Two North Carolina men arrested after 'spotlighting deer' illegally killing 15 in one night, officials say (2024)

HAPPENING NOW IN GUILFORD COUNTY. INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY A PERSON KILLED AT A HOME. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO VENUS DRIVE LAST NIGHT. THAT’S JUST OFF RANDLEMAN ROAD, SOUTH OF GREENSBORO. INVESTIGATORS ARE TREATING THE DEATH AS A HOMICIDE. WE’RE TOLD DETECTIVES BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. AND DAVIE COUNTY, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING FOR YOUR HELP FINDING TWO MISSING PEOPLE. WE’RE TOLD ONE OF THEM COULD BE IN DANGER. DEPUTIES ARE SEARCHING FOR 60 YEAR-OLD. CYNTHIA GOBBLE, ALSO KNOWN AS CINDY AND A PERSON OF INTEREST. 59 YEAR-OLD GREGORY GOBBLE. OFFICIALS SAY THE TWO ARE MARRIED, BUT SEPARATED, AND THEY WERE LAST SEEN IN THE COUNTRY LANE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AROUND SIX. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS CYNTHIA’S CAR WAS RECOVERED THERE, BUT GREGORY’S WHITE FORD F-250 PICKUP TRUCK IS STILL MISSING. IT HAS A NORTH CAROLINA LICENSE PLATE. WHY? VE 1974. INVESTIGATORS SAY CYNTHIA IS DIABETIC AND THEY DON’T BELIEVE SHE HAS HER MEDICATION WITH HER. SO AN ASHANTI ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT BELIEVES THERE I

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Two North Carolina men arrested after 'spotlighting deer' illegally killing 15 in one night, officials say

Two men in North Carolina were arrested after wildlife officials said they illegally killed 15 deer in one night using an artificial light known as “spotlighting.”Wildlife officials said Dylan Scott of New Hanover County and Nicholas Rackley of Duplin County were ordered to pay $9,030 in replacement costs for illegally killing the deer in Duplin County. “It’s a big penalty we hope sends a strong message,” Capt. Chad Arnold, who heads NCWRC’s Investigative Unit and NC WILDTIP program, said.Click the video player above to watch the latest headlines from WXII 12 News.Officials said Scott was also fined $1,500, and his hunting license revoked for 10 years. He’ll also be on probation for five years. Rackley was ordered to pay $750 and his hunting license was also revoked for five years. “We typically don’t see punishments like this, but we also typically don’t find individuals who kill 15 deer in one night’s illegal escapades,” Arnold said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereWildlife officials said on Nov. 28, 2023, they received a tip that included a photo of Rackley posing with 15 antlerless white-tailed deer that was shared with multiple people. They said they also took the deer to a home in Pender to be processed, where officials discovered four coolers full of deer meat. Keep up with the latest weather forecast and news by downloading the WXII app here.Over the past six months alone, NCWRC has received 598 tips through NC WILDTIP and rewarded a total of $3,478. Anyone with information on illegal hunting can anonymously submit information through a secured online reporting tool located on the agency’s website. Information may also be submitted by texting keyword WILDTIP and the tip information to TIP411 (847411) or through a mobile app. To report a poaching violation in progress, call Wildlife Law Enforcement dispatch at 800-662-7137. Tips that lead to arrests and convictions may lead to a reward of $100 to $1,000. NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

DUPLIN COUNTY, N.C. —

Two men in North Carolina were arrested after wildlife officials said they illegally killed 15 deer in one night using an artificial light known as “spotlighting.”

Wildlife officials said Dylan Scott of New Hanover County and Nicholas Rackley of Duplin County were ordered to pay $9,030 in replacement costs for illegally killing the deer in Duplin County.

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“It’s a big penalty we hope sends a strong message,” Capt. Chad Arnold, who heads NCWRC’s Investigative Unit and NC WILDTIP program, said.

Click the video player above to watch the latest headlines from WXII 12 News.

Officials said Scott was also fined $1,500, and his hunting license revoked for 10 years. He’ll also be on probation for five years. Rackley was ordered to pay $750 and his hunting license was also revoked for five years.

“We typically don’t see punishments like this, but we also typically don’t find individuals who kill 15 deer in one night’s illegal escapades,” Arnold said.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

Wildlife officials said on Nov. 28, 2023, they received a tip that included a photo of Rackley posing with 15 antlerless white-tailed deer that was shared with multiple people. They said they also took the deer to a home in Pender to be processed, where officials discovered four coolers full of deer meat.

Keep up with the latest weather forecast and news by downloading the WXII app here.

Over the past six months alone, NCWRC has received 598 tips through NC WILDTIP and rewarded a total of $3,478. Anyone with information on illegal hunting can anonymously submit information through a secured online reporting tool located on the agency’s website. Information may also be submitted by texting keyword WILDTIP and the tip information to TIP411 (847411) or through a mobile app. To report a poaching violation in progress, call Wildlife Law Enforcement dispatch at 800-662-7137. Tips that lead to arrests and convictions may lead to a reward of $100 to $1,000.

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

Two North Carolina men arrested after 'spotlighting deer' illegally killing 15 in one night, officials say (2024)

FAQs

Two North Carolina men arrested after 'spotlighting deer' illegally killing 15 in one night, officials say? ›

Dylan Scott of New Hanover County, NC and Nicholas Rackley of Duplin County, NC have been found guilty of 15 counts of killing deer at night while spotlighting. Scott and Rackley have been ordered to pay $9030 for illegally killing 15 deer.

What is the penalty for spotlighting deer in NC? ›

(e) Any person who unlawfully takes deer between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise with the aid of an artificial light is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) in addition to such other punishment prescribed for the offense in ...

Can you hunt with a rifle on the ground in NC? ›

Hunt with the use of a centerfire rifle or any firearm capable of firing a centerfire projectile, unless the person is positioned in a stationary and elevated position at least 10 feet above the ground.

What happens when you spotlight a deer? ›

Shining and spotting a buck creates a physical confirmation that can help connect dots from previous scouting efforts. You can fine-tune this guesswork even further by considering the timing of a nighttime sighting.

Why is spotlight hunting illegal? ›

The animals are temporarily blinded and stand still, making it easier for hunters to kill them. In some areas, jacklighting is illegal because it is considered unsporting and dangerous because the hunters cannot see far enough beyond the targeted animal.

Can you hunt deer on your own property without a license in NC? ›

A landowner or person leasing land used for cultivating crops can hunt, trap, or fish on their land without a license, as can their spouse and any dependents under the age of 18 who live with them.

Can I open carry a rifle in my car in NC? ›

North Carolina permits the open carrying of a long gun or a handgun in a motor vehicle with no license or permit required. Except when on one's own premises, a person who carries a concealed firearm without a permit commits a misdemeanor. A second offense constitutes a felony.

Can you shoot a deer with a 22 in NC? ›

A hunter or trapper lawfully taking wildlife by another method may use a pistol to dispatch the animal or bird taken, except as noted below. It is unlawful to hunt or take wild turkeys with pistols. During established archery season only a . 22-caliber rimfire pistol may be used to dispatch deer (see “Retrieval”).

Why is shining deer illegal? ›

While there is no state law that prohibits shining, Estabrook says that in the law, the verb, "to hunt" includes "harassing, harrying and worrying" wildlife. "And in my opinion, that's what you're doing when you shine a light in a deer's eyes," says Estabrook.

Do you have to call the police if you hit a deer in NC? ›

What to do if you hit a deer or animal on the road. Pull over to side of the road. Put your hazard lights on and contact the police to report the incident. Stay away from the animal.

What is the punishment for a class 2 misdemeanor in NC? ›

The sentence for a Class 2 misdemeanor is 1 to 60 days of active, intermediate, or community punishment, with the maximum penalty being 60 days in jail and a fine of $1,000. Class 1 Misdemeanors. The sentencing range is 1 to 120 days of active, intermediate, or community punishment.

What is a class 3 misdemeanor in NC? ›

Class 3 Misdemeanor Offenses

This type of misdemeanor offense is the least serious of the four classifications. If charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor, the maximum penalty you will face is 20 days in jail and a $200 fine. Some examples of Class 3 misdemeanors in North Carolina include: Simple possession of marijuana.

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