FAYETTE - Two Waterloo men have been charged with illegally shooting a deer in Fayette County.

Kenneth VanDeest, 40, and Timothy Aitchison, 31, allegedly shot the animal on Dec. 18 just south of the Volga River State Recreational Area on Grain Road, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said.

An area farmer told DNR officers he saw the men allegedly shoot the deer in the right-of-way of the county road, crippling it. The deer then ran onto his farm field. The hunters entered the farmer's property without permission, where Aitchison killed the deer with a handgun.

The farmer confronted the pair and took down the license plate of their vehicle, the DNR said.

DNR Conservation Officer Dave Elledge filed charges against the men this week after a lengthy investigation.

VanDeest is charge with discharging a shotgun or shooting a slug over a public highway right-of-way and trespassing while deer hunting. Aitchison is charged with trespassing while deer hunting.

All charges are simple misdemeanors, punishable by a fine of up to $625 or 30 days in jail. An addition penalty of $1,500 or an illegally taken deer is also assessed.

The two men are scheduled to appear in Fayette County magistrate court on 9 a.m., March 10.