Murray and game warden Dalton Bluey suspected a processor had dumped the parts and began investigating. They collected 172 legs and, working through the state’s hunter database, got in touch with many of the hunters associated with the confirmation numbers. Each one reported taking their deer to the same meat processor.
The following day, Bluey and wardens Mike France and Tim Campbell interviewed the processor who had been named. The processor explained that their business gives leftover legs and offal to multiple people, who use the parts for everything from fertilizer to chicken feed. Additional interviews led Bluey to an individual who received the discards in question from the processor. That suspect confessed to dumping the piles and charges are now pending, according to the Oklahoma Game Wardens Facebook page. Illegal dumping is a misdemeanor in Oklahoma. Penalties can range from a $500 to $5,000 fine and up to 30 days in county jail. It is possible additional charges for improper carcass disposal will also apply.
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