Moorhead man charged in deer harassment case

TULABY LAKE - A 55-year-old Moorhead man may face charges in an incident on a northwestern Minnesota lake where it was thought a man used a pontoon to harass a deer and stop it from getting to shore - thus killing the animal.
Steven William Timm has been identified as the driver of the pontoon, which belonged to a friend who lived on Tulaby Lake about 40 miles northwest of Detroit Lakes in Mahnomen County.
It’s not known if Timm will be charged as there are conflicting stories on the incident that occurred over the Labor Day weekend.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has wrapped up its investigation and an incident report form said that eyewitnesses saw Timm circling the big buck, preventing it from getting to shore.
However, Timm told the DNR he wasn’t trying to hurt the deer, but was simply trying to turn the deer back to shore.
The incident report also includes conversations between Timm and other boaters who questioned what he was doing, with Timm replying at one point, “What do you think I am, a deer killer?”
According to the witnesses, Timm harassed the deer until it drowned of exhaustion.
The witnesses took photos which will be turned over the Mahnomen County Attorney’s office which will decide whether to press charges.
The county attorney will have to make a decision once the DNR report is analyzed.
Members of the Tulaby Lake Association found the deer about 300 yards from shore, took the buck to shore and called the DNR.