Big-game poaching in southern Arizona has always been a problem, and now the Arizona Game and Fish Department is fighting back.
Game and Fish in Tucson this week unveiled a robotic mule deer decoy aimed at catching poachers red-handed. Poaching citations have gone up from 400 in 2012 to more than 600 in 2014.
Spokesman Mark Hart said the citation increase doesn’t necessarily mean there is more poaching going on.
"Is it a big and growing problem? No, but it’s a constant problem and one that we really need the public’s help to solve,” Hart said.
Officers will be set up near the decoy to see if any one tries to take it out-of-season or without a proper permit, he said.
