New Jersey

New Jersey Wildlife Officials Use ‘Robo-Deer' to Help Nab Would-Be Poachers

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife uses robotic deer at 2 locations to catch would-be poachers.

What to Know

  • New Jersey wildlife officials say they caught three would-be poachers with the help of a stuffed "robotic" deer.
  • "Robo-deer" doesn't move on its on, wildlife officials said.
  • Deer hunting is only permitted on designated days each year.

New Jersey wildlife officials say they caught three would-be poachers with the help of a stuffed "robotic" deer.

The state announced Tuesday that the decoy, dubbed "Robo-deer" by state wildlife officials, was strategically placed around southern New Jersey in December as part of a hunting enforcement effort. NJ.com reports deer hunting is permitted on designated days each year from a half-hour before sunrise until a half-hour after sunset.

Wildlife officials call the decoy robotic, but it doesn't move on its own.

Conservation officers say they apprehended two would-be poachers at Peaslee Wildlife Management area in Woodbine and another would-be illegal hunter at Makepeace Wildlife Management Area in Atlantic County. They say in one case the would-be poachers dumped a gun on the side of the road.

A Department of Environmental Protection spokesman says conservation officers have used stuffed deer to catch illegal hunters for years.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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