Mississippi wildlife officials say they are getting complaints about deer carcasses being dumped along county roads and busy highways.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. H.L. Kitchens said he’s seen a lot of deer carcasses on state highways, especially Interstate 55.

Kitchens said the dead deer are a hazard to drivers.

“I don’t see why people would throw a dead deer out on the highway, but it happens.

“This is a hazard for the drivers. Someone could run over one of them and do some serious damage to a car or cause them injury,” Kitchens said.

Dumping deer parts is also a crime.

Mark Beason, a spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, said a person caught dumping a deer carcass on the side of the road can be charged with littering and fined up to $250, but catching the culprits isn’t easy.

“Thousands of deer are killed each year and only a few can be found being dumped,” Beason said. “But these guys are not doing this while people are around, so catching them in the act is the key.”

Hunters have options for disposing of their kills.

“Hunters have an obligation to the animals to dispose of them is a proper manner,” said Adam Tullos, wildlife expert with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “They can bury them (or) take them to a deer processor who will dispose of the carcass or compost them. All these methods are legal and respectful to the sport.”

Tullos said anyone who finds a deer carcass on his property is obligated to clean it up and report it to law enforcement agencies.