Two men who shot and killed an adult deer in a nature reserve in São Marcos da Serra, in the district of Silves, were due to appear in court on Monday (July 8) charged with illegal hunting.
Police, backed by the local environmentalist society, caught the pair, aged 31 and 37, in the early hours of last Saturday as they were preparing to leave the scene of the killing in a vehicle.
A high powered rifle with telescopic and night vision sights was confiscated along with ammunition.
Illegal hunters have been attracted to the reserve after deers were re-introduced there some years ago, which has led to the authorities keeping a close surveillance on rogue hunters.
The meat from the animal was donated to a local social solidarity institution.
