Deer Hunter Under Investigation After Killing Record-Breaking Buck

A deer hunter who shot a potentially record-breaking buck is now under investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for possible poaching violations. And if found guilty, he faces not only having his trophy taken from him, but a steep fine of potentially more than $30,000.

CJ Alexander, 28, previously told Outdoor Life that he had nabbed the whitetail buck with his crossbow after a 12-hour sit on his sister’s 30-acre property. After initially wounding the deer with a bad shot, he and a friend returned the following day and managed to take the animal down. The buck was later given a green score of 206 ⅞ inches by Ohio’s Buckeye Big Buck Club, completed prior to the required 60 day drying period, which would make the buck the biggest whitetail taken in the state of Ohio and the overall third ever in North America. 

However, there have since been questions about where exactly the buck was taken. Further muddying Alexander’s account are hunting forum users who have pointed out that he claimed to have killed the deer during the day, yet photos of the kill were taken at night. (Alexander told Outdoor Life that the pair had waited for his friend’s girlfriend to get done with work so they could use her camera.)

In a statement this week, the ODNR said that an investigation had been launched “after information was provided alleging that Alexander failed to obtain the lawfully required written permission prior to hunting on private property.” In the meantime, the agency states that “wildlife officers have seized the antlers, cape, and hunting equipment associated with the alleged unlawful taking of the deer.”

Had the deer been certified as record-breaking by Boone and Crockett, North America’s oldest wildlife and habitat conservation organization, it was estimated to have possibly been worth $80,000 or more. But instead, if Alexander is determined to have illegally taken the deer, he faces steep fines. 

According to Section 1531.201 of the Ohio Revised Code that details the civil action to recover possession or value of a wild animal, those found guilty of illegally taking a deer are ordered to pay a restitution fee, as well as an additional fine applies to deer over 125 inches calculated by the deer’s gross score. As Outdoor Life points out, if officials find the buck’s gross score to be accurate, Alexander could receive an additional fine of $30,462.33 if convicted.