HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently honored state police Cpl. Todd A. Brian and Trooper Stephen E. Wilcox, from the Lamar Barracks, for their response to an unusual situation on Nov. 15 in which two Clinton County residents were severely injured when they were attacked by a white-tailed deer.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the immediate response and decisive action of Cpl. Brian and Trooper Wilcox saved the lives of the two victims," said Dennis Dusza, Game Commission North Central Region director.

About 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 15, two Fishing Creek Road residents were the victims of an unprovoked attack by a 1Z\x-year-old, 6-point buck. The incident began when a woman tried to enter her back yard to feed her cats and was confronted by the buck, which would not let her out of the house.

Alerted to the situation, a man tried to chase the deer away, but the buck repeatedly charged and gored him.

The woman contacted the Lamar Barracks at 7:40 a.m., and the two officers responded to the scene.

They found the deer attacking the woman, who had tried to chase the deer away from the man.

The officers were able to wrestle the deer away from the woman before both officers fired shots, killing the deer.

"In mid-November, deer are in the midst of the rut, which is the fall mating season," said Kenneth Packard, Clinton County wildlife conservation officer. "However, during the investigation, it was revealed that two nearby neighbors of the victims had been feeding and harboring this deer since it was a fawn."

Packard filed charges against Ronald S. Underkoffler, 39, and Tina Underkoffler, 29, of Woodward Street, Clintondale, Clinton County, for their harboring and feeding the deer. On Jan. 18, the Underkofflers were found guilty and fined $300 plus court costs.