LAWTEY, Fla. – Two Florida men accused of poaching an 11-point buck were arrested after wildlife officials said they posted to social media about their conquests.
FWC officers responded in November to a farm in Lake Butler after receiving complaints about shots fired.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers said Taylor Wise shot an 11-point buck at Shadd Farms’ deer pen, while Aaron Griffis and his child were in the truck. Wise told officers that after dropping off his son, he and Griffis went back to drag out the deer and brought it back to Lawtey, northwest of Gainesville.
Through search warrants and anonymous tips, FWC officers found social media posts by Griffis about the deer.
“After exercising a search warrant issued by the state attorney’s office on Griffis’ social media private messages, we found videos that he posted of himself walking through the woods, shining a light and shooting at a deer,” FWC Lt. Clay Huff said. “There were comments accompanying the video, stating it was a 15-point deer at which he was shooting. Mr. Shadd advised that he had found a 15-point buck dead in his pen.”
Investigators said the two men also broke into the pen on another night.
Griffis and Wise are charged with multiple wildlife violations, including grand theft of livestock and taking a deer at night, the FWC officials said. Wise is also charged with child neglect.
Union County State Attorney’s Office filed the charges against the two men.
FWC officials said the person who reported the poaching incident received a reward from the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Program.
Anyone who suspects a fish, wildlife, boating or environmental law violation can call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-3922 or text Tip@MyFWC.com. Violations can also be reported online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert by clicking on “Report Online.”