CALDWELL CO., Mo. (KCTV) – A man has been charged in connection with an attempted poaching incident after a deer was found shot in a neighbor’s field.

Caldwell County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed Wednesday, Nov. 20, indicate that Zachery D. Hicks, 40, of Polo, was charged with multiple counts of poaching after an incident in a neighbor’s field.

An affidavit of probable cause filed by Missouri Department of Conservation revealed that on Nov. 7, law enforcement officers were called to a home in rural Caldwell County after a caller reported that gunshots had been heard in the area. She was able to capture a pickup truck on video as Hicks pulled out of a field entrance.

Investigators noted the video also revealed a deer lying in the field from which Hicks had just retreated. The doe was still alive, but she had been surrounded by a pool of her own blood.

Court records indicated the woman followed Hicks back to his home and confronted him. When he asked if Hicks shot the deer, his children said they did. Hicks then admitted to them that he had planned to pick up the deer later.

When law enforcement officers spoke with Hicks, he denied the incident and said he was on his way to the store at the time. By the time investigators could return to the scene, the deer was gone, but a trail of her blood led to a nearby wooded area. In the end, the deer could not be found.

As a result, court documents indicated Hicks was charged with taking a deer during the closed season, attempting to take wildlife from or with a motor vehicle and hunting wildlife from private land without a permit. A criminal summons was issued.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Hicks does not appear to be behind bars. An initial appearance is expected to take place at 9am on December 17. No other information has been released.

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