According to the Department, Amador County does have poachers but is not ranked in the top counties for poaching activities. That distinction belongs to Nevada County where a record 6 arrests were made in one night.

The Department of Fish and Game does acknowledge the usage of Buck, the mechanical deer here in the county. Recently, Bucky was set up outside of Ione.

The decoy deer is set up by Fish and Game Wardens along roadways where there is the potential that an overzealous hunter could take a shot, with or without the appropriate deer tags.

The deer is actually a mechanical taxidermy deer that fits into the surroundings where the decoy is placed. When the operation was conducted in Amador County recently, between the hours of 6:30 and 9:30 am, Fish and Game reports that no shots were taken at the decoy, however, one potential hunter was cited for having a loaded rifle in his vehicle.