A state Department of Environmental Conservation officer caught two separate families spotlighting deer in Washington County, according to a press release titled “the family that shines together, goes to court together.”

ECO Matthew Krug was set up on Route 11 in the town of Hampton after receiving complaints about deer being spotlighted and reports of dead deer with gunshot wounds. Spotlighting a deer involves shining a bright light at the deer so it freezes and is easier to shoot. The practice is illegal in New York.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, Krug saw a pickup truck spotlighting a field less than 100 feet away from him. He made a traffic stop of the vehicle and issued a husband, wife and son multiple tickets, including for spotlighting within 500 feet of a dwelling, possessing two rifles while spotlighting and possession of an open alcohol container.

A few hours later, Krug observed another vehicle spotlighting about a mile away. Krug stopped the truck and found a father and son in possession of an unsecured rifle. Krug issued the father numerous tickets for conservation law violations as well as having an un-inspected vehicle.

Krug issued a total of ten tickets during the two incidents.