TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Arrests were made throughout Tulare County following an investigation into “egregious” deer poaching.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said Friday that it conducted a multi-year investigation looking at Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties.

CDFW officers served search warrants and made arrests in Visalia and Farmersville.

Officials said that investigators suspected approximately 30 deer were unlawfully taken by four people over the past three years. Many of the animals were allegedly killed out of season, using spotlights and other illegal methods.

During the investigation, officers said they uncovered both digital and physical evidence indicating deer tags were reused multiple times. In one case, a tag was allegedly being fraudulently duplicated after already being used to harvest four deer.

A search resulted in the recovery of numerous deer skulls, a large quantity of processed venison, and a firearm without a serial number.

The case has been referred to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.