Across the country, wild turkey, white‑tailed deer and other wildlife depend on strong laws and responsible people to keep them safe. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service need your help spreading the word about how poaching wildlife threatens America's heritage. It takes from everyone – from wildlife, public lands and from the local communities that care for them.

Back in May of 2025, Carter J. Hickey, a 21‑year‑old man from New Philadelphia, Ohio, became the focus of a multi‑state investigation after many complaints came into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and our Office of Law Enforcement. These tips led us to uncover something much bigger: Hickey had violated wildlife laws in at least 17 states and had even more on his radar.

About a year later, on May 20, 2026, in New Philadelphia Municipal Court, Hickey pleaded guilty to 17 wildlife crimes. These weren’t small mistakes, rather they were a deliberate pattern of violations that ignored seasons, bag limits, tags, and permission. Hickey took wildlife during closed seasons, possessed animals illegally, hunted without permission, spotlighted and killed wildlife with the help of a motor vehicle and failed to follow game‑check rules. He also helped others to poach turkeys without licenses and allowed over‑the‑limit turkey takes. The poor choices of three additional defendants lead to $5,000 in fines, as well as losing their firearms and two years of hunting privileges combined.

More than fines and time served – he lost his gear and ate crow too

The court made Hickey pay more than $12,000 in restitution, $5,500 in fines and $11,000 in extra penalties. He also had to give $5,000 to the Ohio Turn In a Poacher program. Hickey must spend 15 days in jail, complete two years of probation and complete 80 hours of community service. On top of that, he can’t hunt or trap for five years. Hickey also lost respect from his followers on social media, his shameful side hustle.

While he was busy poaching, Hickey posted false information about his activities on TikTok, bragging about his hunting skills, despite many of his actions being illegal. Because of this, he was required to post an apology on the same channel and was required to write a letter to City of Dover for trespassing and unlawfully taking a 10-point buck in a public park.

Aside from bruising a poacher’s pride, losing a firearm really hurts. Hickey forfeited three firearms, a bow, hunting blinds, decoys and other equipment used in his illegal activities. Officers also seized 115 pounds of turkey meat and 47 whole or partial turkey fans. These are not only evidence, but they also represent real conservation losses. Poaching damages far more than one species, it harms trust and puts honest hunters at a disadvantage. It steals opportunities from families who hope to pass down responsible outdoor traditions and threatens the very wildlife populations we work to conserve.

We can’t do this alone, it takes coordination, teamwork and strong partnerships with Tribal Nations, other federal agencies and our colleagues in state conservation agencies. Our special agents in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and our counterparts in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources are trained to safeguard animals and habitats, enforce the law and assist local communities. Many thanks to everyone who made this investigation possible.

Together we rely on people who are willing to speak up when something isn’t right. If you witness a wildlife crime, report it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or call 1-844-FWS-TIPS. Calls remain anonymous, and information that leads to a conviction may earn a reward.