Man Pleads Guilty to Taking Deer Semen Illegally

This has to be one of the weirdest stories we've come across in a while.  The Houston Chronicle reports an Illinois man has pleaded guilty in Tyler Federal Court to taking  semen from a deer that had been brought into Texas illegally, in violation of interstate commerce laws.

Court papers say the man took approximately 110 “straws” of semen, worth approximately $55,000, from a trophy buck he knew had been brought to Cherokee County from out of state.

He could get five years in prison, but federal prosecutors say if the judge approves his plea agreement he could get probation and a $150,000 fine.

We hear you asking why and how anyone would take deer semen?  Those who do it illegally sell it to private hunting reserves where it's used to impregnate captive females and maintain the deer population.

There are legal reasons for this practice, and here's a fascinating article that answers all your questions.