Suspects cited in Southeast deer poaching case – Outdoor News

Fond du Lac, Wis. — Four suspects have been cited in a long-running southeastern Wisconsin deer poaching case covering almost 200 square miles in Fond du Lac, Washington, and Dodge counties and around the towns of Campbellsport, Waucousta, Lomira, Theresa, West Bend, and Kewaskum.

According to a news release from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department, a 36-year-old woman and three 16-year-old males, all from Campbellsport, are the main suspects in the case. Criminal complaints had not yet been filed as of Oct. 22 against the adult female, according to law enforcement officials. The three teens were scheduled for an initial appearance on Oct. 23 in Fond du Lac County.

If a trial is required for the adult female, it will take place in Washington County. Trials for the juveniles, should the charges lead to trials, will take place in Fond du Lac County. It is customary for juvenile court cases to be held in the county in which the juveniles reside, regardless of where the alleged crimes took place. The names of the 16-year-olds will not be released unless they are waived to adult court. The name of the adult female will be released if charges are eventually filed – most likely in Washington County.

More than 100 deer are believed to have been killed by the suspects from spring 2023 to July this year. Alleged criminal and civil violations of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife codes include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Mistreating animals resulting in death;

• Possession of a dangerous weapon;

• Hunting (shooting) deer with the aid of artificial light;

• Hunting during closed season;

• Possession of a firearm while shining deer;

• Possession of deer during the closed season;

• Loading, discharging a firearm in or from a motorized vehicle;

• Discharging a firearm from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of a roadway;

• Hunting within 50 feet of a roadway’s center;

• Transporting a loaded firearm in or on a moving vehicle;

• Possession of game killed by unlawful or unknown means;

• Hunting with weapon/ammunition of inherent design, or used in a manner, not reasonably capable of reducing target to possession (i.e. shooting an animal without the expectation of successfully harvesting the animal);

• Unauthorized taking of live wild animals from the wild;

• Depositing or discharging solid waste on public or private property;

• And obstructing a DNR conservation warden.

Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt is one of three sheriffs whose departments worked the case. County officers and local DNR game wardens logged hundreds of combined hours investigating the case.

Most of the poaching occurred after dark and continued into the early morning hours. The suspects allegedly drove around with a spotlight while shining fields at night to locate deer. Once located, the suspects allegedly fired at the deer with rifles from the roads while still in their vehicle, according to a sheriff’s department news release.

If a deer was hit the suspects allegedly entered the field to identify the sex of the deer. Antlerless deer were left to rot. If the deer was a buck with large antlers, the heads were removed, and the rest of the carcass was left to rot.

Law enforcement officers determined the suspects also drove around with the intent of striking deer standing in the roadway with their vehicle. In one incident, the deer that struck was severely injured, but did not die from the impact. The juvenile suspects allegedly stuffed that injured deer in the trunk of the vehicle while recording a video of the event.       

The suspects then allegedly drove around for hours with the injured deer in the vehicle while recording more videos. One video showed the suspects holding the deer in their home while the deer suffered. The deer eventually died in their captivity.

Information gathered during the investigation indicates that in spring 2024, the suspects located a newborn fawn. The fawn was allegedly taken from the wild, placed in their vehicle and driven around before taking the fawn into their residence. It was later released into the wild.

The suspects did not limit their criminal activity to deer. They allegedly also targeted geese, raccoons, opossums, and turtles. Those animals were often captured, held in captivity and harassed prior to being released.

“I want to thank the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources personnel for their diligent and collaborative efforts throughout this investigation,” Waldschmidt said. “Their expertise was valuable in determining the facts and identifying violations of law.”

DNR officials have not allowed field wardens involved in the case to comment on the record to media representatives during the investigation. That policy continued following the citing of the four suspects. DNR game wardens are the primary investigators of any fish and wildlife violations.

Waldschmidt is a deer hunter. He took on this case with a personal and professional interest. He described the poaching activity as senseless, reckless, and indiscriminate.

“Wildlife and hunting are a deep part of Wisconsin’s heritage and history,” he said. “The horrific acts committed against these animals will shock the conscience of hunters and non-hunters alike.”

Waldschmidt also thanked the citizens who came forward with information that helped in the investigation.

Source: https://www.outdoornews.com/2024/10/25/suspects-cited-in-southeast-deer-poaching-case/