DES MOINES – Multiple charges were filed against two southeast Iowa men following an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) investigation into several deer that had been shot and left to rot.
Ryan Matthew Greiner, 30, of Morning Sun and Treyton Hartman, 19, of Yarmouth were charged after search warrants on their residences in Morning Sun and Yarmouth were conducted on Jan. 22. The deer, which had been shot with rifles, were reported to the DNR by the public.
Greiner was charged with the following:
• Eighteen charges of unlawful take/possession/transportation of a white-tailed deer.
• Eighteen charges of not having a valid deer tag
• Seven charges of abandonment of dead or injured wildlife
• Two charges of hunting deer with a motor vehicle
• One charge of unlawful possession of a non-game species (raptor foot)
• One charge of failure to report harvest
• One charge of hunting by artificial light
• One charge of no state migratory fee
In addition to the game charges, Greiner was charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of marijuana and two counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs
The charges against Greiner have a total possible fine of $7,503 as well as liquidated damages of $67,000 for 18 deer.
Hartman was charged and found guilty of the following:
• One charge of not having a fur-harvesting license
• One charge of abandonment of dead or injured wildlife
• One charge of hunting with artificial light
• One charge of not having a deer tag
• One charge of unlawful take of a white-tailed deer – $4,000 in damages assessed
• One additional charge of unlawful take of a white-tailed deer – $1,500 in damages assessed
The DNR received assistance on the investigation from the wildlife forensic laboratory of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in analyzing DNA evidence relative to the case.
The DNR Law Enforcement Bureau also expresses gratitude to members of the public who reported the dead deer, which led to the investigation and charges.