Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Mulberry man Oct. 25, for hunting deer out of season.
According to Sheriff’s Office reports, Dalton Gant, 19, was arrested for armed trespassing on private property.
At about 10:30 a.m. Oct. 25, deputies Dean Cary and Roy Johnson, assigned to the Hillsborough County Parks Unit, were patrolling in the area of Bethlehem Road and Albritton Road in rural southeastern Hillsborough County because of a persistent problem of individuals poaching deer in that area.
While searching a wooded area, they discovered a pickup hidden in a secluded area matching the description of one known to be used by poachers who frequent the area.
The pickup was unoccupied but clearly had been recently driven and appeared to contain equipment used by a hunter, as well as remnants of what could have been recently killed animals.
Cary and Johnson called for additional help, including aviation and K-9 assets. Additionally, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers responded to the scene.
A short time later, deputies located Gant, and he was arrested and charged with felony armed trespassing. FWC officers cited Gant for taking and possessing game out of season and attempting to take game out of season. Several weapons were confiscated, as well as the carcass of a skinned dear.