CENTRALIA (AP) — A McCleary man faces a felony charge of first-degree unlawful hunting of big game in the death of a cougar.

The Chronicle reports authorities suspect the 30-year-old man killed the cougar the day before purchasing a hunting license.

Court documents say the man reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that he used a bow to kill the cougar in Lewis County's Tatoosh Wilderness.

An investigation began after an officer remembered that the man was previously convicted in Grays Harbor District Court on a charge of unlawful hunting of big game.

Investigators looked at the man's Facebook posts and cellphone records.

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