‘Senseless’ poaching reportedly killed ‘more than 100 deer’ and harassed and abused other wildlife in Wisconsin

Local authorities in northern Wisconsin have concluded their investigation into a series of wildlife poaching and intimidation incidents that allegedly occurred from spring 2023 through July 2024 in Fond du Lac, Dodge and Washington counties. They believe a group of poachers were responsible for killing “well over 100 deer” during this period, most of which were shot from a vehicle at night and left to rot. Authorities also found evidence that the suspected poachers had captured and harassed deer and other wildlife. Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt characterized the series of wildlife crimes as “senseless, reckless and random” in a news release issued Friday.

“After reading reports and observing video and photographic evidence obtained during this investigation, these words remain the best summary of the situation,” Waldschmidt said. “The heinous acts committed against these animals will shock the consciences of hunters and non-hunters alike.”

FDLCSD officials coordinated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to conduct the joint investigation, which began in July when a member of the public tipped off the DNR. Additional tips from the public helped officials with their investigation.

Investigators have identified four primary suspects from Campbellsport – an adult female, 36, and three juvenile males, all 16 years old – whose identities have not been released to the public. FDLCSD Lt. Alex Volm narrates Outdoor living in an emailed statement that their investigation is considered closed, pending new information. Volm said the adult woman was not in custody. He could not reveal the custody status of the three young men.

According to the FDLCSD press release, the crimes occurred within a 120-square-mile area between Cambellsport, Waucousta, Lomira, Theresa, West Bend and Kewaskum. The poachers are said to have driven through this area at night, monitoring deer and shooting them from a vehicle. Other times they deliberately ran over deer with their vehicle. They left deer and small bucks to rot and removed the heads of some of the larger bucks.

The press release mentions several incidents in which the suspects allegedly captured and harassed live deer. Researchers also found evidence of them harassing geese, raccoons, opossums, turtles and other wildlife.

“In one incident, the deer survived being hit by their vehicle, but were seriously injured by the impact,” Waldschmidt explained in the press release. “The juvenile suspects picked up the deer and placed it in the trunk of their vehicle while recording videos and taking ‘selfies’ of and with the deer… One of the videos showed the suspects holding the deer, still alive but clearly suffering as they walked. around the inside of their home. The deer ultimately died in their captivity, hours after being struck by the vehicle.”

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The FDLSD included a list of alleged criminal and civil violations that emerged from the joint investigation. However, the sheriff’s office has indicated that this list is not all-inclusive and that any citations or criminal charges related to wildlife violations will be handled by the DNR. Alleged violations include:

• The dumping or discharge of solid waste on public or private land
• Discharging a firearm from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of a roadway
• Hunting deer with artificial light
• Hunting during the closed season
• Hunting with a weapon/ammunition that has an inherent design, or used in a manner that is not reasonably capable of reducing the target to possession (i.e., shooting an animal without the expectation of successfully harvesting the animal)
• Hunt within 50 feet of the center of a road
• Loading or unloading a firearm into or out of a motorized vehicle
• Abusing animals resulting in death
• Obstructing a conservation ranger
• Possession of a dangerous weapon
• Possession of a firearm while shining
• Possession of deer during the closed season
• Possession of game killed by unlawful or unknown means
• Carrying a loaded firearm in or on a moving vehicle
• The unauthorized removal of live wild animals from the wild

The charges have been referred to the district attorney’s offices in both Fond du Lac County and Washington County, as well as the Fond du Lac County Juvenile Intake. The Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to OL’s request for more information, and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office had no further information to provide.