The Maine Warden Service is trying to learn who shot a doe that was pregnant with twins and had been outfitted with a radio collar by state biologists conducting research.

The collar alerted deer biologist Kyle Ravana of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife early Saturday morning that the deer had died in the Somerset County town of St. Albans, but investigators believe it was shot at about 9 p.m. Friday, according to a statement by the warden service. The carcass was found in a field near the intersection of Corinna and Nokomis roads.

Ravana conducted a necropsy and determined the deer died of a single gunshot and was pregnant with twin fawns that would have been born in the spring or early summer, the warden service said.

Wardens are asking anyone with information to contact the public safety dispatch center in Augusta at 624-7076. The wardens said that Maine Operation Game Thief will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible.

Hunting deer in a closed season is a Class D crime and conviction carries a mandatory sentence of no less than three days in jail and a fine of not less than $1,000.