Two Emmet County youths have been charged with deer poaching and related misdemeanors as part of an ongoing investigation by Department of Natural Resources conservation officers.

Joshua Luke Kruzel, 17, and a 16-year-old minor were both arrested last week and charged with taking an over limit of white-tailed deer, taking game from a motor vehicle, making use of an artificial light to take game and using a .22 caliber rimfire rifle to hunt deer.

Throughout this past fall, conservation officers had received numerous complaints of deer being shot in a concentrated area north of Harbor Springs. As the investigation continued, conservation officers received information about local high school students shining and shooting deer at night with a .22 caliber rimfire rifle.

The two suspects attend classes at Harbor Springs High School. The suspects did not travel far from their homes -- all of the deer were taken within a short distance from where the two suspects live.

Multiple deer were taken throughout the month of October and into early November. The exact number is unknown at this time. Information was provided that several of the deer had their antlers removed. In some cases only the "back straps" or loin were taken, but in most cases the entire deer was left in the field to rot.

Each deer was shot in the head with a .22 caliber rimfire. Many of them actually were shot in the eye. A deer's glowing eye is a prominent target with the aid of a light. Two .22 caliber rimfire rifles with scopes were seized during the investigation -- one rifle from each suspect.

In addition to applicable fines and costs, these charges also mandate restitution is paid to the state of Michigan in the amount of $1,000 per animal taken, as well as a mandatory hunting license revocation for the year of conviction and the following three years. Condemnation also has been requested on the two seized firearms. A petition was filed in Emmet County Probate Court for the juvenile involved.

Anyone with information about any wildlife or fisheries violations can contact the DNR's Report All Poaching (RAP) hotline at 800-292-7800. All information can be left anonymously. Information that leads to an arrest is eligible for a monetary reward.