Christopher “CJ” Alexander & Others Charged 23 Counts in Ohio Poaching
Megan Plete Postol 05.14.24
Christopher “CJ” Alexander, the man who killed the largest buck ever taken in the state of Ohio, ignited a storm of rumors online in December after the photo he posted of his 18-point buck set off numerous red flags. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced today that he has officially been indicted on 23 charges, including five counts each of illegally hunting deer without written permission and taking possession of a deer in violation of a division rule, three counts of theft by deception, two counts each of hunting without a license, hunting deer without a valid deer permit and tampering with evidence, and one count each of jacklighting, theft, falsification, and sale of wildlife parts. This Ohio poaching is one of the most prolific incidents in recent memory.
Hunting Coverage on AllOutdoor
- Badlands All-Terrain Xtreme ATX Hunting Packs – Cargo Convenience
- Chief Upland Introduces NWTF Flydown Collection Turkey Vest
- Delta Waterfowl’s Inaugural Double-Reed Duck Calling Championship
- 8 Crucial Mistakes to Avoid When Boar Hunting
Three others, including Alexander’s sister Kristina M. Alexander, and brothers Corey P. Haunert and Zachary R. Haunert, also face charges. Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, Ohio, claimed that he had killed the monster buck, which some believe to be the third largest buck ever killed in North America, on his sister’s property Nov. 9, 2023. Evidence uncovered during an investigation by Ohio DNR’s Division of Wildlife, presented authorities with a different scenario.
Cellphone data showed Alexander had killed the buck on private property ten miles away from where he claimed to have killed it, which was on property owned by his sister. Authorities say he lied about the date the deer was killed and falsified the written permission after the fact, as an attempt to assuage authorities.
The attorney’s report alleges that the deer was staged at the property of Alexander’s sister with the help of the Haunert brothers, to conceal the poaching. According to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Corey Haunert aided Alexander in poaching deer on multiple occasions, providing the crossbow used to hunt and assisting in deer retrieval and staging with Zachary Haunert. Alexander is also accused of deceptively profiting from the poaching by selling deer antlers and receiving payments totaling $20,000 from an antler collector, a hunting magazine, and a company that sells deer products.
“Blinded by greed, the defendants set their sights on fame and fortune while disregarding basic hunting regulations,” Yost said. “Instead of the cover of Field & Stream, their notoriety will be a booking photo.”
Corey Haunert, 29, faces eight charges, including four counts of aiding a wildlife offender, two counts of hunting without written permission, one count each of tampering with evidence, and falsification. Zachary Haunert, 31, faces two misdemeanor counts of aiding a wildlife offender. Kristina Alexander, 37, faces one count of falsification and one count of aiding a wildlife offender.
