Warden Blotter: 'Operation Peeking Duck' among August cases for NW, SE
Published: September 7, 2013 in Wardens in Action
By: Bureau of Law Enforcement
Warden Blotter: Oil spill training, boating & fishing cases
Ashland, Bayfield, Washburn and Douglas counties
Wardens from the Ashland team bordering Lake Superior participated in “Operation Peeking Duck,” a Port Security Full Scale Exercise with the U.S. Coast Guard - Duluth and many other state and federal agencies in the Twin Ports area of Lake Superior. The exercise was training for an oil spill.
During the past two months Wardens Jill Schartner and Keith Meverden worked enforcement in Southern Bayfield County working fishing, boating, ATV and bear hunting enforcement at which time they issued citations and warnings to persons for: fishing without licenses, boating without the required number of personal flotation (life jackets),failing to have a fire extinguisher, failing to covering battery terminals, operating ATVs without registration and allowing an underage person to operate a boat and ATV, and training bear with too many dogs.
Ashland Team Wardens worked an AIS group check on Lake Superior boat landings educating boaters about keeping boats, trailers and equipment clean of invasive aquatic plants and draining water from boats, live wells and bait buckets.
During the month of August, Wardens Jill Schartner, Tom Heisler, Mark Little and Keith Meverden spent two weekends putting on a Bear Learn to Hunt program. The first weekend included a six-hour training/classroom session where these new bear hunters were taught the ins and outs of bear hunting with the assistance of 16 mentor groups. The hunters were also taken to a nearby gun range where they received tree stand safety instructions and then they were sent home with instruction to practice shooting at the bear targets they received. They all returned two weekends later for a four-day hunt, some sitting over baits while others ran with the bear dog hunters. Everyone met at Warden Schartner’s home for a dinner where they all shared their bear hunting experiences, in the end, extremely hot weather. Nine of the 13 hunters harvested a bear. Everyone had an enjoyable learning experience.
Warden Brad Biser of Brule organized a Learn to Hunt Bear program for five youths who attended a training day and enjoyed presentations from a department biologist explaining bear biology.
Warden Lance Burns, Dave Oginski and Dave Swanson responded for to a request for assistance from Douglas and Washburn counties to assist in apprehension of armed and dangerous subject on the run after burglary and high speed chase. The subject was taken into custody.
Wardens Egstad, Burns and Kyle Plautz (Recruit) were working Lake Superior fish refuges on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Several boats were contacted while fishing inside the refuge line by “the flats” and issued citations for the violation. One boater was cited for failing to register a sailboat they were sailing and a fisherman was cited for failing to register his motorized dinghy.
Milwaukee and Waukesha counties
Warden Kaitlin Kernosky has had ongoing complaints about bus companies discharging sewage into the parking lot of Miller Park during special events. Warden Kernosky and Milwaukee Police Officer Art Kleist received a complaint during a concert and were able to substantiate the complaint. Enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Kaitlin Kernosky, Gervis Myles, and Brandon Leis assisted the Milwaukee Police Department in recovering the body of an individual who drowned in the Milwaukee River.
Wardens Matt Groppi, Brandon Leis, and Rick Reed assisted with the Lake Beulah tie-up and arrested one boater for Operating While Intoxicated.
Warden Doug Zeihen of Waukesha County assisted the Wingshooting for Migratory Birds volunteer instructors with their first clinics during the month of August.
For the past couple of years, Warden Doug Zeihen has worked with the Waukesha Women’s Sporting Group. This year, Warden Zeihen and Warden Kyle Drake conducted an Internet Hunter Education class for that group and other females who would like a female-only class. The field day\testing day took place at Wern Valley Sportsman’s Club.
Racine, Walworth and Kenosha counties
Warden Isaac Kruse of Racine County and Warden John Sinclair conducted sport fishing enforcement on Lake Michigan. Wardens contacted numerous boats and issued several citations for violations, including: fishing without a license and fishing with excess hooks, baits or lures.
Warden Isaac Kruse conducted an interview with a suspect regarding illegal taxidermy work. The individual took his deer head to a friend to have it made into a mount. It was found through investigation the person doing the taxidermy work has been doing it for several years and collecting money for his services without a taxidermy license.
Wardens Kruse, Mike Hirschboeck and Juan Gomez worked a complaint of individuals shooting mourning doves during the closed season. Three individuals were observed shooting at a flock of doves using shotguns. The group was contacted by Wardens Kruse, Hirschboeck and Gomez. Gomez translated the conversation as most of the group members did not speak English. Three individuals were cited for hunting doves during the closed season.
Warden Mike Hirschboeck of Racine County located a large discarded safe on state-owned lands. The safe was closed and locked with no signs of being broken in to. Hirschboeck and Groenier documented the safe and turned the safe over to the investigator. The investigator contacted Hirschboeck the following day and stated a burglary was reported in the evening after the wardens located the safe. Racine Sheriff stated they were currently writing up a search warrant as they have a suspect and arrested the suspect three days later on a search warrant.
Warden Hirschboeck responded to complaints of roofing shingles being dumped, wetland violations, captive wildlife, car-killed deer violations and injured wildlife. Hirschboeck issued citations for fishing without a license, hunting doves during the closed season and hunting migratory birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shot shells and also gave warnings.
Warden John Sinclair of Kenosha attended the Twin Lakes National Night Out and brought warden equipment (including two snowmobiles) to show to area residents. Sinclair answered community questions at the event. Sinclair and Recreational Safety Warden Kyle Drake checked two sport trollers on Lake Michigan, and found the two subjects to be fishing with a total of 13 lures at once. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Juan Gomez of Walworth County organized the Lake Beulah OWI group check. There were 10 arrest made for operating a boat while intoxicated. The wardens worked with aquatic invasive species (AIS) staff and Town of East Troy Police during this event. An AIS electronic sign was used to remind boaters to remove weeds from their boats.
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.