Warden Blotter - Park Falls Warden Team
By: Park Falls Warden Team
Warden Andy Dryja and Recruit Warden Kyle Lynch of Langlade responded to a complaint in Antigo of a moose creating traffic problems on the edge of town. There were also concerns that the animal was getting too close to children as well. The wardens patrolled the area and waited for the moose to move on.
Warden Dryja Langlade organized the fall enforcement training for the 2012 warden recruit class. The week- long training consisted of classroom work, field demonstrations and training scenarios. At the end of the week, local bear hunters volunteered their time to show the new wardens the ins and outs of training bear hounds. Several wardens from the northern part of the state assisted in the training.
Warden Rick Peters of Merrill helped the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office locate a fisherman on the Wisconsin River in order to deliver an emergency family notification. Peters also assisted the sheriff’s department at a call of an armed suicidal subject who was barricaded inside a home.
Warden Tim Otto of Antigo and volunteer instructors from the Wisconsin Trapper’s Association combined a trapper education course with a Learn to Trap event in Langlade County. This was the first event of its kind in the county. After two days of learning about outdoor ethics, trapping techniques, and animal habits, the 19 new trappers earned their trapper education certificates. All of the students also got a chance to make their own sets and attempt to catch some fur.
Warden Kirk Konichek of Ladysmith held a Learn to Bear Hunt event in Rusk County in cooperation with the Safe Hunters of Tomorrow. The event provides novice hunters the opportunity to experience what it’s like to hunt bears over bait and also with hounds. There are no kill tags associated with this event, but all of the participants were successful in observing bear.
Warden Konichek assisted the Rusk County Sheriff's Department with a search warrant in the county. Officers discovered marijuana plants being cultivated indoors and outdoors. One subject was arrested for numerous drug charges.
Warden Nick Nice of Medford helped the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office locate two lost and dehydrated hikers in the National Forest. Both hikers were recovered unharmed.
Warden Jason Bayer of Phillips investigated a complaint of two Price County residents who had allegedly taken too many pan fish from Chetac Lake in Sawyer County. Warden Bayer seized 410 frozen and packaged pan fish from their residence, which was 310 pan fish over their possession limit. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Bayer and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation conducted a Learn to Bear Hunt event in Price County. The event took place during three days and included a training day at the Chequamegon Sportsman Club followed by a two-day bear hunt. Fifteen novice hunters participated in the hunt. Volunteer mentors provided the opportunity to hunt with bear hounds or sit on baits or both. Thirteen of the hunters were successful at harvesting a bear.