ACWORTH - Charges are pending against an Acworth man accused of using a rifle to kill a six-point buck deer late last month on private property in north Cobb County.

It is against the law to kill a deer with a gun in Cobb.

Anthony Hitchcock, 44, is charged with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two misdemeanors, possession of illegal wildlife and theft by taking wildlife, according to his arrest warrant.

"Deer is archery-only in Cobb County," said John Purcell, the county's recreation programmer.

A phone number for Hitchcock could not be found by press time Wednesday.

Deveron Heath, who owns property nearby, said Hitchcock was hunting on a 37-acre tract owned by Heath's in-laws off McCoy Road near Highway 41 and the Bartow County line.

Heath said someone had built a deer stand on the property, which Heath disassembled. He also reposted trespassing signs and property lines.

"This gentleman was well aware it was private property. I hated to get him in trouble, but I caught him poaching on their property," Heath said. "They (in-laws) wouldn't approve of someone discharging a firearm, especially shooting towards the house."

Heath said a Department of Natural Resources officer found Hitchcock with the deer, which was shot with a Remington-model rifle.

It is illegal in Georgia to hunt on private property without the landowner's permission.

"We can't hunt on the property, so he shouldn't be able to either," Heath said.

Deer-hunting season opens in Georgia in mid-September or mid-October, depending on the weapon used. Cobb also has an extended archery season from Jan. 2 through Jan. 31, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Hitchcock was released from Cobb County Jail on Oct. 28 on $25,000 bond, according to Nancy Bodiford, spokeswoman for the Cobb Sheriff's Office.

In September 2000, Hitchcock was convicted of felony possession of methamphetamine.