Cody Pernice was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and illegal hunting when an off-duty police officer caught him perched in a tree stand with his bow and arrows Tuesday evening.
After climbing to the ground, Mr. Pernice admitted that he was illegally baiting and hunting deer on Staten Island.
A report published by The Department of Environmental Conservation claims that NY has seen a marked increase in poaching cases since 2008.
The deer population on Staten Island is estimated at nearly 2,200 animals.
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