After seeing a photo in the Lincoln Journal newspaper, Capt. Harvey Scites of the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department called Division of Natural Resources conservation officers to report the individual in the photo as a convicted felon. An investigation by DNR Sergeant Terry Ballard and Corporal Larry Rockel led to the arrests of three Branchland men on various game law violations and the recovery of a massive 16 point antler rack. The huge buck was killed on November 20, 2006, which was opening day of the two week deer firearms season. The record book rack has not dried the required 60 days for official scoring, but preliminary scoring shows it to be in the 190's class.

After killing the monster buck, Alfred Curtis Watts, age 40 of Branchland, West Virginia, had posed for the photo for the newspaper. Watts was arrested and charged with hunting without a license, illegal possession of wildlife, illegal killing of deer and conspiring to violate chapter 20 of the West Virginia Code (wildlife laws), and assessed $200 replacement costs. Nathan Kelly Pritchard, age 20, of Branchland, West Virginia, was charged with illegal possession of wildlife and conspiring to violate chapter 20. Enoch Dale Porter, age 37, of Branchland, West Virginia, was charged with illegal possession of wildlife and conspiring to violate chapter 20.

Alfred Watts could also face federal and state charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Illegal Bear Kill Results in Fines of $1,400

Division of Natural Resources Conservation Officers Ed Goodson and Larry Harvey received an anonymous complaint of an illegally killed bear in a freezer in Julian, WV (Boone County). Investigation by the officers revealed that Roger Dale Bowman II, age 20, of Peytona, WV, killed the bear out of season while on his job at River Fork Mining in Raleigh County. The bear was then transported to Camp Creek Road, Julian, WV, where it was stored in a home freezer. Bowman was charged with eight game law violations. As of this date he has pled guilty to four of the charges in Raleigh County Magistrate Court and paid $1,400 in fines, $321 in court costs, and a $500 replacement fee. In addition, Bowman's license privileges will be suspended for two years.

**DNR**