PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
Five people are facing wildlife-related charges following an investigation that led to the discovery of the head of a freshly killed mule deer in a vehicle about nine miles southwest of Pendleton near the Umatilla River.
Just after 6 p.m. on Sunday, an Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife trooper came across Jeep Cherokee with the driver’s door ajar parked at the intersection of Speare Canyon Road and Mud Springs Road. The trooper noted an empty gun case and ammunition inside the vehicle. About two and a half hours later, another Jeep Cherokee arrived at the intersection with five occupants inside. The trooper observed the occupants were in possession of the head of a freshly killed mature buck mule deer.
The deer head and a rifle were seized and the following five people were cited:
• Vance Tyler Wright, 23, Canyon City. He was identified as the shooter and was cited on charges of unlawful take/possession of game mammal during closed season; unlawful take/possession of buck deer; waste of game mammal.
• Kennan Carl Aden Wright, 21, Pendleton. He was charged with unlawful take/possession of buck deer.
• Brandon Michael McConnell, 20, Pendleton. He was charged with unlawful take/possession of buck deer.
• Forest Hunter Johnson, 19, Pendleton. He was charged with unlawful take/possession of buck deer.
• Whitney Ann Anderson, 19, Pendleton. She was charged with unlawful take/possession of buck deer.
