DARKE COUNTY — A hunter has to pay a fine for shooting a protected bird species in Darke County, according to a spokesperson with the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
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On the opening morning of the dove hunting season, two state wildlife officers received information that a hunter shot and killed a killdeer.
A killdeer is a protected bird species. It’s described as a brown and white bird with two distinct bands encircling the neck and upper chest, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
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The spokesperson said the officers found the bird hidden in the bushes near the suspect.
The officers took the bird as evidence, and the suspect was issued a summons for taking or possessing a nongame bird.
The hunter was found guilty in the Darke County Municipal Court and ordered to pay $349, the spokesperson said.
The division didn’t identify the suspect.
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