COLCHESTER, Vt. – A Colchester man has been sentenced in a December 2018 deer poaching incident and ordered to pay fines and restitution.
Hugh Delibac, 52, pled guilty to taking deer by illegal means and taking deer in closed season, both misdemeanor offenses, on March 21 in Washington County Court. Delibac was ordered to pay $2,500 in fines and $1,000 in restitution.
A Vermont State Game Warden received complaints from the public of illegal deer hunting activity on December 8 and 9, 2018, that both involved a vehicle matching the same description. The December 8 incident involved hunting on posted property in the town of Waitsfield. The December 9 incident involved shooting from the road after legal hunting hours in the neighboring town of Warren.
The warden obtained evidence from both scenes and confirmed the illegal taking of deer. Evidence obtained from both incidents was confirmed to originate from the same person. Through prior investigations, the warden knew that Delibec owned a truck matching the description of the one used in the poaching incidents.
The warden executed a search warrant on Delibac's residence and vehicle, seizing both physical and DNA evidence, as well was as Delibac's truck. Evidence confirmed that the vehicle was used to illegally take a deer.
As part of his sentencing, Delibac lost the privilege to hunt, fish, or trap in Vermont and 45 other states for three years from the date of his conviction. He must also attend a hunter remedial ethics course before being eligible to obtain another license in Vermont.
For Immediate Release: April 2, 2019
Media Contacts: Col. Jason Batchelder 802-828-1529; Lt. Carl Wedin 802-879-5669