As deer season winds down across Northwest Georgia, Georgia wildlife officials have arrested a Floyd County man accused of illegally hunting and possessing white-tailed deer after investigators say he exceeded the legal bag limit.

According to misdemeanor arrest warrants, 53-year-old Daniel Scott Roche of Rome is accused of harvesting a 7-point buck on Oct. 20 and an 8-point buck on Oct. 30 near his Wayside Road home—after officials say he had already reached his season bag limit. Roche is charged with two counts of unlawful ownership or custody of wildlife and two counts of possession of more than the bag limit. He also faces one count of hunting without a big game license.

This weekend is the final weekend of deer season in much of Northwest Georgia, and wildlife officers are reminding hunters that rules remain in effect through the very last day—especially when it comes to harvest limits, licensing, and reporting requirements.

What can qualify as illegal deer hunting

In Georgia, common violations can include:

• Taking more deer than allowed for the season, including exceeding antlered buck limits

• Possessing extra harvested deer beyond the legal bag limit

• Hunting without the proper licenses, including a big game license when required

• Failure to record or report a harvest within required timeframes

• Hunting on property without permission or from illegal roadways/right-of-way areas

As with all cases, Roche is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.