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When Jeff Phillips obtained photographs of a large buck in his Fb messages Thursday, he did what he at all times does. Phillips collected particulars from the sender and posted 4 photographs to Star Metropolis Whitetails, the Fb web page the place he shares submitted photographs of Virginia deer along with his 72,000 followers. The photographs, which depict a person in camo kneeling beside an enormous nontypical whitetail, appeared with this caption: “Prince Edward County killed with 50 cal muzzleloader, shot this morning 713am at 20 yards, my third mounter this 12 months! Largest buck of my LIFE ”

Thirty minutes later, the put up blew up. Dozens of individuals recognized the deer because the Hollywood buck, a widely known deer with distinctive antlers that lived in and across the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. The difficulty? Hollywood Cemetery lies roughly 70 miles northeast of the place the person, Jason Walters, claimed to have shot his buck. Folks started contacting the Virginia Division of Wildlife Sources, accusing Walters of poaching it from Richmond metropolis limits. Two extra bucks Walters claimed to have killed have additionally been recognized by locals and wildlife photographers as dwelling within the cemetery.

“​​The Division of Wildlife Sources is conscious of the state of affairs and we’re conducting an investigation,” says DWR Lieutenant Frank Spuchesi, the Area 1 supervisor overseeing the officers on the case.

A screenshot of the unique Fb put up. (Star Metropolis Whitetails)

“We’ve gotten so many [tips] now that I’m not likely certain which one was the very first one,” Spuchesi added. “Loads of our circumstances are excessive profile, however this one does appear to be getting somewhat bit extra consideration resulting from the truth that a few of these deer had been seen by lots of people within the public, and photographed quite a bit. They had been out within the open. They weren’t elusive like quite a lot of deer are after they get to that age. City deer tend to be seen much more.”

Though Spuchesi couldn’t establish Jason Walters as an individual of curiosity “right now” to Outside Life, he did affirm the investigation contains a number of bucks. 

The buck photographs Phillips posted yesterday had been the third batch he says he obtained from Walters this season. On Nov. 20, Phillips posted photographs of Walters with a dark-antlered 8-point, reportedly shot in Richmond. On Dec. 1, Phillips posted photographs of one other 8-point Walters mentioned he shot in Chesterfield, simply outdoors of Richmond.

“​​After which yesterday, he despatched me that [nontypical] buck,” says Phillips, a realtor with Whitetail Properties. “Though when he despatched the buck to me yesterday all he mentioned was, ‘Put up this up bud.’ And I noticed how good it was, and I used to be like, ‘Please embrace some particulars, this can be a lovely deer. The place’d you kill it?’ Identical to anyone who sends me footage, I at all times ask the county.”

The Hollywood Cemetery buck, photographed in Richmond on Oct. 13, 2023. (Invoice Draper Pictures, used with permission)

Walters complied. Though Phillips was conscious of a well-known nontypical usually seen and photographed close to the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, its antlers this 12 months didn’t look acquainted.

“It was a nationally recognized deer, however that deer has declined considerably rack-wise, consider it or not,” says Philips. “When he despatched the image in I simply thought, ‘rattling, that’s an attractive deer,’ however I didn’t see or consider any affiliation with that specific deer on the Hollywood Cemetery.”

Richmond-based wildlife photographer Invoice Draper made the connection immediately. Draper takes images for the Hollywood Cemetery and Maymont Park, and enjoys non-public entry to grounds that the general public can’t at all times go to. For years Draper has photographed deer alongside the James River in Richmond, together with the so-called Hollywood buck which he referred to as a 22- or 24-point, relying on the 12 months.

“I do know this deer higher than I do know my three daughters. I can inform you each little nub on the antlers, I’ve received each completely different angle — entrance, again, facet, proper, left,” says Draper, noting that many images of the Hollywood buck that appeared within the Fb feedback had been pulled from his pages. “It was beginning to look somewhat haggard and run down. It’s an previous deer. It had big, unbelievable, world-class antlers 4 years in the past. Clearly that is one other 4 years later and it’s nonetheless phenomenal.”

Draper took his final photographs of the Hollywood buck on Oct. 13 in Richmond. Though he’s at all times been cautious to keep away from posting any photographs or info that might reveal an excessive amount of concerning the deer’s location — for worry somebody may poach it — Draper says he may discover the animal if he appeared laborious sufficient. Particularly currently, for the reason that buck has been shifting much less.

“He’s lived for the final 4 years in that specific neighborhood between Maymont Park, Mount Calvary Cemetery, Riverview Cemetery, Hollywood Cemetery, and James River Park North Financial institution Path space,” Draper says. “I’ve footage of him at Hollywood, on the North Financial institution Path, on the fringe of Mount Calvary, outdoors of the fence at Maymont, and contained in the fence. He has not moved very a lot, he’s stayed fairly shut round that neighborhood. The individuals who dwell there know that very effectively.”

(Draper has images that clearly present the buck amongst headstones and at recognized places in Richmond, he declined to share them for this text, citing his working relationship with the Cemetery. He has additionally inspired the Cemetery to chorus from posting his photographs of the deer on their social accounts to keep away from hotspotting the buck.)

Along with the massive nontypical, Draper says he photographed the dark-antlered 8-point in Richmond that Walters claimed to have shot in Chesterfield on Nov. 20. 

“That 8-pointer used to return by means of a gap within the fence at Hollywood like clockwork,” Draper says. “When the rut got here in he was rather less constant, clearly chasing does round. However nonetheless you’d see him within the cemetery.”

Draper additionally says that his buddy and fellow photographer Ben King has documented one other Richmond deer that Walters claims he killed in Chesterfield, which is roughly 13 miles southwest of Hollywood Cemetery.

A photograph of the 8-point Walters despatched Phillips on Nov. 20 (left) in contrast with the massive 8-point Draper photographed in Hollywood Cemetery on Oct. 12, 2023. (Star Metropolis Whitetails, left; Invoice Draper Pictures (proper, used with permission)

Whereas there are rigorously regulated city bow seasons in Richmond, no looking is allowed in Hollywood Cemetery and sure surrounding properties. Deer within the space are conditioned to people and tolerate human exercise higher than most wild whitetails in additional rural areas. Nonetheless, Draper says the buck was extra careless this 12 months.

“[The big Hollywood buck] had been quite a bit much less cautious this 12 months. It might be close to individuals’s yard, in Maymont Park it might mattress down beside the fence the place automobiles journey by. Per week or so in the past someone posted an image of him on the Virginia Wildlife Fb web page and mentioned precisely the place he lived and the place you would see him. And there was an enormous uproar. I don’t know if that was the reason for [the buck’s death].”

Images of an 8-point that Walters despatched to Phillips on Dec. 1. It was reportedly photographed in Richmond. (Star Metropolis Whitetails)

Primarily based on in-person sightings and {photograph} historical past, most sources estimated the Hollywood buck to be about eight years previous.

“Once I final checked out [the Hollywood buck] I mentioned, ‘It might not final by means of the winter.’ However I hate to see it go that method,” says Draper. “It’s a disgrace. I would love individuals to know you could’t simply exit and shoot a deer like this and suppose you possibly can put up it and nobody’s going to learn about it. It’s actually silly. Hopefully it is going to make individuals suppose twice earlier than they poach a deer.”

The buck photographed in Hollywood Cemetery in October 2021, this time with {a partially} damaged most important beam. (Invoice Draper Pictures, used with permission)

Regardless of the city location, good cowl and forage exists within the space.

“He had lots to eat, lots to mattress, loads of water. He didn’t should go nowhere,” says Brandon Overstreet, a Virginia hunter and one of many first Fb commenters to make the connection between Walters’ photographs and the Hollywood buck. “He would by no means go away greater than a mile away. [The Hollywood buck] was very odd in a way too when the rut got here. There are such a lot of deer in that space, he by no means actually rutted. His neck by no means swelled up. He at all times had a skinny neck, didn’t should go chasing and looking for deer, as a result of he had 30 girlfriends.”

Overstreet says he discovered one of many Hollywood buck’s sheds two years in the past, which scored proper at 100 inches and was later auctioned to a outstanding collector. Though he lives in Bedford, Overstreet says he travels by means of Richmond each few weeks and sometimes visits Pumphouse Park and different places close to the James River to observe the buck. Though the deer had many nicknames, most frequently simply “Hollywood” or the “Hollywood buck,” locals generally referred to as him “Prince” (“as a result of they referred to as his daddy the King,” says Overstreet). By his finest guess, anybody hoping to poach deer within the space must do it at night time.

“There are staff that work there through the day, they’re always making rounds,” says Overstreet. “Everybody has anticipated somebody to return poach him.”

One of many final photographs Draper captured of the massive nontypical in October 2023. (Invoice Draper Pictures, used with permission)

Subsequent Steps within the Poaching Investigation

When Phillips realized the buck he posted to Star Metropolis Whitetails Thursday morning appeared the identical because the Hollywood Cemetery buck, he messaged Walters on Fb once more.

“I despatched him again a textual content that mentioned ‘someone simply despatched me footage of the Hollywood Cemetery deer, and that’s it.’ I feel he mentioned, ‘huh lol.’ I mentioned, ‘What does that imply’? He mentioned, ‘This buck was killed at my looking membership in Prince Edward County.’”

Phillips says he obtained that remaining message from Walters at 10:52 a.m. on Dec. 14. Walters’ private profile disappeared from Fb shortly after their change, and Phillips up to date his personal put up to replicate the brand new info. Each Walters and Draper have since been contacted by regulation enforcement. Spuchesi was unable to supply a timeline for when the general public may study additional particulars concerning the case.

“I might hope [we can resolve this] within the close to future,” Spuchesi says. “Some investigations final years, some final hours.”