Oregon Teen Caught on Video Riding Mule Deer Buck, Arrested
OutdoorHub Reporters 12.11.19
An 18-year-old in Oregon has been arrested and is facing charges of wildlife harassment and animal abuse after a video surfaced on social media showing him riding on the back of a mule deer buck while it was contained within a fenced enclosure.
Throughout the video, the mule deer buck can be heard grunting as it struggles to get the young man off his back. Once he finally ditches the rider, the buck was seen “jumping into a chain-link fence multiple times, attempting to escape the enclosure,” the news release from Oregon State Police reported.
“After reviewing the footage, OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers conducted further investigation and successfully identified the two suspects in the video. The primary suspect, identified as Jacob Belcher (18) from Riley, OR., was located on a rural ranch in Harney County where he was interviewed by Troopers. The investigation and interviews revealed that the buck had entrapped itself within a fenced feeding enclosure, where it was ridden by Belcher. The buck was eventually freed and its status at this time is unknown.”
After questioning, Belcher was arrested and lodged at the Harney County Jail on charges of Wildlife Harassment and Animal Abuse II. Another suspect, who was responsible for filming the incident, was identified and interviewed as well. Charges of Aiding in a Wildlife Offense will be referred to the Harney County District Attorney’s Office.
