, " according to a DEC press release issued Wednesday. Such misdemeanor crimes usually occur in rural areas, late at night, resulting in few arrests.

However, the statewide operation yielded 137 arrests for more than 250 offenses over a seven-week period. Most of the arrestes were made upstate, and nine were made on Long Island. It was the DEC's largest coordinated anti-deer-jacking initiative in the state's history, according to the press release.

In Water Mill, officers Liza Bobseine and Jeremy Eastwood set up the decoy on Oct. 2 and waited. "Just after dark, these two subjects drive by and see the decoy. They stop, shining the light and the guy shot the decoy," Huss said. He said Ivan Ramirez, 38, of Lindenhurst and Jeffrey B. Klein, 35, of Copiague were startled when the officers revealed themselves.

Klein was charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly discharging a bow within 500 feet of a dwelling and shooting from a public highway. Klein and Ramirez were both charged with hunting big game during closed hours, as hunting is only allowed between sunrise and sunset; hunting deer with the aid of artificial light within 500 feet of a dwelling and use of a light in a motor vehicle while in possession of a long bow, all violations.

Their cases are pending in Southampton Town Justice Court and their next appearance is set for Jan. 19, according to Huss.

Huss said that while he wasn't exactly sure why that area of Water Mill was targeted, he said in general, "We target areas because they have conditions for spotlighting; they are in open fields, no woods, or deer hang out there often."

"Most hunters play by the rules  — but deer jackers don't," acting Commissioner Peter Iwanowicz was quoted as saying in the press release. "This illegal practice not only gives them an unfair advantage but also puts unsuspecting people who may be nearby at risk."

Other close by deer jacking arrests were made on the Calverton National Cemetery, though those cases did not involve a decoy.

Huss said his officers also made three dozen cases in the region where archery hunters used bait to lure deers, which is illegal in New York.

Bow and arrow season runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. 

An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect first name for officer Bobseine. Her first name is Liza.