CLARE — The chairman of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority’s board of directors was charged Oct. 19 with discharging a firearm across a public highway, a violation, by New York State Department of Conservation officers.

Frederick J, Carter, 66, Clark Street, Ogdensburg, is accused of shooting at a deer on the side of a road at 4:55 p.m., according to DEC.

To avoid the criminal charge, Mr. Carter agreed to a civil penalty, which came with a $200 fine, Mr. Carter said.

Also with Mr. Carter was Edward Carter, 77, and Charles J. Schaver, 78, who also were charged with discharging a firearm across a public highway.

Edward Carter was also charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. All charges were settled with civil fines, Mr. Carter said.

He said he was driving on Tooley Pond Road when he saw a large buck on the side of the road. What Mr. Carter said he didn’t know was that it was not a real deer.

“It was a wonderful decoy,” he said.

He said his brother, Edward, got out of the truck and began firing at the fake animal. He and Mr. Schaver were charged even though he said they did not fire.

“It’s one of those things that happens,” Mr. Carter said. “It’s like getting a speeding ticket.”

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