Frederick County Man Pleads Guilty to Poaching Trophy Deer After Social Media Tip

FREDERICK, MD News (10/1/2024) – Michael K. Hines has pleaded guilty to one count of hunting mammals during a closed season in the Circuit Court for Frederick County. The plea follows a thorough investigation by Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), which uncovered evidence of Hines illegally killing a trophy white-tailed deer with a firearm during bow season.

The Honorable Judge Richard Sandy sentenced Hines to pay $5,000 in restitution to the State Wildlife Management and Protection Fund, ordered him to complete 80 hours of community service, and imposed a $1,000 criminal fine. The restitution will go towards conservation efforts throughout Maryland, a state known for its dedicated wildlife management programs.

The case stems from a tip received by NRP on November 11, 2023, which indicated that Hines had killed a large buck with a firearm, despite the fact that it was bow season—a period when hunting with firearms is strictly prohibited under Maryland law. State law, specifically Natural Resources Article §10-404, limits hunting methods during different seasons to ensure the preservation of wildlife populations. Violations of these rules, often referred to as poaching, undermine these efforts.

NRP’s investigation revealed that Hines shot the buck on the evening of November 10, 2023. He later posted photos of himself with the deer on the social media page “Maryland Bowhunters,” which helped authorities trace the illegal activity. Hines removed the head and antlers of the deer, disposed of the carcass, and took the remains to a local taxidermist. The deer’s carcass, which was eventually recovered by NRP officers, exhibited two gunshot wounds, confirming that it had been killed with a firearm rather than a crossbow.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of adhering to hunting regulations: “Maryland hunters understand the rules about when, where, and how they can hunt. When someone breaks those rules, they’re cheating and harming Maryland’s conservation efforts.”

NRP Superintendent Orlando Lilly also weighed in on the successful prosecution. “Illegal poaching takes Marylanders’ rightful natural resources away from law-abiding hunters and will not be tolerated under any circumstance,” said Lilly. He praised the NRP officers for their diligent work in identifying the violation and thanked the Attorney General’s Office for pursuing the case to the fullest extent of the law.

In addition to the criminal fine and restitution, the size of the antlers played a significant role in determining the financial penalty. The Boone and Crockett Club scoring methodology, a standardized system used to evaluate the size of deer antlers, assigned a gross score of 169 1/8 inches to the antlers in this case. Under Maryland law, poachers convicted of taking deer with antlers measuring more than 150 inches are required to pay a minimum restitution of $5,000.

This case highlights Maryland’s commitment to protecting its natural resources and ensuring that those who flout wildlife conservation laws face significant penalties. Attorney General Brown and Superintendent Lilly both reiterated that illegal poaching not only deprives law-abiding hunters of fair opportunities but also threatens the sustainability of wildlife populations in the state.

The investigation was conducted by Maryland Natural Resources Police, with Officer Charles Faith playing a key role. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit, led by Chief Counsel D’Arcy Talley, with support from Assistant Attorneys General Suzannah Sturgell and Kory H. Lemmert.

Story by multiple RFHC contributors