ASHBURNHAM – A man who shot a bear using a bow & arrow faces multiple criminal charges after admitting to officials that the killing took place two days after the end of hunting season. According to the state Environmental Police
The murder occurred in December, and authorities provided details of their investigation on Wednesday.
Environmental Police released a news release saying that the suspect admitted to shooting the mother bear while it was eating birdseed in its backyard.
The Ashburnham man in question has not been identified by authorities. He is being charged with illegally taking a black bear, illegal hunting in a closed season, illegally hunting a bear in baited areas, and falsifying the harvest report.
After bringing the bear to a New Hampshire butcher, it was the defendant who first contacted authorities. Environmental Police reports that the man told the butcher the bear was dead before the season ended. However, the butcher suspected otherwise.
Soon after the killing, the bear’s killer contacted authorities. He acknowledged the timing of the killing, but he claimed that he did not know that the season had ended. According to Environmental Police,
“Upon arriving at the home of the individuals, Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers noticed a yearling bear cub in the suspect’s truck bed. This is where the deceased bear was also found.” Environmental Police stated that a second yearling cub was found nearby.”The yearling cubs were of sufficient size and age to be able to survive on their own, and they left the scene within minutes of officers’ arrival.” MassWildlife biologists confirmed the same on the day.
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