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From Mirror staff reports
The state Game Commission has charged three Bedford men with multiple counts related to poaching after a lengthy investigation into the illegal killing of deer.
Edward Ilgenfritz, 27, Kai Bardell, 22, and Harlan Group, 21, face felony and misdemeanor charges of taking big game out of season, along with dozens of summary charges related to the unlawful shootings.
The investigation began on Nov. 27, 2023, when the Game Commission received a call about multiple dead deer along Messiah Church Road and Younts Road in Bedford Township, Bedford County. The reporting person found the dead deer near the "Bill Baer" farm, and three of the deer had their heads cut off, the affidavit of probable cause states.
On scene, game officials found seven dead deer, three missing their heads with the other four being antlerless deer. During interviews with neighbors, game commission offers were directed to a juvenile suspect.
On Dec. 2, game officials spoke to the juvenile, who named Bardell as being involved most of the nights they went out to shoot deer. The juvenile said Bardell shot at and killed multiple deer and showed game officers pictures from Snapchat that were date and time stamped. The juvenile said all of the deer in the pictures were taken at night during the last few months.
While officers were interviewing another juvenile, Bardell pulled into the driveway and admitted to shooting at and killing one antlerless deer, stating he was drunk that night, the report states.
He also admitted to shooting an 8-point deer and claimed those were the only two he shot.
On Dec. 4, game officers received and executed a search warrant on Bardell's cellphone and took it to state police Troop G headquarters for analysis.
During an interview on March 24, the juvenile suspect reiterated what he said previously, but also mentioned other instances when they had gone out to shoot deer. One night, he said they took another man's truck to ride around and look for deer to shoot. He and another involved juvenile picked up Bardell and Group, with Bardell bringing a .300 Blackout rifle with a suppressor. The juvenile said Bardell used the gun to kill an 8-point and an antlerless deer. One of the juveniles also killed an 8-point that night, the report states.
The juvenile showed officers photos of the deer and who all killed them. In all, officers said Bardell was responsible for unlawfully killing six deer. In addition, the juvenile said Bardell was usually drunk and would bring more alcoholic drinks for everyone, including the juvenile.
When the game commission received the phone data back from state police, they viewed a video that showed Bardell shooting at a flock of turkeys from a vehicle. In addition, officers found a photo of Bardell holding a dead chipmunk and an empty pistol round casing, the report states. There were also photos of Bardell holding an 8-point deer that appeared to be taken during firearms season.
On June 10, a search warrant was secured for Bardell's home, but the .300 Blackout rifle and the antlers were not found. Bardell later turned them over to the game commission, the report states.
During interviews, game commission officials found out that a member of the group shot a 9-point deer in Maryland and used Ilgenfritz's Maryland hunting license. That deer was taken to a taxidermy shop to have it European mounted, the report states.
Game commission officials went to Ilgenfritz's home and found an attractant set up on his property to bait deer. According to the affidavit, Ilgenfritz admitted to using attractants such as "Buck Jam" and "Trophy Rock," and stated he killed a 10-point buck.
Officials also reported that Ilgenfritz said he and Group went to Maryland at night and illegally killed multiple Sika deer and brought them back to Pennsylvania.
Ilgenfritz faces 47 charges, including felony charges of unlawful killing of big game and unlawful use of artificial light, a misdemeanor charge of taking big game beyond season limits and summary charges of disturbing game, taking game or wildlife, use of bait, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, transporting big game without tags, violating rules and other related charges.
Bardell faces 45 charges, including felony counts of unlawful killing of big game and unlawful use of artificial light, misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors and furnishing liquor to minors and multiple summary charges of shooting across a highway, taking big game out of season, disturbing game, using artificial light and other related charges.
Group faces 32 charges, including misdemeanor counts of unlawful killing of big game and use of artificial light, along with multiple summary charges of disturbing game, shooting across a highway, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, hunting without a license and other related charges.
According to online court documents, the three men are awaiting preliminary hearings.