Outdoor News / May 2012 / Wisconsin Cuffs & Collars - June 1st, 2012

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Wisconsin Cuffs & Collars - June 1st, 2012

District 11 — Peshtigo area

Warden Paul met with a landowner about hunters who had trespassed onto his land and killed two turkeys. Action was taken for trespassing and tagging violations against three hunters. Two weeks later, the same landowner had been patrolling his land and went too far when he used his vehicle to follow hunters and take photos of hunters who came near his property. The landowner ended up in a confrontation with some hunters on a public road and then sped off, going around the hunters’ vehicle in the ditch and damaging it. The landowner was issued a citation from the Oconto County Sheriff’s Department for disorderly conduct.
Warden Stahl learned about a subject who had shot a sturgeon with a bow and arrow below the Stiles dam. He found the subject still bowfishing in an area around the dam that’s closed to bowfishing. Sturgeon can not be legally taken on the Oconto River by any means. Charges are pending.
Warden Stahl investigated a call about a subject possessing a wolf-dog hybrid. Anybody who possesses a wolf-dog hybrid must have the animal identified either by tattoo or micro chip. The animal also must be neutered and licensed with the DNR.
Warden Schraufnagel located a subject baiting turkeys while hunting. A citation was issued. The warden also issued a citation to an individual fishing in the Shawano refuge.
Warden Horne followed up on a call about someone shooting a horse on state property and leaving it. The horse had escaped, and the owner had a hard time getting it back. The suspect lied about the horse being left dead on state property, stating he sold the horse. Horne ordered him to remove the decaying animal and properly dispose of it. Citations are pending.

District 12 — Green Bay area and Northeast Operations Marine Unit

Warden Chris Kratcha, of Sturgeon Bay, presented the Wisconsin Hunter Education 2012 Instructor of the Year Award to Sturgeon Bay’s Jay Chaudoir. Chaudoir has spent nearly 30 years sharing his passion for hunting, and has instructed more than 4,603 students. In 2000, Chaudoir received the Wisconsin Bowhunter Education Instructor of the Year Award, and in 2007, the Wisconsin Northeast Region Outstanding Hunter Education Award.
Warden Kratcha investigated a case resulting in a Door County resident being cited for “mud-bogging” through Silver Creek, causing damage to the stream bed and banks.
Warden Robert Stroess, of Manitowoc, investigated numerous environmental calls in April, including stream dredging, water pollution caused by discharging of milk house waste to a stream, littering, and electronics recycling violations.
Warden Stroess investigated several calls about closed-season fishing for game fish on the Sheboygan River and Horseshoe and Silver lakes. Several citations and warnings were issued.
Warden Andy Lundin, of Green Bay, contacted some people fishing in Howard. An adult immediately stated he was not fishing and did not have a license. The other person, who was found to be the man’s teenage son, stated he was 15, therefore not required to have a license. When asked for a birth date, the teenager gave a date that made him 16 years old. He then gave another birth date that made him 17 years old. At that point, the father turned around and clearly was struggling with the lies they both were telling. The boy admitted he was 16 but had not bought a license, and the father confirmed his son’s age. The adult received a citation for fishing without a license, and both were warned for obstructing.
Regional warden Byron Goetsch, of Green Bay, assisted with the Sturgeon Guard Program on the Wolf River system. A special thanks to the many volunteers and organizations like Sturgeon for Tomorrow for their outstanding support of this program.
Regional Warden Byron Goetsch, of Green Bay, responded to a complaint about “hunter harassment” when a turkey hunter reported that a helicopter had hovered over his turkey blind and decoys at “treetop level” in rural southern Oconto County. An investigation revealed that the pilot of this helicopter, who lived nearby, was in fact hovering over the area but doing so in search of his mostly blind 11-year-old Springer spaniel that had wandered off a couple of days earlier. The pilot was unaware of the turkey hunter’s presence until it was too late. A neighbor had reported seeing the missing dog on property near the turkey hunter, and the pilot had decided to use his helicopter to try to locate the missing dog. This was not intentional hunter harassment. As a side note, another neighbor eventually located the dog a couple days later, and the dog is now back at home.
Warden David Allen, of Kewaunee, checked fishermen on Krohns Lake, as the Tri-Lakes Association and the Algoma-Kewaunee Sport Trolling Association planted several trout. The clubs asked Allen to patrol the lake more often since trout season was closed. Allen contacted the only two fishermen and found they had trout in their possession, and had committed other violations.
Brown County hunter education instructor Norbert Moes was presented the Wisconsin Hunter Education Instructor Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 43 years of service as a hunter ed instructor and 11 years as a bowhunter instructor. He has instructed more than 7,500 students.
Northeast Operations Marine Unit
No report available.

District 13 — Oshkosh area

Warden Jason Higgins, of Oshkosh, received a call about a subject fishing in the fish refuge at Eureka. The subject claimed he did not see the “refuge” signs and the “no fishing” signs. The subject said he was cited less than a month earlier for keeping a northern during the closed season in Fond du Lac. The subject was cited for fishing in a refuge.
Warden Michael Disher, of Chilton, assisted warden Mark Schraufnagel, of Shawano, with sturgeon run enforcement on the Wolf and Embarrass rivers. They found an unmarked and unattended wire live box in the Embarrass River, and several young men who were spearing and bowfishing during the closed season on the Wolf River. A hotline complaint about spectators harassing spawning fish at the Shawano dam also was investigated. Enforcement action was taken.
Warden Michael Disher, of Chilton, assisted warden Matt Meade, of Marinette, with an investigation of a hunter who reportedly shot a turkey off a road in Marinette County. Disher contacted the hunter in Calumet County. The hunter fired one round across the road, trespassed onto private property to retrieve the bird, and then placed the untagged turkey in the bed of his truck. Disher seized the turkey. Enforcement action was taken for the violations.
Warden Benjamin Nadolski, of Waupun, responded to complaints about people fishing in the posted Mill Creek fish refuge. Ten citations were issued in April for illegally fishing in the refuge. Warnings were given for other violations. Two subjects cited for fishing in the refuge this April had been cited in 2008 for fishing in the same refuge, fishing for game fish during the closed season, and fishing with no license.
Warden Alan Erickson, of Fond du Lac, issued a citation to a subject for keeping undersized largemouth bass on Luco Creek near Lake Winnebago.
Warden Ryan Propson, of Appleton, worked fishing and turkey enforcement throughout the Fox Valley in April. A citation and multiple warnings were issued.
Warden Propson took enforcement action on a deer farmer who failed to comply with fencing regulations. The individual has not been in complete compliance since 2008.

District 14 — Sheboygan area

Warden Chris Shea, of Port Washington, saw two men fishing near the outlet of Sauk Creek. The men were in possession of 13 brown trout (three over the two men’s combined daily bag limit). Neither of the men had Great Lakes trout stamps, and 11 of the 13 trout were undersized.
Warden Bob Lee, of Hartford, assisted at a fishing clinic for children, worked closed-season game-fishing complaints, dealt with two river dredging complaints, and responded to illegal burning issues.
Warden Mark Pearce, of Plymouth, and supervisor Joseph Jerich assisted DNR and Sheboygan County water-management personnel by serving a search warrant to document dredging, obstructing a waterway, and filling of a waterway. Enforcement actions are pending.
Warden Mike Clutter, of Adell, responded to complaints about redirecting a navigable waterway, turkey baiting, a carpet-cleaning company that dumped wastewater in a gutter, deer feeding, and deer carcasses found. Clutter also assisted an Arizona warden with interviewing a Wisconsin resident and serving a citation for an illegal wasting investigation related to a javelina hunt in Arizona.

District 15 — Milwaukee area

Warden Blankenheim issued 10 citations for ATV trespass at two parks in April.
While working fishing enforcement at Scout Lake Park, warden Blankenheim contacted two adults who were fishing during the closed season for adults on the urban ponds. One subject had a license and one did not. One subject also had a warrant for his arrest through the South Milwaukee Police Department. The subject was arrested and held for SMPD and was issued a citation for fishing without a license.
Warden Sanidas was checking fishermen along the Fox River and encountered individual carp fishing who did not have licenses.
Warden Sanidas was checking fishermen along the Mukwonago River and contacted an individual who was fishing for bass during the closed season. The individual was from Colorado and did not have a license.
Wardens Matt Groppi and Mitch Groenier completed an investigation of two subjects who were involved in multiple violations that included illegal turkeys, mourning doves harvested after the closed season, as many as 40 unreported geese (half of which were harvested without a license), and a Cooper’s hawk that was shot while the two subjects were hunting geese. Enforcement action was taken, and the revocation of hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges is pending.
Warden Groppi found three anglers fishing Forest Lake for game fish during the closed season and without licenses. They did not have any wearable PFDs and were in possession of a pellet gun. The owner/operator of the boat said the pellet gun was used to shoot at a red-winged blackbird. Groppi also linked the owner/operator and another subject to an overbagging violation on Forest Lake from the previous summer. Last summer, the two individuals caught and kept a total of 14 pike on Forest Lake in one day. Revocation of hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges is pending.
Warden Groppi assisted the Pewaukee Lake patrol with the investigation of a boating accident on Pewaukee Lake in which a boat capsized and sank. The two victims were treated and released from area hospitals.

District 16 — Racine, Kenosha area

Wardens Dunkel, Hannon, and Dilley worked ATV patrol in the Root River Parkway. Upon contacting two fishermen fishing ponds in the parkway, it was observed that one fisherman was physically shaking. Dunkel then realized the Rapala that was in his hand was really in his hand! Dunkel allowed the fishermen to use his Leatherman to remove the hook from the man’s finger. The person who was hooked had his buddy cut the hook from the treble hook shank, and then push the remainder through the finger and out. The wardens issued warnings for fishing during the closed season, as the fishermen admitted to fishing for northern pike. The fishermen were grateful for the education on the rules, and even more grateful that the wardens had a Leatherman.
Warden Mac Hannon, of Kenosha County, took part in the Halter pheasant hunt, set up for disabled hunters ages 12 to 73. While several had participated in previous years, for most it was their first opportunity to hunt anything. In the morning they practiced shooting trap, and in the early afternoon they were sent into the field with a mentor, guide, safety official, and a photographer.
Warden Mac Hannon checked two anglers fishing on Lake Shang-Ri-La in Kenosha County. Both were fishing game fish during the closed season and neither had a license. Two citations for fishing without a license were issued, and two warnings for fishing game fish during the closed season were issued.
Warden Kyle Dilley, of Kenosha County, received several complaints about people snagging fish at the Rochester Dam. Warden Dilley concentrated on the area, creating a visible enforcement presence. One subject was cited for snagging fish. Several other business cards were handed out to locals who frequent the fishing spot, encouraging their help in curbing the activity.
Wardens Gomez, Roberts, Dilley, Katzenberg, and Mott assisted with a Learn to Hunt turkey event at the Seno Woodland Educational Center. There were approximately 45 people in attendance. Marty Johnson, the local wildlife biologist, gave a turkey ecology presentation. The wardens discussed safe gun handling, rules and regulations, and gave the youth an opportunity to shoot live rounds at turkey targets. Three birds were shot, and three other attempts were made. Many birds were observed.
Warden Jason Roberts, of Delevan, took a father and his 11-year-old daughter turkey hunting for their first time. Roberts was able to call in a jake that the daughter shot within the first hour of hunting. This new hunter was thrilled and was encouraging her dad to apply for a fall turkey tag this season.

District 17 — Madison area

Warden Eric Grudzinski, of Madison, and supervisor Jeremy Plautz investigated anglers fishing in the refuge at Tenney Park. The caller provided descriptions of the violators. Upon arrival, the suspects were not there. Grudzinski called the reporting party to let him know that the wardens did not catch up with the suspects. Grudzinski was contacted a short time later by a Madison park ranger who stated he had contacted three people fishing in the refuge at Tenney Park. The subjects the ranger contacted were the same suspects from the hotline call. Two did not have licenses, and all three were fishing in the refuge.
Warden Ryan Ellifson, of Jefferson, responded to a complaint about a possible solid waste violation. Ellifson found a large pile of waste that contained what appeared to be household and construction waste. He photographed the site and contacted DNR waste management supervisor Dennis Mack, who will be sending a Notice of Violation to the property owner.
Warden Ellifson assisted with investigating a local trapper who forgot a trap in the field in Waukesha County. The 110 Conibear remained set after the close of muskrat and mink seasons. A citation was issued.
Warden Ellifson responded to a call regarding an illegal fire. The caller stated a farmer was burning a large pile of plastic silage bags. Ellifson responded to the farm and found a large pile of smoldering debris about 40 feet in length and 8 to 12 feet wide. Ellifson instructed the farmer to put out the fire by using sand. The farmer placed numerous bucket loads of sand on the fire by using a skid loader. There was a large pile of plastic bags that caught on fire. The farmer stated the fire was burning out of control at one point and his family fought the fire with brooms and water hoses.
Warden Ellifson received a call about deer carcasses being dumped on Rome Pond Wildlife area. The deer had been butchered, and the carcass dumped in the parking lot south of Hwy. F on Froelick Road. Ellifson was able to identify the suspect. A citation was issued for litter.
Warden Nathan Kroeplin, of Madison, responded to a possession of game fish hotline call at the Hwy. 113 bridge. When he arrived, the suspects were gone, but Kroeplin was able to write one citation for littering.
Warden Mike Dieckhoff, of Janesville, and recruit Jake Donar participated in an LTH event at the Beloit Izaak Walton League. There were 29 participants and 17 of those individuals shot birds.
Warden Dieckhoff and recruit Donar found a carp in the city of Janesville near Dawson Field that was tossed on shore, with an obvious arrow wound. They later contacted an angler at his residence and issued a citation for littering.
Warden Boyd Richter, of Janesville, responded to a hotline complaint about a person fishing for game fish during the closed season on Storr’s Lake. Richter watched the individual fish for about an hour and then made contact as the subject was about to leave in a vehicle. The fisherman was a revoked driver and had four arrest warrants. Richter turned the man over to the Rock County Sheriff’s Department. He also wrote a citation for fishing in a refuge at the Dunkirk Dam on the Yahara River.

District 18 — Poynette area

Warden John Buss, of Sauk City, received a call about a person with a muskie during the closed season. Buss issued a citation and released a 40-inch muskie.
Warden Heather Gottschalk, of Beaver Dam, responded to an early morning call about a short pike being caught. Upon her arrival, the fish had been released. Gottschalk continued to check anglers in the area. While approaching two subjects who were fishing on the shoreline, she saw a male bent over near the water’s edge, pulling what she presumed to be fish out of a small cooler and throwing them into the water. The fisherman failed to stop when instructed to do so. Gottschalk jumped the guard rail and ran to the water’s edge. She found five illegal walleyes and one illegal largemouth bass. Four walleyes and the bass were undersized. When asked why he kept them, he stated because nothing else was biting (he had five or six large catfish in the cooler). A female also admitted to catching and keeping one of the walleyes. Citations were issued.
Wardens Mike Green, of Wisconsin Dells, and Wade Romberg, of Adams, investigated turkey violations in Dellona Township. A group of five individuals were found to have been hunting turkeys without valid permits after previously harvesting birds. One individual was found to have breasted an untagged turkey in the field, and four individuals were in possession of their previously used carcass tags in the field. Citations were issued for multiple violations.
Warden Paul Nadolski, of Portage, issued several citations in April for subjects fishing for game fish during the closed season.
Warden Nadolski spent time in April training the next class of recruit wardens at Ft. McCoy on several computer programs needed to issue citations and record daily work efforts/outcomes and expenses.
Warden Paul Nell, of Horicon, responded to a call about a person keeping several undersized smallmouth bass on Crystal Lake in Columbia County. Nell determined that the fisherman had kept eight bass during the closed season. Citations were issued.

District 19 — Dodgeville area

Warden Nick Webster, of Blanchardville, worked complaints regarding illegal ATV operation. He contacted four suspects for illegal ATV operation, loud exhaust, operating on a road, operating without a helmet, careless operation, and ATV trespass violations.
Warden Dave Youngquist, of Spring Green, gave a regulation and firearm safety talk for Pheasants Forever’s field day for about 22 new hunters.
Warden Rick DeWitte, of Cassville, found an angler fishing on the Mississippi River at the Dubuque dam without a license. The man had bought worms at a local license outlet, but not a license.
Warden DeWitte was contacted by a Lafayette County deputy who had contacted four juveniles ages 15 and 16 who were contacted regarding a shining and shooting complaint. They were attempting “coon bashing” while in possession of an aluminum baseball bat and a .22 rifle. The weather was too cold to locate any raccoons, but the group was able to locate and shoot an opossum. Charges are pending in juvenile court for all four individuals.
Wardens Joe Frost, of Dodgeville, Mike Nice, of Richland Center, and deputy warden Mike Williams investigated a turkey-hunting incident in Iowa County. Two friends were hunting on a public hunting ground, and the victim decided to move to a new location. The shooter heard a “turkey” walking in the leaves and saw the “turkey” come over the top of the hill. The shooter shot once and hit the victim in the face and shoulder at 25 yards with 20 pellets.
Warden Frost investigated a hotline complaint about a hunter shooting two gobblers. Since the hunter turned himself in and it was clearly unintentional, a warning was issued.