Washington County Man Appeals Illegal Deer Hunting Fine

Jens Brynteson of Warthen has appealed a $70,000 fine by the Department of Natural Resources.

The fine came after the DNR shut down an illegal penned deer hunting operation run by Brynteson.

John Bowers, the assistant chief of game management for Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division, was part of an 18 month investigation by the DNR that resulted in the fine.

"Mr. Brynteson, who had a deer-farming license for one piece of property, was taking those species….unlawfully transporting them down to another property where there was a shooting pen established," said Bowers.

The appeal holds up efforts by the DNR to confiscate Brynteson’s 1,000 deer. It also postpones payment of the fine.

No date has been set for an appeals hearing.

Washington County Deer Farmer Fined Thousands

Capping an 18-month state investigation, a Washington County deer farmer has been fined $70,000. The state Department of Natural Resources says Jens Brynteson was running an illegal pay-to-hunt facility on his property in Warthen. Georgia wildlife officials say under state regulations, deer farmers can only raise non-native species for commercial food production. But Brynteson allegedly staged "canned hunts", where people stalk deer in a large fenced-in area.