Fond du Lac, Wis. — Four suspects have been named in a long-running deer poaching case in southeastern Wisconsin covering nearly 200 square miles in Fond du Lac, Washington, and Dodge counties and around the towns of Campbellsport, Waucousta, Lomira, Theresa, West Bend and Kewaskum.
According to a press release from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, the primary suspects in the case are a 36-year-old female and three 16-year-old males, all from Campbellsport. According to law enforcement officials, as of October 22, no complaints had yet been filed against the adult female. The three teenagers’ first appearance is scheduled for Oct. 23 in Fond du Lac County.
If a trial is necessary for an adult woman, it will be held in Washington County. If the charges proceed to trial, the juveniles’ trials will be held in Fond du Lac County. It is customary for juvenile court cases to be heard in the district where the juveniles reside, regardless of where the alleged offense occurred. The names of the 16-year-olds will not be released unless they are charged in adult court. The adult female’s name will be released if charges are ultimately filed – most likely in Washington County.
The suspects are believed to have killed more than 100 deer between spring 2023 and July this year. Alleged criminal and civil violations of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife codes include, but are not confined to:
• Animal abuse resulting in death;
• Possession of a hazardous weapon;
• Hunting (shooting) deer using artificial lightweight;
• Hunting during the closed season;
• Possession of a firearm while glowing deer;
• Possession of deer during closed season;
• Loading and unloading firearms in or from a motor vehicle;
• Discharging a firearm from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of the road;
• Hunting within 50 feet of the center of the road;
• Transporting a loaded firearm in or on a moving vehicle;
• Possession of game killed illegally or by unknown means;
• Hunting using a weapon/ammunition that is of an appropriate design or used in a manner that is not reasonably likely to result in possession of the target (i.e. shooting at an animal without the expectation of hunting it);
• Unauthorized taking of live wild animals from the wild;
• Storage or disposal of solid waste on public or private property;
• And obstructing the work of a DNR conservation officer.
Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt is one of three sheriffs whose departments handled the case. County officers and local DNR wardens collectively worked hundreds of hours investigating this case.
Most poaching occurred after shadowy and continued into the early morning hours. The suspects allegedly drove around at night with a spotlight and illuminated fields to locate deer. Once the suspects were located, they allegedly shot at the deer with rifles from the road while still in the vehicle, according to a press release from the sheriff’s department.
If a deer was hit, the suspects would allegedly enter the area to determine the sex of the deer. Antlerless deer were left to rot. If the deer was a buck with a enormous antler, the heads were removed and the rest of the carcass was left to rot.
Officers determined that the suspects were also driving their vehicle with the intention of hitting a deer standing on the road. In one case, a deer that struck was seriously injured but did not die from the impact. The juvenile suspects allegedly stuffed the injured deer into the trunk of the vehicle while recording video of the event.
The suspects then allegedly drove for hours with the injured deer in the vehicle, recording subsequent videos. In one of the videos, the suspects can be seen keeping the deer at home while it suffers. The deer eventually died in captivity.
The information collected during the investigation shows that in the spring of 2024, the suspects found a newborn fawn. The fawn was allegedly taken from the wild, placed in a vehicle and transported before being taken to the residence. He was later released.
The suspects did not limit their criminal activities to deer. They also allegedly targeted geese, raccoons, opossums and turtles. These animals were often captured, held in captivity and harassed before being released into the wild.
“I want to thank the staff of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for their diligent and collaborative efforts throughout this investigation,” Waldschmidt said. “Their knowledge was valuable in establishing facts and identifying violations of the law.”
DNR officials did not allow field rangers involved in the case to comment on the footage to members of the media during the investigation. This policy continued after the four suspects were named. DNR game wardens are the primary investigators of any violations of Fish and Wildlife rules.
Waldschmidt is a deer hunter. He took up this case for personal and professional reasons. He described the poaching as senseless, reckless and indiscriminate.
“Wildlife and hunting are a deep part of Wisconsin’s heritage and history,” he said. “The horrific acts committed against these animals will shock the consciences of hunters and non-hunters alike.”
Waldschmidt also thanked citizens who provided information that helped with the investigation.
