In late 2018, the Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police uncovered a chilling case involving a group of young trophy hunters. Over just a few months, they had illegally taken at least 19 deer - often during nighttime hunts near residential neighborhoods. What started as a routine investigation quickly unraveled into something far more disturbing: secret planning sessions, a manifesto detailing their exploits, and a twisted tribute to the grandfather who taught them to night hunt. Join Investigator Patrick Kiely as he recounts the unbelievable story of the “Killing Krew Klan.”   Our Sponsors: Thin Green Line Podcast Don Noyes Chevrolet North American Game Warden Museum Hunt Regs WiseEye SecureIt Gun Storage XS Sights “A Cowboy in the Woods” Book Maine's Operation Game Thief International Wildlife Crimestoppers   Here’s what we discuss: ·       An area known for night hunting ·       Spotting night hunters requires patience and timing ·       The state’s healthy deer population is tempting for poachers ·       A patrol officer spots suspicious signs ·       The initial arrest leads to more questions ·       Cell phones: everyone documents everything ·       “I wouldn’t even call them hunters; they were trophy poachers.” ·       It definitely wasn’t squirrels ·       The group is released but phones are seized ·       A stunning discovery ·       “It was an every-night occurrence.” ·       The group frequently hunted near houses ·       None of 19 deer were registered ·       The puzzle pieces: pictures, locations and times ·       The serial poaching had gone on for years, and had grown ·       Group relied on thinly stretched law enforcement ·       A specific 16-point buck and an unlikely story ·       US Fish and Wildlife joins the investigation ·       Cell phone metadata pinpoints locations and times ·       “Not a care in the world.” ·       A handwritten manifesto is found ·       The ‘zombie’ deer ·       Timing was perfect – and lucky ·       Even illegal roadkill wasn’t off limits to the ‘Klan’ ·       $100 does for sale, and banquet hall venison ·       Multiple deer were taken nightly ·       Managing investigations and public perception ·       Hunters had noticed a decline ·       “It was a joke to them.” ·       Many state charges were misdemeanors ·       Local hunters weigh in ·       Technology has changed investigation strategies ·       Limitation statutes prevented even more charges ·       Getting buy-in from other agencies ·       Balancing criminal and wildlife investigations can be a challenge ·       The cell phones were crucial ·       Rising bear population has led to conflicts ·       Educating the public ·       Staffing numbers are on the rise ·       “It was a learning experience for all of us.”   Credits Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores Producer: Jay Ammann Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches   Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Google Waypoint Stitcher TuneIn Megaphone Find More Here: Website Warden’s Watch / TGL Store Facebook Facebook Fan Page Instagram Threads YouTube RSS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices