UPSHUR COUNTY, WV — A local whitetail buck has filed for a restraining order against a West Virginia hunter who allegedly checked the same trail camera 14 times Tuesday despite receiving no new photographs since 6:43 that morning.
Court documents identify the deer only by the name “Big Eight,” although wildlife officials confirmed that is not his real name and was assigned to him without his consent by 42-year-old hunter Travis Coleman.
According to the filing, Coleman first photographed the buck two years ago and has since accumulated approximately 37,000 images of the animal.
Investigators say the collection is organized into folders labeled BIG EIGHT, BIG EIGHT DAYLIGHT, BIG EIGHT POSSIBLE SHOOTER, BIG EIGHT LOOKING BIGGER, and BIG EIGHT DEFINITELY BIGGER THAN LAST YEAR.
Authorities became concerned after learning Coleman checks his cellular trail-camera app an average of once every 11 minutes.
“He checks it when he wakes up, while he's eating breakfast, at work, sitting at red lights and apparently once during his daughter's school Christmas program,” a wildlife officer said. “There wasn't even a deer in the last picture. It was a squirrel.”
The restraining-order request alleges Coleman has placed seven cameras around Big Eight's usual travel corridor, three near his bedding area and another overlooking a mineral site described in court documents as “basically surveillance with snacks.”
Big Eight released a brief statement through his attorney Wednesday morning.
“He seems like a nice enough guy,” the statement read. “But it's getting weird.”
The buck also objected to Coleman repeatedly discussing him with coworkers.
“I've never met these people,” Big Eight said. “Yet apparently Steve from accounting knows my approximate age, preferred bedding area and what time I walked past an oak tree last Thursday.”
Coleman denied being obsessed.
“I haven't checked the camera that much,” he said while checking the camera.
During the interview, Coleman's phone received a trail-camera notification.
He immediately stopped speaking and opened the photograph.
“Raccoon,” he muttered.
The interview resumed approximately 30 seconds later.
Wildlife officials attempted to reassure Big Eight that this behavior is fairly common during deer season, but the buck reportedly became more concerned after learning there are thousands of other hunters doing exactly the same thing.
The court has temporarily ordered Coleman to remain at least 100 yards from Big Eight.
Coleman said complying shouldn't be difficult.
“He usually stays about 101 yards away from me anyway.”
At press time, Coleman had checked the trail camera three more times.
Big Eight had not appeared.
Dale Hatfield reviewed several photographs and estimated the buck weighed somewhere between 180 and 340 pounds.
Wildlife biologists declined to comment on Dale's estimate.
The Holler Herald — West Virginia's Least Reliable News Source
If it happens in the hills, we'll probably report it. If it didn't, give us about twenty minutes.
