OTSEGO COUNTY — A Johannesburg, Michigan, man with a history of hunting-related violations recently faced new charges for illegally taking deer, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Nov. 25.
Cecil Edward Day, 59, was arraigned Nov. 19 in the Otsego County 87-A District Court on the following four charges:
- Possession of a firearm by a felon.
- Possession of ammunition by a felon.
- Possession of a firearm with a blood alcohol content over .08%.
- No hunter’s orange.
Day was arrested at his residence Nov. 18 after Michigan DNR conservation officers received an anonymous tip with proof of Day exiting a vehicle with a rifle and shooting at a deer on private property.
By conducting further interviews, COs located two additional deer that were shot and left in the same area, including a large, nine-point trophy buck, officials said.
The DNR is seeking additional deer poaching charges.
Day has previous DNR convictions from between 2018 and 2020, including:
- Possession of a firearm by a felon.
- Taking deer from a motor vehicle.
- Trespassing.
- No hunter’s orange.
- Possession of an untagged deer.
Day is currently lodged at the Otsego County Jail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.