Police in western Illinois say a hunter who was scouting land ahead of deer season found 260 marijuana plants illegally growing at Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area.
The Whiteside County Sheriff's Department says about $250,000 worth of marijuana was destroyed. Deputy Andy Henson says workers hacked down the plants found last week with machetes and lopping shears. The plants were burned on a wood fire.
Henson says police believe the plants were grown indoors and transferred to the park. Henson says the marijuana was almost 6-feet tall "like Christmas trees" and surrounded by weeds.
There have been no arrests. Police ask anyone with information to call Whiteside County Crime Stoppers. There is a $1,000 reward.
The wildlife area is about 30 miles east of Moline.
