Authorities have jailed three Waupaca County men in connection with what authorities suspect was the thrill killing of three deer last week by intentionally hitting them with snowmobiles.

Robby Kuenzi, 23, Rory Kuenzi, 24, and Nicholas Hermes, 22, are being held in the Waupaca County Jail in relation to the killing, an official in the clerk of courts office said. Hermes has been charged with five felony counts of mistreatment of animals/causing death, and he's scheduled for an appearance in Waupaca County Circuit Court this afternoon, the court official said.

The Kuenzis had been scheduled to appear in court, but those appearances have been delayed, the official said.

A farmer discovered five deer slaughtered in a field along a snowmobile trail Saturday. One deer was apparently dragged and strapped by the neck to a tree, where it was run over and apparently died trying to free itself, investigators said.

The Waupaca County Sheriff's Department has said it plans to release more information on the arrests later this afternoon.