PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
FOND DU LAC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Four Fond du Lac County residents, including three juveniles, have been identified as the suspects in a large-scale, year-long deer and wildlife poaching investigation that spanned three counties.
In late July, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Resources opened a joint investigation into the poaching scheme following a tip from a community members. An update on that investigation was provided Friday.
Authorities say investigators poured hundreds of hours into this case, unraveling details of the alleged “killing and mistreatment of whitetail deer and other wildlife” in southeastern Fond du Lac, northern Washington and northeastern Dodge counties.
Throughout the investigation, a “significant number and variety” of criminal and non-criminal violations were discovered. According to the Sheriff’s Office, three 16-year-old Campbellsport males and a 36-year-old Campbellsport female were identified as the primary suspects in these crimes.
Investigators believe well over 100 deer were shot and/or killed from late spring 2023 to July 2024. The poaching occurred in a 200-square-mile area between Campbellsport, Waucousta, Lomira, Theresa, West Bend and Kewaskum.
Much of this activity occurred after dark and would continue well into the early morning hours of the following day. Suspects drove around with a spotlight shining the fields, and when a deer was identified, suspects would fire a rifle from the vehicle at the deer. If they believed a deer was shot, suspects would enter the field to identify the sex of the deer.
Most of the deer they found dead would be left to rot where they lay. However, the heads of some bucks were removed by these suspects, particularly when the buck had large antlers. Other deer were wounded by gunshots but not killed. Many of these nighttime excursions involved shooting multiple deer in the outing.
The suspects also allegedly drove around with the intent of striking deer in the roadways with their vehicle.
In one incident, the deer survived being struck by their vehicle but was severely wounded from the impact. The juvenile suspects picked the deer up and placed it in the trunk of their vehicle while recording video and taking “selfies” of and with the deer. They drove around to various locations with the deer still alive and suffering in the trunk or back seat and continued to produce video clips documenting their travels with the wounded deer.
One of the videos showed the suspects holding the deer, still alive but clearly suffering, while walking around the inside of their home. The deer eventually died while in their captivity hours after being struck with the vehicle.
Officials cited another incident that occurred this spring, when the suspects allegedly captured a newborn fawn, placed it in their vehicle, drove around with it and took it inside their residence. The fawn was later released back into the wild.
In addition to capturing and/or killing deer, investigators also obtained evidence that the suspects targeted and harassed other wildlife — such as geese, raccoons, possums, and turtles.
These animals would oftentimes be captured, held in captivity and harassed prior to release.
A list of alleged criminal and civil DNR violations involved in this investigation, as provided by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, is as follows. Officials say the list is not all-inclusive.
This list is not all-inclusive:
Mistreating animals resulting in death
Possession of a dangerous weapon
Hunting deer with artificial light
Hunting during the closed season
Possession of a firearm while shining
Possession of deer during the closed season
Loading or 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 road’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
Obstructing a conservation warden
A news release states that “numerous charges” have been referred by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
In a statement, Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said:
Wildlife and hunting are a deep part of Wisconsin’s heritage and history, and the horrific acts committed against these animals will shock the conscience of hunters and non-hunters alike. We’re thankful for the observant citizen who took the time to report their observation of suspicious circumstances to our sheriff’s office. Their call initiated this significant investigation. We also want to thank the public who came forward with information that led to a more comprehensive investigation after our initial media release.
With hunting season underway, authorities remind citizens to call or text to report suspected DNR violations to the DNR Violation Hotline at 1-800-847-9367. If the violation potentially endangers other humans or property, 911 should be called.
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