ATHENS, OH — A major deer poaching case in southeast Ohio has ended with guilty pleas and hefty penalties for two Mississippi men who illegally hunted white-tailed deer, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Dawson Brown, 25, and Jase D. Smith, 24, both of Poplarville, Mississippi, were sentenced in separate county courts for multiple wildlife violations, including hunting without licenses, using illegal methods, and failing to properly tag harvested animals. Together, they were ordered to pay over $15,000 in restitution and fines, and both lost their hunting privileges in Ohio for three years.
Brown Sentenced to Jail, Fines for Trophy Deer Kills
Brown pleaded guilty to seven charges in Belmont County Court, including hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle, spotlighting, and hunting during archery season with a firearm. He was ordered to pay $13,169.37 in restitution, an additional $865 in fines and court costs, and serve three years’ probation. Brown also received a 390-day jail sentence, with all but 30 days suspended.
Two of the antlered deer he illegally harvested were scored at 166-2/8 and 154-5/8, triggering Ohio’s trophy restitution guidelines. Authorities seized five firearms, a spotlight, venison, and four antlered deer skulls as part of the case.
Smith Faces Jail, Restitution for Illegal Hunts
Smith faced charges in both Muskingum and Belmont counties. In Muskingum County, he pleaded guilty to hunting without permission, lacking the necessary nonresident permits, and failing to check a deer after harvest. He was fined $1,885 in restitution, an additional $249.25 in court costs, sentenced to 30 days in jail, and had his hunting rights suspended for three years.
In Belmont County, Smith also pleaded guilty to possession of untagged deer parts. He was ordered to pay $605 in court costs and placed on three years’ probation. His hunting suspension from Muskingum County was extended to cover both jurisdictions. A crossbow, spotlight, and deer mount were also forfeited.
Hunting Rights Suspended Nationwide
Both Brown and Smith have been entered into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which enforces wildlife law violations across 48 participating states. As a result, the men will likely be barred from hunting in nearly every U.S. state, including their home state of Mississippi, for the next three years.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife emphasized its commitment to protecting Ohio’s natural resources. Anyone witnessing illegal activity related to wildlife is encouraged to report it anonymously by calling 1-800-POACHER (1-800-762-2437).
For more information on Ohio’s wildlife programs and conservation efforts, visit wildohio.gov.
