WI: Cuffs and Collars Issue: 17

District 1 – Ashland area

No report available.

District 2 – Cumberland area

Warden Jesse Ashton, of Luck, received a call from the Polk County
Sheriff’s Department about several juveniles who shot four geese
off a pond near Deer Lake. A deputy was able to track down the
subjects. Ashton found that the three subjects shot four Canada
geese out of season, without licenses, and with toxic shot. Several
citations were issued to the three subjects.

Wardens Ashton and Phil Dorn contacted a subject at the Big Round
Lake landing who had three undersized walleyes in the livewell –
all less than 13 inches. A citation was issued.

Warden Ashton had two illegal deer cases settled in Polk County
court. One subject was fined $2,152 and was revoked for three years
for possession of an untagged deer; the other subject was fined
$500 and was revoked for one year for shooting a buck from his
truck that he failed to retrieve.

Warden Ashton investigated a fatal boating accident in Polk County
in which an overloaded boat capsized late at night and one
individual drowned.

Warden Ashton had a fish overbagging case resolved in Polk County
for a repeat offender who overbagged and double-tripped. The
subject was fined over $1,300 and lost all licenses for three
years.

Warden Russ Fell, of Rice Lake, responded to a call about a
lakeshore property owner who had bludgeoned several goslings to
death with a piece of wood. Fell located the suspect and learned he
was upset about goose feces in his yard and wanted to eliminate the
problem. Fell issued a citation and offered some solutions for
nuisance geese.

Warden Fell worked several evenings on area waters after dark,
monitoring boating activity and concentrating enforcement efforts
on OWI violations.

Warden Fell investigated an environmental complaint near New Auburn
and discovered that a clay mine operation discharged silt-laden
stormwater into an area trout stream, creating a chocolate milk
appearance.

Warden Jon Hagen, of Spooner, followed up on a call about the
illegal spearing of game fish on Stone Lake. Hagen observed two
individuals using spear guns. They had speared one smallmouth bass,
one walleye, and several crappies. Hagen took enforcement
action.

Warden Hagen traveled to Polk County to work with warden Ashton.
They issued two citations for fishing without a license and one
citation for possession of illegal-sized bass on Blake Lake.

Warden Hagen responded to a call for assistance on the Chippewa
River after a boat accident with multiple fatalities.

Wardens Chris Spaight, of Grantsburg, and Ashton followed up on
information about a large untagged buck that was located during a
search warrant. While they were investigating this incident, they
learned about three other incidents of “shining and shooting” deer.
The investigation is ongoing.

District 3 – Park Falls area

Wardens Konichek, of Ladysmith, and Bowe worked boating and fishing
enforcement on the Holcombe Flowage. Citations were issued for no
PFDs and for fishing with too many lines.

Warden Michels, of Park Falls, saw some odd activity below the
Round Lake dam in the Chequamegon National Forest. Michels found
people pulling out pine and spruce saplings in a public recreation
area for transplanting back home. A citation was issued.

Warden Michels issued citations for illegal deer baiting and
hunting deer during a gun season without blaze orange or backtag
from a case that was pending from the 2010 gun deer season.

Warden Nice, of Medford, patrolled the waters of Taylor and Lincoln
counties in July and issued citations for no licenses, boat
registrations, and no PFDs. He also responded to several complaints
about deer and bear damage in agriculture fields and ginseng.

Warden Otto, of Antigo, issued two citations for operating greater
than no-wake on Bass Lake in Langlade County. He also wrote
citations to individuals pulling water skiers without observers in
the boat.

Warden Peters, of Merrill, worked with the Lincoln County
recreation deputy at times in July and issued several boating
citations, including four arrests for boating OWI.

Warden Jason Bayer, of Phillips, checked two fishermen in a boat on
Duroy Lake and found them to be in possession of three short
smallmouths. A citation was issued, and the fish were released.
Bayer and supervisor Krueger also checked a fisherman on Cranberry
Lake who had four undersized walleyes. A citation was issued, and
all fish were released.

Warden Bayer completed an investigation of an archery deer hunter
regarding violations from 2010 and 2009 in Westboro. He issued
citations for not attaching a tag and the use of illegal bait. Two
head mounts were seized.

Warden Nerva, of Tomahawk, worked boating and fishing complaints in
July. Nerva wrote citations for boating and fishing violations, and
arrested an OWI boater who crashed into a pontoon boat.

Warden Nerva worked with the city of Tomahawk on nuisance goose
problems and also investigated water regulation violations.

Warden Dryja, of Langlade, and supervisor Krueger issued citations
during the Fourth of July weekend for an unregistered boat and ATV,
fishing without licenses, and possession of undersized bass.

Warden Dryja was notified that a case of an illegal deer was
settled in Langlade County. The subject lost all hunting and
fishing privileges for three years, forfeited equipment used in the
violation, and paid fines.

District 4 – Woodruff area

No report available.

District 5 – Lower St. Croix area

Warden James Cleven, of Colfax, issued citations for fishing
without licenses and failing to register boats.

Warden Wayne Flak, of Menomonie, assisted with a report of a body
that was floating down the Chippewa River after a reported drowning
in Eau Claire. Wardens Flak and Peterson searched the area without
locating anything. The person was recovered the next day south of
Eau Claire.

Warden Flak worked on boating enforcement on the St. Croix River
with supervisor Hausman, and on the Chippewa and Mississippi rivers
with warden Peterson. Many boaters were contacted, and citations
were issued for failing to provide PFDs and for boats exceeding
sound levels.

Warden Brad Peterson, of Ellsworth, worked in Pierce County,
issuing citations for undersized fish, loud boats, no PFDs, and no
observer while water skiing.

Warden Paul Sickman, of Hudson, worked on boating enforcement,
resulting in citations for expired registration (seven), no-wake
violations, no observer while skiing (two), overloading, boat OWI,
no navigation lights, no PFDs, and undersized fish.

In July, warden Bill Wrasse, of Durand, investigated a boat
accident, an ATV accident, dirt bikers operating on ATV trails, a
missing gill net, a missing boat, illegal drug grows on state land,
a green spill on the Mississippi River that turned out to be duck
weed, and a complaint of an illegal sand blanket. He also assisted
DNR Wildlife with a snake survey and started answering questions
about deer hunting. The gill net was found and removed.

District 6 – Eau Claire area

Warden Adam Hanna, of Neillsville, contacted a fisherman who had a
short smallmouth bass below the Mead Lake Dam.

In July, warden Hanna issued citations for loud ATVs, unregistered
ATVs, possession of short fish, operating an ATV without spark
arrestor, deer hunting/tagging violations, no PFDs on boats, and
operating an ATV without a helmet.

A man called the DNR hotline to turn himself in for killing a deer
out of season. The man was trying to scare the deer away from his
apple trees by shooting at them with birdshot. One deer stood in
the yard until the man “peppered” it. The deer then ran into a
field and died. Enforcement action was taken, along with providing
the man with other alternatives for scaring deer away.

Warden Scott Bowe, of Cornell, issued citations in July for
violations including motorboat OWI (two), operating a motorboat
with a prohibited BAC (two), exceeding no-wake, illegal dredging,
possessing an illegal-sized fish, failing to provide PFDs (two),
towing a skier without an observer, driving without a license in a
state park, and operating a vehicle in an unauthorized area in a
state park.

Warden Bowe assisted Chippewa County deputy Chris Kowalczyk with a
call about a bear dog that had been shot. It was found that several
hounds were chasing a coyote through a farmer’s pasture. This
spooked cows that ran through the owner’s fence. The farmer’s
juvenile son then shot the coyote, as well as one of the hounds.
The farmer and the hound owner tried to reach a settlement, but
when they could not agree on a price for the dog, the sheriff’s
department was called. The hound hunters were training their bear
dogs on public land next to the private land. The dogs began
chasing the coyote and entered private property where the hunters
did not have permission to train their dogs. The juvenile was
referred to the district attorney’s office for possible charges,
and the hound hunter was cited for allowing his dogs to run at
large. Before leaving the property, the hound hunter told the
landowner that he would be back every weekend to run his hounds in
that area. The following morning, the landowner awoke to hounds in
his pasture again. He was unable to catch the hounds, so he could
not identify their owner. This incident also was reported to the
sheriff’s department and is under investigation.

Warden Bowe responded to a report of shots being fired below the
Cornell dam during the early morning hours. Bowe and Cornell police
officer Barb Close contacted a fisherman who stated he shot a snake
with a .22 handgun because he is afraid of snakes.

Warden Bowe, along with wardens Peery, Ashton, Dorn, Hagen, Hanna,
Scharbarth, and deputy warden Justin Wershofen, responded to a
fatal boat crash on the Chippewa River just north of the Eau Claire
county line. Two boats collided after dark killing four people. Two
of the victims were located two days later. The operator of one
boat was arrested for OWI. The other operator was killed in the
crash.

Warden Scott Thiede, of Eau Claire, issued 14 citations for fishing
without licenses in July. Shoreline anglers also were contacted for
illegal-sized fish and littering.

Warden Ken Thomson, of Fall Creek, worked boating enforcement in
Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, and issued citations and warnings
for boat light violations, registration violations, and towing
skiers after sunset. Wardens Thomson and Robin Barnhardt, of Osseo,
arrested a man for boating OWI on Lake Wissota.

Warden Barnhardt issued a citation to a turkey hunter who
fraudulently claimed landowner preference when he applied for a
spring permit in Trempealeau County.

Wardens Barnhardt and Thomson patrolled lakes in Chippewa County in
July. The wardens contacted three nonresidents who were all fishing
from a boat on Axehandle Lake. None of the anglers had
licenses.

Warden Barnhardt investigated a call reporting that a subject was
illegally feeding bears in Jackson County. Barnhardt determined
that the subject was feeding bears from a large feeding site near
his home. Enforcement action was taken.

District 7 – Wisconsin Rapids area

While working on Lake DuBay, wardens Ben Herzfeldt, of Schofield,
and Barry Meister, of Stevens Point, stopped a boater for improper
lighting. The operator failed field sobriety tests and was arrested
for OWI.

Warden Herzfeldt issued a variety of boating and fishing citations
in July, mostly for fishing without licenses, short fish, no PFDs,
and expired boat registration.

Warden Paul Leezer, of Wausau, and recruit Sean Neverman checked
two subjects below a bridge over the Big Eau Pleine River. The
issued a citation to one of the men who did not have a
license.

During the Fourth of July weekend, warden Mike Rader, of Wausau,
and deputy warden Teal Joseph worked OWI enforcement on Lake Wausau
with warden Leezer and recruit Neverman. Numerous contacts were
made, and one subject was arrested for OWI.

Warden Rader spent most of July on the Wisconsin River, Lake
Wausau, and the Big Rib River. Citations and warnings were issued
for no PFDs, failing to display boat registration, operating a boat
with expired registration, towing skiers without an observer,
boating OWI, and fishing without a license.

During the fall of 2010, wardens Herzfeldt and Meister investigated
a subject who shot a buck for another party and used the second
party’s tag during the archery season. Due to the subject being
uncooperative and untruthful, the defendant was charged criminally
in Portage County. The case settled in July and the defendant
received close to $2,000 in fines and forfeitures and a one-year
license revocation.

Warden Jon Scharbarth, of Stevens Point, focused on boating
enforcement, with numerous citations and warnings issued for
various violations, including boat OWI. He also issued citations
for various ATV, fishing, and littering violations.

Warden Barry Fetting, of Marshfield, contacted a group of fishermen
at the Big Eau Pleine River and found them in possession of a
31-inch muskie. Enforcement action was taken.

Wardens Fetting and Neverman responded to the home of a subject who
Fetting knew was a convicted felon who registered two deer during
the 2009 October antlerless deer hunt. The wardens observed the
subject walking across his lawn carrying a pump shotgun. The
subject was arrested for possession of a firearm by a felon and was
transported to the Wood County jail. Two firearms were seized as
evidence.

Wardens Leezer and Neverman contacted anglers in a boat on Lake
Dexter. One man stated that he did not have a license because he
was a part-time DNR employee, and as such, was not required to buy
one. There is no provision for exempting DNR employees from needing
a valid fishing license. Enforcement action was taken for the
license issue, as well as for not having enough life jackets in the
boat.

District 8 – La Crosse area

While working boating enforcement, warden Bob Jumbeck, of Alma,
observed a person towing a knee-boarder without an observer.
Jumbeck found the operator in possession of marijuana. Enforcement
action was taken for the boating violation, and the drug case was
turned over to the sheriff’s department.

Warden Jumbeck spent the majority of July working the Mississippi
River. Enforcement action was taken for boating and fishing
violations including fishing without licenses, no PFDs, boating
OWI, and more.

Warden Dale Hochhausen, of Stoddard, issued citations for boat OWI,
prohibited blood-alcohol content, failing to provide the proper
number of life jackets, fishing without a license, and possession
of illegal fish.

Warden Hochhausen investigated a call regarding two juveniles who
were operating an ATV at the Bad Ax landing; there was extensive
property damage. He contacted the individuals, who were operating
an unregistered ATV on the road and trespassing on Corps of
Engineers property.

Warden Hochhausen arrested two fishermen in possession of drug
paraphernalia and marijuana. As Hochhausen pulled up to the boat,
he saw one of the individuals hide a marijuana pipe in his pocket.
The other individual’s marijuana pipe was still on the deck.
Hochhausen turned the subjects over to the Vernon County Sheriff’s
Department.

Warden Shawna Stringham, of Viroqua, worked boating enforcement on
the Mississippi River. Stringham arrested an intoxicated
boater.

Warden Stringham attended an enforcement conference with other
department personal regarding a fish kill that occurred in Vernon
County in June.

During the Fourth of July weekend, wardens Ed McCann, of La Crosse,
and Stringham arrested two OWI boaters.

Wardens McCann and Henry Bauman, of La Crosse, investigated a
complaint about a person who dumped 20 gallons of fuel oil down a
storm drain that drains into the Mississippi River. McCann and
Bauman identified the suspect, and charges are pending. The fuel
oil was cleaned from the storm drain.

Warden Cody Adams, of Prairie du Chien, and Mike Nice, of Richland
Center, worked boating and fishing enforcement on the Wisconsin
River. Numerous citations were issued for fishing without a
license, possession of illegal-sized fish, and possession of a
glass container.

District 9 – Black River Falls area

Warden Matt Modjeski, of Sparta, worked fishing and boating
enforcement in Monroe, La Crosse, and Trempealeau counties.
Numerous warnings were issued. Citations were issued for short
northern pike, short bass, and fishing without a license. In
addition, Modjeski arrested a boater on the Mississippi River in
Trempealeau County who had two warrants for his arrest.

Wardens Shaun Deeney, of Black River Falls, and Barnhardt were
patrolling Lake Arbutus during the Fourth of July fireworks. They
observed two men bowfishing from a boat while shining lights into
the water along the shoreline. When contacted, one of the
individuals did not have a license.

Wardens Deeney and Barnhardt were patrolling Lake Arbutus during
the Fourth of July fireworks when they saw a fast-moving object
with a dull white light among other boats. Upon contact, the
wardens discovered the vessel was a PWC. The operator had attempted
to rig his own boat lights, but they were not working
properly.

Warden Matt Weber, of Necedah, contacted a man on Castle Rock
Flowage who was operating a PWC while towing a tuber without an
observer. The man gave Weber a false name and address. Additional
enforcement action was taken.

Warden Weber got a call from a farmer in Juneau County who had two
calves attacked during the night. Wildlife Services determined
coyotes attacked the calves.

Warden Wade Romberg, of Friendship, contacted three men fishing
without licenses. Ten hours later, the same group was contacted
with an undersized walleye. Two of the men had bought
licenses.

Warden Romberg issued citations in July for fishing, boating, and
ATV violations, as well as obstructing a warden. One boater was
found to have used his brother’s name when contacted for a boating
violation. A criminal charge is now pending, along with additional
boating citations.

Wardens Romberg and William Miller, of Adams County, observed one
personal watercraft operator nearly clip the back of a small
fishing boat. The fisherman stopped to show the wardens that his
boat and shirt were wet from the splash that came overboard.
Enforcement action was taken.

In July, warden Miller stopped a boat with four men aboard. One was
passed out, two were riding on the bow with their feet in the
water, and all were drunk. The driver had a blood-alcohol
concentration of .20 a couple hours later at the jail.

Warden Miller apprehended two men on ATVs near Miller’s home when a
neighbor called Miller about the ATVs tearing up the neighborhood.
The ATV riders had driven on six different roads (not open to ATVs)
and on hiking trails in a state park. Enforcement action was
taken.

Warden Miller issued citations in July to fishermen for overbagging
on catfish, fishing without licenses, unattended lines, and short
fish. Others were cited for boating, ATV, and litter
violations.