Deer Poaching Investigation update from Fond du Lac County Sheriff

Over the past two months, investigators from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conducted hundreds of combined hours of investigation into the alleged killing and mistreatment of whitetail deer and other wildlife in southeastern Fond du Lac, northern Washington, and northeastern Dodge Counties.

According to authorities, the investigation identified a significant number and variety of criminal and non-criminal violations.

Investigators have reason to believe that more than 100 deer were shot and/or killed between late spring of 2023 and July of 2024. One adult female and three juvenile males were identified as the primary suspects of this investigation. These alleged crimes occurred in the 200 square mile region between Campbellsport, Waucousta, Lomira, Theresa, West Bend, and Kewaskum.

According to law enforcement, 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.

Sheriff’s officials said 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.

Investigators determined these suspects would also drive around with the intent of striking deer in the roadway 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.

According to police, 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.

In another incident this Spring, police said they found a newly born fawn alongside the road and captured it. The fawn was also placed in a vehicle and driven around, taken inside their residence, and was later released back into the wild. In addition to capturing and/or killing deer, investigators obtained evidence to believe these suspects also targeted and harassed other wildlife including geese, raccoons, possums, and turtles. These animals would oftentimes be captured, held in captivity and harassed prior to release.

Suspects involved in these crimes include three 16-year-old Campbellsport males and one 36-year-old Campbellsport female.

The following is a list of alleged criminal and civil DNR violations involved in this investigation, according to police, who noted the 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

Both the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have referred numerous charges to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office, Washington County District Attorney’s Office, and Fond du Lac County Juvenile Intake.

Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said after reviewing reports, video, and photographic evidence the best words to describe the situation are, “Senseless. Reckless.”

“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. I also want to personally thank the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for their diligent and collaborative efforts throughout this investigation. Their expertise was invaluable in determining the facts and identifying violations of law. Working together jointly on this investigation, our goal was to document and present the facts of this case that will lead to accountability for the senseless, reckless, and indiscriminate assault on Wisconsin wildlife – wildlife we all, as residents, share in the responsibility of managing and protecting,” Waldschmidt said.

With hunting season upon us, citizens are reminded they can 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.