PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- Oregon State Police arrested a man Friday for serial-type killing of wildlife, officers said.

Ronald A. Livermore, 60, of Prineville, was caught with a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle with a homemade silencer "spotlighting" in the area where more than a dozen deer have been found dead over the last several years.

Investigators said they believe Livermore would drive around in the dark shining his spotlight until he saw the glimpse of eyes.

At that point, Livermore -- who told police he is primarily a vegetarian -- would shoot at the deer and continue on, leaving the deer that had been killed to waste beside forest service roads, police said.

Many of the deer killed were pregnant or had recently given birth, officers said.

Police said they found a special compartment in the trunk of Livermore's car used to conceal his custom-modified weapon.

A forensic examination by the OSP proved that Livermore's weapon was used in some of the killings, police said.

Livermore was charged with possession of a short-barreled rifle with a silencer, tampering with evidence, illegal taking of deer closed season, waste of deer, hunting while suspended, attempted taking of wildlife during closed season, hunting with the aid of a light, aggravated animal abuse.