Investigators pursue illegal wildlife killings
GREEN LAKE, Wis. - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, along with
the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, is asking the public to assist with
a wildlife "thrill killing" case.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, DNR Conservation Warden Nate Ackerman received
complaints of gun shots heard overnight, northwest of Green Lake. Green
Lake sheriff's deputies working with Ackerman located seven dead whitetail
deer in various locations within a three-mile area in the towns of Brooklyn
and St. Marie. At one site a buck, an adult doe and a doe fawn were all
found in the same field.
All of the deer were shot and left with no obvious attempt to recover them.
Saturday evening, DNR conservation wardens working in the area overheard
numerous gunshots. A short time later, a Green Lake sheriff's deputy
attempted to stop a suspect vehicle. A pursuit ensued during which the
suspect crashed his vehicle. The adult male driver, who was not injured, was
taken into custody.
Investigators believe that more deer were illegally killed and that more
individuals are involved. Ackerman commended Green Lake deputies for rapidly
responding and quickly locating suspects.
The warden said the wildlife shootings under investigation bear no
resemblance to hunting.
"During the annual nine-day gun deer season, more than 600,000 licensed
hunters take to the woods to enjoy Wisconsin's great outdoors and the fine
traditions surrounding the annual deer hunt," Ackerman said. "These hunters
are ethical and work hard to legally harvest a deer. This appears to be a
case of wastefully killing wildlife without reason, an act which is
abhorrent to real hunters."
Investigators request that anyone with information related to this
investigation contact warden Nate Ackerman at 920-369-6028 or the Green Lake
County Sheriff's Office at 920-294-4000. Another option is to call the
confidential DNR tip line at 800-TIP-WDNR or 800-847-9367.