RUSSELL — A tip from the public led to DEC officers charging 18-year old Elliot Matthews, Hermon, with taking deer during the closed hunting season.

On Sept. 9, DEC officer Joel Schneller received a call stating that a pair of whitetail deer that had been illegally taken earlier that evening in Russell.

Matthews was later interviewed and admitted to taking both deer from a field located on West Road in Russell.

Matthews was charged with taking a deer with the aid of an artificial light, possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, discharging a firearm from a public highway and taking deer during the closed season.

In addition to the misdemeanors, Matthews was also charged with the violations of hunting without a license, taking deer from a public highway, failure to tag deer, and using rim fire ammunition to hunt deer, officers said.

If convicted he faces combined fines up to $10,000, revocation of hunting privileges for up to five years, and forfeiture of the rifle used during the illegal activity.

All charges are pending in Russell court.