We started receiving calls on Monday about this deer, but responding officers couldn’t get close to it,” said Deputy Chief Frankie Gray.

“We were hoping that we wouldn’t have to destroy it,” Gray added.

But leprechauns were watching over this particular Bambi when another call came in Tuesday.

Police Sgt. Johnny Ferguson responded to the call, but the young buck, partly blinded by the plastic container, was elusive.

Gray and Capt. Rick Stalder decided to “go and have a look before making the decision to shoot the animal.”

The Vermont State's Attorney Office released documents Thursday that show that, over the course of several months, Fournier illegally hunted does and at least one immature buck, using his Jeep's headlights to spot (or "jack") his quarry.

Fournier's amateur taxidermy, documented in a trophy Polaroid photograph and in Vermont District Court records, put authorities on the trail. His game violations cost Fournier $400 in fines and a 10-day jail term, levied Feb. 18.

Our state prohibits the importation of deer largely out of fear of disease transmission, particularly Chronic Wasting Disease.

Here’s the whole e-mailed press release: