Vandals destroy Hunting Area

Michael A. Sawyers

CUMBERLAND — From the elevated deer hunting stand where Fred McMillan hunted on Collier Mountain you could see magnificent views of Western Maryland and West Virginia, even the power plant at Mount Storm on a clear day.

And, according to McMillan, it was a great place to see deer, including some nice bucks.

Travel there now and you will find McMillan’s 30-foot tripod stand, as well as three other stands, lying on the ground in ruins — what’s left of them, that is. Some of the aluminum and even some bolts have been taken, gone with the criminals who apparently made their way onto the property and off again via all-terrain vehicles.

Whoever “they” are remains a mystery. Allegany & Mineral Counties Crime Solvers (301-722-4300) is hoping to identify those involved so they can be charged, tried and convicted, and is offering up to $1,500 should that happen.

“We’ve put together another $1,500 on top of that to add to the reward,” McMillan said.

These weren’t some flimsy little store-bought deer hunting stands that were felled.

McMillan’s 30-footer was supported by telephone poles. “I hired a company to come in and sink the poles,” McMillan said, standing on the steep and brushy side of the mountain where the stand once offered a skybox view.

Two of the other stands were supported by legs of industrial aluminum pipe.

“There have been a lot of kids who got their first deer from these stands,” said Scott Twigg, the caretaker who lives on the property. “They were great places for young kids who don’t like to sit still. Give them a cup of hot chocolate and let them wiggle all they want.”

The damage began a year ago, just before the 2007 deer season, when a wooden stand was knocked down.

“We put it back up, pulling it up with a tractor, and when we went to get in it on opening day it was on the ground again and steps had been removed,” Twigg said.

Eric Rice, another hunter who uses the land owned by an out-of-town doctor, agreed that whoever is responsible not only made a number of trips to the property, but spent substantial time knocking down, disassembling and removing pipe and other items. Rice and others continue to scour the land for evidence.

“We know they drink Busch and Busch Light beer,” Twigg said. “There were plenty of cans around. And they smoke Winstons.”

The perpetrators have not been deterred by the fact that many of the hunters who use this mountain are either current or former law enforcement officers.

McMillan estimates there has been $5,000 in property damage and theft.

Written messages left on the debris cast an eerie pall over this former apple orchard that is prime deer habitat.

The messages claim that the crimes were committed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The messages say that deer and bear hunting are immoral. The messages say that if the stands go back up, that a large metal structure and its contents will be destroyed and Twigg’s house will be burned down. The messages say that those who committed the crimes will be back.

The handwriting on most of the messages is the same. The lettering is attractive and neatly done, having something akin to an Old English style. One prominent message is on the door of a large metal hangar. The others are on pieces of the destroyed hunting stands.

During Wednesday’s tour, McMillan was showing one of the messages when he was startled. “Here is a second message,” he said, “pointing to some white canvas. There was only one message on here before. That means they’ve been back.”

Whoever “they” are has to know the mountain. This is a remote spot, with the only road access being gated in two locations. Only two of the stands would have been visible from anywhere outside the property, that being from Moore’s Hollow Road.

The property has a ridge-top, grassy landing strip for small aircraft. “You can see where they come in along the side of the strip on the 4-wheelers,” Rice said, pointing to the tracks in the still-green grass.

Theories abound among the hunters. The lead investigator in the case is Tfc. Andy Mason of Maryland State Police, who is assigned to C3I.

Is it local people who have an ax to grind with these particular hunters? Is it local people who are simply after the aluminum, which they sell? Is it local people trying to make it look like animal rights terrorists from another location? Or, is it actually the latter, animal rights activists from afar who have somehow found their way onto this difficult-to-reach and piddling piece of Allegany County? If it is anti-hunters driven by their beliefs, why would they take the time to remove the aluminum?

In addition to the destruction of stands, nails have been placed along the grassy roads in an attempt to cause flat tires on the hunters’ vehicles.

The crimes on the mountain range from minor to serious. The threat of arson, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Web site, can bring imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to $10,000.

Other charges would include trespassing, felony theft and destruction of property, according to Rice, who is also a Cumberland Police detective assigned to C3I.

Source: http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_305104538.html

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