Warden Blotter: Woodruff Warden Team
December 14, 2012
By: Bureau of Law Enforcement
Woodruff Warden Team
Warden Kelly Crotty (Florence) assisted the Florence UW-Extension staff with a resource education program by teaching students from Florence and Forest Park (Crystal Falls, Michigan) tips for winter survival. The students assembled their own ‘coffee can survival kits’ to keep in their vehicles.
Warden Jim Jung (Rhinelander) investigated a complaint of a family possessing illegal deer and turkey. With the assistance of Wardens Pat Novesky (Three Lakes) and Tim Otto (Antigo) the wardens seized 3 illegally taken deer and 3 illegally taken turkey. The father was also arrested for a probation violation and being a felon in possession of a firearm by the Oneida County Sheriff’s office. Criminal charges are pending.
Warden Jung issued citations to three groups of individuals who were found shining wild animals while in possession of a weapon and shining after 10 p.m. during the month of November. A fourth group was cited for shining past 10 p.m.
Warden Crotty worked the firearms deer season in Florence and northern Marinette Counties. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle, possession of an illegal buck, and hunting deer without a license. Numerous warnings were also issued.
Warden Crotty and Florence DNR Wildlife Technician Anna Jahns assisted a trapper with the release of two wolves that were caught at the same location in coyote traps.
Warden Crotty assisted the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and volunteer fire department and rescue squad personnel with a nighttime search for a female with health problems who walked away from her cabin in a remote area. The female was located several hours into the search submerged in the Little Popple River a significant distance from the closest road. The woman was carried to an awaiting ambulance and treated for hypothermia.
Warden Brad Dahlquist (Crandon) reports during the month of November citations were issued for placing/hunting over illegal bait, hunt antlerless deer in the wrong unit, permitting a juvenile to hunt w/o supervision, depositing a deer carcass on public lands, and operating ATVs without valid registration.
Warden Dahlquist and Deputy Warden John Preuss, contacted two gun hunters that shot a deer over approximately 500-700 pumpkins placed to attract deer and hunt over. The deer was not properly tagged as required. The deer was seized and enforcement action taken.
Warden Pat Novesky (Three Lakes) investigated an incident where a hunter was placing deer repellent on other hunters' bait piles. This had been an ongoing problem for several years until the suspect was caught on camera. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Novesky assisted with Forest County Sheriff’s Department with an incident involving an altercation that took place on federal land. One hunter became upset about others walking too close to his stand and confronted a small group that was leaving the woods. The hunter asked the group to walk a different route past his stand to avoid interfering with his hunt. After being confronted by the hunter, one of the members of the group pointed a gun at the hunter who then grabbed the firearm away from them. A physical altercation ensued. The incident was turned over to the Forest County Sheriff’s Department.
Warden Novesky received information about several hunters hunting over too much bait and using ATVs to access remote areas on federal land. Warden Novesky and US Forest Service Rangers walked into the area and issued several citations for illegal ATV use and hunting over too much bait.
Warden Novesky received a call reporting that a hunter had shot an antlerless deer without having the proper tags. The caller confronted the hunter and advised them that he was going to call the DNR hotline to report the violation. A short time later the suspect called the hotline and turned himself in. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Tim Price (Eagle River) and Deputy Warden John Preuss responded to a complaint of a doe that was found dead on the callers property which is located in a buck only unit. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the deer was illegally shot from a hunter hunting on an adjacent property. The deer was seized and enforcement action was taken.
Warden Price spoke at a hunter education class in Phelps to 29 students about various rules and regulations, firearms safety & ethics.