Wisconsin Cuffs & Collars: Crivitz warden asks for public assistance to help solve cases of illegally-harvested wildlife – Outdoor News
NORTHERN REGION
Woodruff Team/September
Warden Audrey Royce, of Lake Tomahawk, received a tip of a gut pile on private land where no one had been hunting. Royce found a blood trail that led to a neighboring property. Royce found that the neighboring property owner had shot an 8-point buck over an illegal bait pile (baiting and feeding deer has been prohibited in Oneida County since 2016) and trespassed on private lands to retrieve the deer. Enforcement action was taken for the illegal bait, and information regarding the trespass was turned over to the Woodruff Police Department.
NORTHEAST REGION
Green Bay Team/September
Wardens Brent Couperus, of Peninsula State Park, and Amanda Kretschmer, of Green Bay, stopped a vehicle operator at Peninsula State Park for speeding. The operator was in possession of THC, had an open intoxicant in the vehicle and had violated bond conditions. The operator was arrested for bail jumping and cited for other violations.
Warden James Moore, of Kewaunee County, received a call of an illegal deer feeder in Brown County. Wardens Moore and Gaven Brault located an illegal feeder and more than 2 gallons of bait. The man admitted to placing the feeder and more than 2 gallons of bait to hunt deer. He also admitted to harvesting a buck over the illegal feeder and bait in 2022.
Peshtigo Team/September
Warden Paul Hartrick, of Oconto Falls, recently had a deer case from 2021 conclude regarding a man who shot a buck from a residence at night over bait with the aid of a light. The man also used an improper weapon and killed the deer during the closed season. He was found guilty of a criminal misdemeanor and given penalties including a three-year revocation of all hunting, fishing and trapping approvals.
Warden Tim Werner, of Crivitz, conducted off-highway vehicle patrols in western Marinette County on Labor Day weekend. Several operators were contacted for safety violations, including failure to stop for stop signs, speeding, and careless operation. Numerous citations were issued.
Warden Werner responded to a complaint of a deer farm fence failure and escape in the town of Goodman. It was determined all the farm-raised deer were returned to their enclosures. Enforcement action was taken for failure to report the escape.
Lake Winnebago Team/September
Warden Mary Bisch, of Appleton, contacted a group of waterfowl hunters on the opening day of the Southern Zone season and found the group hunting over cracked corn. Party members did not admit to placing the corn and said they had not noticed it, but had set their chairs directly over the corn. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Michael Disher, of Chilton, monitored dove hunters on state land, and checked several hunters who were using lead shot or possessed lead shot on their person in the field.
Warden Michael Disher tracked illegal waterfowl hunting activity and observed a group of three hunters shooting teal 28 minutes prior to shooting hours. Eight ducks were harvested before legal hours. The birds were seized as evidence, and enforcement actions were taken for shooting ducks before legal shooting hours.
Wardens Disher and Heidi Straub observed a pair of duck hunters coming off the Manitowoc River in a motorboat. A license check revealed one hunter failed to buy a state waterfowl stamp and a federal waterfowl stamp. The second hunter failed to buy a federal waterfowl stamp. Enforcement actions were taken.
Wardens Disher and Straub investigated illegal deer baiting activity in early September, weeks prior to the opening of archery deer season. It was determined a large area had been baited with a commercial feed material containing corn.
Several trail cameras had been set near the illegal bait. A person was seen on opening day of archery season hunting the area. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Logan Woods, of High Cliff State Park, stopped a vehicle operator who was driving poorly. The operator was 14 years old. The teen’s adult relative was in the front passenger seat and was intoxicated. The adult relative admitted to driving approximately 45 minutes earlier with the child and two other children in the car and was ultimately arrested for OWI with three minor passengers.
Warden Woods received a call from the High Cliff State Park front office stating that an individual was possibly impaired. The individual was located and was arrested for OWI.
WEST-CENTRAL REGION
Lower St. Croix Team/September
Warden Joe McMahon, of Pierce County, and Madi Bryan, of St. Croix County, patrolled trout fishing in Pierce County on the Rush River. They contacted four individuals and found multiple violations, including trout fishing by illegal means with a spear gun, snagging trout, possession of snag hooks, possession of illegal sized fish, failure to release foul-hooked fish, and no fishing licenses.
Wardens Kyle Kosin, of Pierce County, and Joe McMahan contacted the owner of a vehicle parked in a ginseng area. The person was found to have numerous ginseng violations. The person also was cited as a repeat offender as he was cited for ginseng violations a year ago.
Warden Kosin contacted an individual on the St. Croix River who stated he was a federally licensed fishing guide. Kosin determined the individual had failed to buy a state guide license for consecutive years.
Warden Jaime McDermid, of Dunn County, received a call of litter on private property at a local fishing spot along the Chippewa River. McDermid identified the responsible party. The site was cleaned and enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Joe McMahon and Madi Bryan patrolled the early teal duck opener in the Mississippi River backwaters in Pierce County. They saw two hunters shoot at least two teal before shooting hours.
Wardens McMahon and Bryan patrolled the Southern Zone duck opener in Pierce County and contacted numerous individuals for violations of no state waterfowl stamps, no federal stamp, no goose permit, and loaded firearm in a vehicle.
Warden McMahon was contacted by Kinnickinnic State Park staff regarding a theft of two cords of firewood.
Report of the Week
Peshtigo Team
Tim Werner, of Crivitz, is requesting assistance from the public regarding two instances of illegally harvested wildlife. The first is a black bear shot at night around Sept. 18 in the town of Stephenson in Marinette County. The second is related to the illegal shooting of a trumpeter swan near Argonne in Forest County around Sept. 13. Anyone with information may call (800) TIP-WDNR.
McMahon identified the person responsible for the theft. The individual said he had a permit to harvest firewood. A records check showed the individual did not possess a permit.
Warden McMahon was contacted by a Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputy regarding a trespassing/ginseng case.
It was learned the individuals did have landowner permission on an adjacent property. One individual attempted to flee the deputy on foot. It was learned the individual was actively revoked by the DNR and had been caught illegally digging ginseng without a license, possession of ginseng without tops, and harvesting while revoked multiple times in the past. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden McMahon contacted a hunter during the Northern Zone duck opener in northern St. Croix County. The man gave false information to the DNR and bought resident licenses after having moved out of state. The individual admitted that he knew what he was doing by providing false information.
Warden McMahon contacted ATV/UTV riders in September for violations of no registration, failure to transfer registration, illegal operation on closed roadways, illegal operation on highway, no safety certification, and no headlights.
Warden J.J. Redemann, of Dunn County, observed an ATV operator riding in the riverbed of the Chippewa River on Labor Day. The driver was contacted for illegal operation, failed sobriety tests, and was arrested for operating while intoxicated. Drugs were located during a search and the operator was found to be on probation for seventh offense OWI and drug charges. The operator admitted to drinking and smoking drugs prior to operating the ATV. Citations were issued.
Warden Redemann located a large illegal bait site consisting of corn, feed pellets, salt and mineral on a property in southern Dunn County. The hunter said he knew baiting was illegal but took the risk in effort to see more deer.
Warden Redemann finalized enforcement action taken in response to an investigation of a 2022 deer case in which a person harvested multiple deer without registering them. The person also was found to have placed large bait piles, took a relative hunting without a license and lied to wardens. Enforcement action was taken for various violations.
Warden Chuck Wincek, of St. Croix County, got a hotline call of illegal fishing and found five individuals fishing on the Apple River. All five were fishing without licenses and keeping short bass. The group had 37 fish total, 10 of which were smallmouth bass under 10 inches. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Wincek responded to a missing adult canoeing on the Willow River near Willow River State Park. Wincek found the individual and ensured the person made it home safely. The following day Wincek located the capsized canoe and returned it to the individual’s house.
Wisconsin River Team/September
Warden Nic Hefter, of Stevens Point, contacted an individual using a cast net on the Tomorrow River in Portage County. The individual said a Google search indicated it was legal to use. However, the individual was in violation as cast nets are illegal to possess or use on any state water, except for suckers on Wisconsin/Iowa boundary waters.
Wardens Hefter and Kyle Ziembo contacted a boater operating on Lake Wausau with expired registration. The operator was underage and was found in violation of the absolute sobriety law. The operator was arrested. The passengers were cited by local law enforcement for underage drinking.
Warden Hefter contacted waterfowl hunters in September and took enforcement action for violations from shooting another’s decoy, no licenses, no stamps, illegal firearms, loaded firearms, and placing decoys out too early. One hunter had an accidental discharge while being checked by Hefter, but there were no injuries as the shotgun was pointed in a safe direction.
Warden Kyle Ziembo, of Marathon County, contacted a PWC operator for not wearing a life jacket on the Wisconsin River. However, the stop turned into a search contact. The operator was searching for his wife and friend who were also out on PWCs and were overdue. Ziembo tapped his knowledge of the flowage and launched his search for the missing companions. Ziembo found the two in a backwater area with a broken-down PWC and without a phone to call for help. Ziembo towed them to a nearby boat landing and contacted the husband, who came with a trailer. All were grateful Ziembo stopped the husband that day.
Wardens Josh Litvinoff and Bryan Lockman contacted a group of waterfowl hunters hunting with the aid of a drone on a Portage County lake.
SOUTHEAST REGION
Milwaukee Team/September
Warden Steve Swiertz, of Washington County, took part in an outdoor days program with Silverbrook Middle School in West Bend. Over two days, students used equipment from the “fishmobile” to fish and took part in a demonstration where they were presented with a duck hunting scenario and had to “crack the case.” The program was well received.
Wardens Adam Strehlow and Sam Haferkorn, both of Milwaukee County, had a busy half-hour on a September night while on water patrol in the Milwaukee Harbor. They responded to three search-and-rescue calls within 30 minutes. The first call came in as a boat-on-fire near Veterans Park. The wardens and the Milwaukee Police Department arrived within minutes and found a smoking boat with a family on board. It was found that the operator used a fire extinguisher to put out a fire. The family was assisted onto a Milwaukee police boat. Wardens were then contacted by the U.S. Coast Guard and informed of a capsized boat near Bradford Beach with a person in the water. They found that the “capsized boat” was an individual swimming out into Lake Michigan, pulling a dingy behind him. It was found that the individual was doing fine and beginning his mission to swim across Lake Michigan. This call was followed by a call of a sinking boat near the main gap of the Milwaukee harbor. People on a fishing boat discovered a sinking boat with three people and a dog in the water. One person was showing no signs of life. All three persons and the dog were pulled into the fishing boat. Shortly after one of the fishermen began CPR, the individual began to breath. Wardens, Milwaukee police and Milwaukee fire located the fishing boat. All parties were transferred to the Milwaukee fire boat and brought to as ambulance on shore. The wardens found the sinking boat and documented the scene.
Wardens Erik Anderson, Sam Haferkorn and Adam Strehlow, all of Milwaukee County, responded with Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department deputies and the U.S. Coast Guard to a report of shots fired on a boat in the Milwaukee Harbor. The boat was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and deputies and the boat was guided back to the shore where wardens and more deputies were waiting. All passengers were removed. Milwaukee deputies arrested the operator for OWI and made warrant arrests on passengers. Wardens assisted with OWI paperwork, identifying the boat and the boating violations.
Wardens Meng Yang, of Milwaukee County, and Steve Swiertz, of Washington County, investigated after a call was received alleging hunters were shooting at anything that was flying within the Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area. Two groups were contacted by wardens. One group of three juvenile hunters were found to be in possession of nine wood ducks and one blue-winged teal. In addition, this group shot before legal shooting hours and did not have any PFDs. The second group of hunters was found to be in possession of nine wood ducks and a cedar waxwing songbird. This group also shot early, had one unplugged firearm, no life jackets and admitted to shooting carp and frogs with their shotguns.
Enforcement action taken.
Waukesha, Walworth Team/September
Warden Jason Roberts, of Waukesha, organized a paddle-sport education patrol to address life jacket compliance along the Bark River and Oconomowoc River in Waukesha County. A recent fatal kayak incident on the waterway inspired the enforcement effort. Wardens worked to ensure the public remains in compliance with state life jacket requirements.
Wardens Roberts, Steve Sanidas, Dan Hodge, Tim Aspenson, and Tony Young, and a Summit Police Department officer made more than 80 public contacts while on the water. Paddlers were supportive and surprised by the wardens’ presence on the rivers.
Racine, Kenosha Team/September
Warden Michael Hirschboeck, of Racine County, assisted a Racine County deputy with a vehicle parked at Saller Woods County Park. The vehicle owner was found to be hunting squirrels in the park during closed season with no licenses.
Warden Hirschboeck was checking fishing licenses along the Fox River when he came upon two relatives. One of the two was in possession of two short smallmouth bass in his fish basket.
Warden Hirschboeck received a call of two goose hunters who were hunting from a motor driven boat while shooting at geese. Hirschboeck located the hunters, who admitted to seeing the geese all huddled up by the old iron bridge and launched their boat to go after them. They chased the geese with their boat and shot at them.
Wardens Hirschboeck and Renee Thok, of Kenosha, were on duck opener patrol when they received information of early shooting on an island south of Tichigan Lake on the Fox River. The wardens located the blind, but it was empty. The wardens then saw three hunters on the south side of the island, two of whom were plucking ducks. The wardens later saw the same three hunters. The wardens contacted them, and the hunters were found to have bagged out on wood ducks on the morning hunt, and two of three were found to have shot more wood ducks that evening.
Wardens Alex Basting, of Sturtevant, and Brandon Smith, of Twin Lakes, contacted two people who were shore fishing at the Silver Lake boat launch in Kenosha County. One person had two largemouth bass in his livewell. Both fish were under the 18-inch size limit. Also, the Silver Lake bag limit is one largemouth bass per day. Enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Taylor Meinholz, of Kenosha, and Jennifer Burrow-Niemeyer were on patrol at the Richard Bong State Recreation Area when they dealt with two sets of campers who were causing disturbances involving noise, vehicles, and speeding issues. The wardens instructed the two groups to leave the sites by a certain time. While checking the sites later, another camper arrived to state his group was leaving due to the noise of the other groups.
Wardens Meinholz and Burrow-Niemeyer patrolled dove hunters at Richard Bong State recreation area when they contacted two hunters not hunting by a designated dove blind. The hunters were in possession of lead shot and a gun capable of holding more than three shells.
One individual also was cited for similar issues the year prior.
Wardens Taylor Meinholz and Alex Basting were patrolling Eagle Lake for fishing activity. They saw two individuals loading their boat onto a trailer after a morning of fishing. Basting had several complaints of failing to remove aquatic invasive species from the boat and trailer. The wardens observed the two individuals park directly in front of the AIS cleaning station and finish strapping the boat to the trailers. The wardens observed several large clumps of weeds hanging down from the boat trailer. Enforcement action was taken.
Wardens Meinholz and Basting were patrolling Richard Bong State Recreation Area and saw an ATV with three passengers being operated illegally on a beach-area roadway. They found: the operator did not have a valid safety certificate; one passenger was under the age of 18 and was not wearing a helmet; the ATV was not registered; they did not have headlights on; and they were operating an ATV designed for only one person.
Wardens Brandon Smith and Sally Mroczkowski checked waterfowl hunters on opening weekend of the teal season. Two hunters who did not have a license, had shot a wood duck during closed season and did not have PFDs in their canoe.
