Warden Blotter - Oshkosh, Mississippi River & Lower St. Croix River warden teams
Oshkosh team
Warden Kyle Kosin of Campbellsport investigated a complaint of a lake homeowner shooting a pellet rifle at people fishing too close to his dock. Upon contact it was found the individual had shot numerous times to deter the fisherman from fishing near his dock. Enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Ben Nadolski of Waupun and Paul Nell of Horicon responded with a surface drive boat to the Horicon Marsh to assist with a stranded boater and his son. The boat was stuck in the marsh mud.
Warden Al Erickson of Fond du Lac and Warden Kyle Kosin of Campbellsport completed an investigation of a large 8-point whitetail buck harvested in January 201. At issue was the archery equipment used in the taking of the 8-point buck. It was used after the person already had shot a large whitetail buck in October 2011 with the same archery equipment. Enforcement action was taken with both the subject that harvested the buck without a license and the subject that loaned his unused archery tag and registered it as his own. The shoulder mount of the large illegal whitetail buck was seized as evidence.
Mississippi River team
Wardens Ed McCann of La Crosse and Chris Shea of Trempealeau attended a youth event for at-risk kids. Wardens and staff from the USFWS set up several activities to introduce inner city youth to the outdoors. Events included fishing, searching for aquatic invertebrates, furs, skulls and antlers and forest exploration.
Warden Ed McCann of La Crosse investigated a boating accident that was reported after the fact. The investigation showed that an operator collided with another boat and injured a passenger. The operator of the striking boat was cited for fail to yield right of way.
Warden Chris Shea of Trempealeau contacted a boater coming off the Mississippi River well after dark without boat lights on. The boater was found to be operating while under the influence. The operator was arrested and processed for OWI.
Lower St Croix team
Warden Bill Wrasse (Durand) with the assistance of Pepin County Deputy Joel Wener and Wildlife Technician Gary Wolf removed several marijuana plants from state land.
Warden Wrasse gave a presentation to an Amish Hunter Education Class.
Warden Wrasse investigated a suspect in a complaint involving raccoons. The suspect was found to have been killing raccoons with a baseball bat. Enforcement action taken.
In St Croix County, Warden Paul Sickman assisted the Sheriff’s Dept. with 2 burglary calls. One of which a suspect was located and arrested.
Warden Brad Peterson assisted the Pierce Co. Sheriff’s Department with recovery of a body from the Mississippi River. It appeared the person committed suicide after he jumped in the River.
While on patrol Warden Wayne Flak of Menomonie came across a vehicle at a public hunting area. Flak contacted the driver who was found to be intoxicated. Flak was then assisted by a Deputy. The driver was arrested for fourth offense drunk driving and his BAC was .21.
Warden James Cleven of Colfax responded to a complaint from the Sheriff Department stating a home owner allegedly shot a bear that was in his garden. No evidence of a wounded bear was observed, although the shooter stated he shot at the bear several times. The shooter was eventually arrested for going armed while intoxicated.
Cleven responded to an ATV accident where a juvenile rolled his ATV on private property.
Cleven worked with the Dunn County Fish and Game Club on a Learn to Hunt Pheasants event to be held in October, and a youth squirrel hunt also to be held this October.