The Maine Warden Service is offering a $3,000 reward for information about a poacher in Rome.

Wardens are investigating after witnesses reported hearing gunshots and seeing a dead deer left in a field off Route 225 last week.

They said the female deer was killed illegally with a small-caliber rifle last Monday between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.

Wardens say the illegal killing may be linked to a similar case in the neighboring town of Mercer, where a deer was shot and killed on West Sandy River Road on Jul. 26 between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Maine Operation Game Thief at maineogt.org, call 1-800-ALERT-US, or call the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207-624-7076.