Warden Blotter: Trapping, MFL, waterfowl, fish, deer and more
Warden Blotter: Athletic raccoon drags clues; road hunters' illegal buck kill; AR-15 & the shining skunk; and, Learn to Hunt
Dane, Jefferson and Rock counties
Wardens Mike Dieckhoff and Bryan Harrenstein of Janesville received a citizen call of a raccoon in a trap that stumbled into a person’s back yard. Upon investigation, the trapper’s name was on the tag still attached to the trap. And, the trap was a legal trap to place on dry land but the raccoon took the subject’s trap. Further investigation revealed the trapper had not purchased a trapping license for the 21 raccoons he trapped, and illegally used site-exposed bait at his set locations. The traps the subject still had placed in the field were seized, and all of the subject’s raccoons, opossums and beaver were seized. The subject was issued a citation for trapping without a license and restitution was charged for the raccoons.
Warden Jake Donar of Madison and Warden Supervisor Nate Kroeplin of Madison were investigating a waterfowl case where two hen mallards were found dead in a closed area at the Department of Natural Resources Fish Hatchery. The wardens were able to locate and to apprehend the suspect. This investigation led to the discovery of other violations including hunting waterfowl with an unplugged gun and being in possession of lead shot while waterfowl hunting. Two citations were issued.
Conservation Warden Henry Bauman of Madison issued a citation to a waterfowl hunter for placing and hunting over illegal unattended decoys on the Sugar River.
Warden Jake Donar of Madison and Warden Supervisor Nate Kroeplin of Madison were investigating a case of tree stands left overnight on state land when they apprehended the suspects. This investigation led to the discovery of numerous other violations including ATV-trespassing, untagged tree stands, untagged trail cameras, illegal night hunting, trapping with untagged traps, trapping without trapper education and trapping without a license. Citations were issued.
Warden Jake Donar of Madison investigated a complaint of hunter harassment in southern Dane County. Warden Donar was able to apprehend the suspect in this case. A citation was issued.
While on patrol during the gun-deer season, Warden Kyle Dilley of Madison received a complaint on Rock Lake of waterfowl hunters shooting from a motorized boat. Warden Dilley responded and contacted the hunters in question. One citation was issued for transport loaded firearm in motorboat.
Wardens Mike Dieckhoff and Bryan Harrenstein of Janesville investigated and located many illegally placed tree stands left on state property beyond the close of hunting hours. These stands also were without the customer ID numbers or names and addresses of the owners. Tree stands on state property was a major issue in 2013.
Wardens Mike Dieckhoff and Bryan Harrenstein of Janesville investigated many illegally baited tree stand locations in Rock County. Wardens issued a total of 7 citations for illegally baiting deer.
Wardens Boyd Richter and Keith Meverden of Janesville received a complaint of a deer carcass dumped along the side of a road south of Evansville. Wardens examined the carcass and found an arrow wound on a partially gutted buck fawn that had apparently been registered, but no meat was salvaged from the deer. Wardens learned through investigation the name of the suspect and spoke with the person who had shot the deer about a week earlier. The suspect initially denied dumping the carcass, but after being presented with the evidence, admitted to dumping the carcass. The suspect said he thought the meat was spoiled and not salvageable. One litter citation was issued. Warnings were given for waste of a resource and driving with a revoked driver’s license.
Wardens Boyd Richter and Keith Meverden of Janesville observed a vehicle driving on a Voluntary Public Access (VPA) property near Lima and made contact with the driver. Upon contact wardens found the subject had set four foothold traps on the property, while the subject did not have a trapping license, had not tagged the traps and was using site-exposed bait. One citation was issued for trapping without a license and the four traps were seized.
Wardens Boyd Richter and Keith Meverden of Janesville investigated a complaint of a hunter being kicked off of a Voluntary Public Access (VPA) property in the Evansville area on opening day of the gun-deer season. Wardens found the landowner had told the hunter to leave the area despite the hunter being there legally. The landowner claimed he told the hunter to leave because there were already two hunters set up in the area the hunter was walking toward and the hunter did not stop at the landowner’s house before hunting. Wardens explained the VPA agreement to the landowner and informed him it was illegal for him to interfere with someone lawfully hunting. One citation was issued for Hunter Interference.
Conservation Warden Henry Bauman of Madison apprehended and issued a citation to a gun-deer hunter for placing and hunting from an illegal tree stand in a state park in the Cross Plains area.
Richland, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties
Warden Mike Nice of Richland Center received information where individuals were observed shining and shooting after 10 p.m. Warden Nice spoke with the suspect who shot an AR-15 from a truck after that hour while shining at a skunk in a field. Citations were pending.
Warden Mike Nice contacted a hunter driving an ATV with a loaded rifle while wearing the back tag of another family member. The hunter has lived in Illinois for 20 years and decided to have a sibling buy a license to save some money. Approximately $2,000 in penalties and 3 years revocation of licenses are pending.
Wardens Nice, Cody Adams of Prairie du Chien, Nick Wallor of Ft. McCoy and Deputy Warden Mike Williams investigated a case involving four individuals who shot from the road and killed a 160-class buck in Crawford County. Wardens completed an investigation and determined the buck was shot at by all four suspects, killed and taken to a taxidermist in Iowa. The deer rack was recovered and charges are pending.
Warden Ryan Caputo of Monroe and Deputy Warden Kevin Christorf located a bait pile with a trail camera over it on private land near a local public hunting ground. Wardens also located another bait pile of corn on the neighboring property. Wardens Caputo and Steve Sanidas of Waukesha located hunters over both bait sites on opening day of the 9-day gun deer season and citations were issued.
Wardens Ryan Caputo and Steve Sanidas made contact with three hunters suspected of shooting at a deer off of the roadway. Wardens found one shot off the roadway, had a loaded gun in the vehicle, did not tag a deer, and placed out bait. The property owner was found to be: hunting deer without a license; was over bait; without a back tag; was not wearing the required blaze orange; was hunting turkeys without a license and during the closed season; over bait; and, hunting turkeys with a slug. The other member in the group was hunting without a back tag. Three firearms and a deer were seized and charges will be filed. Warden Caputo returned to the property later in the week and found another hunter at the location who also had an untagged deer which was seized and enforcement action taken.
Wardens Rick DeWitte and Casey Krueger contacted an ice fisherman with a total of 36 bluegills and 2 crappies on the backwaters of the Mississippi River. The daily limit is 25 of each. Enforcement action was taken for possessing 11 fish in excess of the daily bag limit and the fish were seized as evidence.
Wardens Al Erickson of Dodgeville and Chris Weller of Madison investigated a complaint of tree stands being left overnight on public property at Blackhawk Lake State Recreation Area. Wardens observed two stands and also encountered four subjects who had set up and used the stands. The subjects stated that since they were using the stands each day, they did not want to take them down each night. Enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Webster and Jake Donar worked a property where a significant amount of illegal bait was located. The hunters had six illegally placed bait sites consisting of Buck Jam, salt blocks, mineral blocks and pumpkins. Two citations were issued.
Warden Marty Stone of Fennimore and Supervisor Joseph Frost of Dodgeville contacted a hunter seated in his vehicle in a field watching a hillside for deer and coyotes near Mt. Hope. The hunter was found with a loaded rifle in the cab and had already used his deer tags. In addition he was not wearing his blaze orange. Enforcement action was taken.
Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties
Warden Isaac Kruse of Racine County and Warden Supervisor Jen Niemeyer contacted a group of hunters in Kenosha County. During the conversation the hunter showed Warden Isaac Kruse photos of deer on a trail camera and other deer he had harvested. The hunter told Warden Kruse he shot a 10-point buck in October while hunting with his step-daughter. Through investigation it was found that the hunter shot a buck in October, called his wife to bring his step-daughter, age13, to come tag the 10-point buck with her archery buck tag. The man was issued a citation, and his venison and 10-point rack from the buck were seized by the wardens.
Warden Mike Hirschboeck and Recruit Warden Kyle observed a vehicle driving erratically, crossing the centerline and going in excess of 15 miles an hour over the speed limit. Wardens contacted the Racine County dispatch which informed wardens to stop the vehicle. A Waterford Officer conducted field sobriety tests and placed the driver under arrest for OWI. A blood alcohol result was almost twice the legal limit.
Warden John Sinclair of Kenosha and Warden Supervisor Jen Niemeyer investigated a complaint of overbagging of Canada geese. Wardens located three hunters who were in possession of a total of 9 Canada geese. Each of the hunters was found to be in violation of waterfowl regulations and enforcement action was taken. Several warnings were issued.
Warden Juan Gomez Juan Gomez had checked a few fishermen this fall. They turned out to be University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students in a fishing club through their college. In talking with them, none of the students had ever participated in deer hunting. Warden Gomez saw this as an opportunity and began to communicate and work with the group to set up a Learn to Hunt Deer event. Gomez coordinated with the students, mentors (which were area wardens), wildlife staff and parks to make this a successful hunt. One student was lucky enough to not only see a deer but to harvest a 6-point buck. After the harvest, the wardens instructed the group about how to butcher a deer. All students went home with some venison. There were 10 UW-Whitewater college students, one deer harvested and many, many memories made.
Winnebago, Outagamie, Waushara and Waupaca counties
Warden Mark Schraufnagel of Clintonville assisted Winnebago County wardens with the execution of a search warrant involving a suspect who shined and shot a large buck at night. Several items, including a .270 rifle were collected as evidence. Investigation is ongoing.
Warden Mark Schraufnagel of Clintonville investigated an archery deer loan/borrow complaint. The investigation determined that the bow hunter harvested a deer and then his brother illegally tagged the deer. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Mark Schraufnagel of Clintonville assisted with a pheasant Learn to Hunt at Wolf River Game Farm. More than 40 youth hunters participated in the event and many were able to harvest their first pheasant.
Warden Ted Dremel of Waupaca worked waterfowl hunters in his area. Dremel received two complaints of late shooting. Upon investigating a littering on state land, Dremel and Warden Josh Loining of Madison were able to determine the same person was responsible for shooting protected species, discharging a firearm from a moving boat, and hunting after hours. Enforcement action is pending.
Warden Ted Dremel of Waupaca continued to work on a Hotline complaint involving a person launching a boat into Long Lake (Waushara County) with a zebra mussel attached to the boat. Dremel contacted the person who owned the boat and pursued enforcement action for this incident.
Warden Ted Dremel of Waupaca worked fish run in the Southeast Region – Racine and Milwaukee Counties. Dremel contacted people who were netting, snagging and foul hooking fish.
Warden Ted Dremel of Waupaca investigated a complaint of a person installing a boat ramp behind their house on Partridge Lake in Fremont. Dremel responded and was able to identify the person who was responsible for the excavation.
Warden Dremel attended an Outdoor Skills day at the New London Middle School. 27 students participated in fire building, shelter building, predator/prey relationships and job duties of a warden.
Warden Judi Nigbor of Montello filed the paperwork and a request for a criminal complaint for the subject that was hunting deer with a firearm the opening day of the archery season. Additional forfeiture citations will be issued when a court date is assigned.
Warden Jeff Knorr of Fremont and Deputy Warden Sam Schroeder traveled the Wolf River by boat from Lake Poygan to the Waupaca/Outagamie County Line in New London over a three-day period checking compliance for removal of setlines and bank poles and removal of miscellaneous garbage. Wardens took enforcement action for setlines still in the water and several items, including metal poles, plastic bottles, and tires were removed.
Warden Jeff Knorr of Fremont and Ted Dremel of Waupaca investigated a Hotline complaint of two brothers committing archery deer hunting violations in the Manawa area.
Warden Jeff Knorr of Fremont and Ted Dremel of Waupaca assisted with Waterfowl Enforcement Training for the warden recruits.
Warden Mike Young of Shiocton contacted two youths, ages 15 and 16, who were hunting waterfowl. The pair shot 10 minutes after hours -- and continued to hunt 20 minutes after hours. The pair had decoys out 40 minutes after hours. Young contacted the parents and the school liaison officer. The pair will be doing one night of community service at the conservation club in lieu of citations.
If you have information regarding natural resource violations, please call: VIOLATION HOTLINE: 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained staff relay reported information to conservation wardens. Anyone who calls the Violation Hotline or provides information can remain anonymous.