Robert Adams, 39, of Lake Pleasant, Mass. was charged Thursday with possession of an illegal weapon — a crossbow — as well as possession of hunting knifes. He was additionally charged with four hunting violations by the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, Sgt. Vito Abrusci said. Adams’ hunting partner, also from Massachusetts, fled the scene, Abrusci said.
At around 2:09 a.m., Thursday, patrolman Vinnie Pagano pulled over a cargo van driving without lights in the area of Wysong Park, behind the old Ralston Firehouse on Route 24, Abrusci said. Pagano seized two bows from the men — the illegal crossbow and a legal compound bow — and approximately 50 arrows, knives and binoculars. According to Abrusci, the men were getting ready to cut open a male, 8-point antlered deer.
“We haven’t figured out why they decided to poach deer in Mendham Township,” Abrusci said, noting his department is still investigating, along with the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife and the Morris County Sheriff’s Department, whose canine unit assisted the night of the incident.
“We’re trying to find out what brought them to our area. There’s obviously a reason why they ended up here to hunt,” Abrusci said.
According to Abrusci, hunting is not allowed after dark in New Jersey, nor in proximity to residences. In this situation, he said the men likely killed the deer within 450 feet of a residential area.
Abrusci said the crossbow is a dangerous, preloaded, point-and-shoot weapon that has a trigger that shoots an arrow similar to how a gun would discharge a bullet.
Adams was released with a Dec. 10 court date on $5,000 cash bail after spending eight hours at the Morris County jail, Abrusci said.
Though Adams was uncooperative in divulging information about the other man, Abrusci said the subject was identified but his name cannot be disclosed.
