Two area teens are suspected of shooting three deer illegally.

At 2:15 a.m., on Oct. 4, a Genesee County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to Atlas Township observed a pickup truck exit a field near Horton and Joslin roads at a high rate of speed. The truck had no taillights on it.

The deputy identified three dead deer with no kill tags in the bed of the pickup truck, along with a bow case. The driver said he and his passenger were deer hunting and had forgotten two of their three kill tags. One tag was displayed. There was also a 22 caliber rifle in the truck.

The suspects were handcuffed and placed in the back seat of the patrol vehicle until a DNR officer arrived. The officer examined the deer and determined they were shot in the head with a small caliber weapon. Since rifle season is not currently open, the deer had to be shot with a bow and arrow and evidence of that was not present. The DNR officer seized the three deer, two black spotlights, a box of Remington 22 caliber ammunition and a 22 caliber Savage rifle.

The suspects were released and warrants will be issued at a later time.

The Michigan deer archery season opened on Oct. 1 statewide. The firearm deer season opens on Nov. 15.