Woman and Juvenile Suspects Arrested in 'Horrific' Deer Poaching Scheme Involving Hundreds of Deer 🚔

Well, for starters, I need to offer up an apology for missing you last week. As many of you know, a big ass storm hit the state of Florida and my peaceful little abode was not spared from a bit of the madness. We had a number of big ol’ tornadoes spin up in our county and while I was fortunate to not have sustained any damage personally, many in my community were not as lucky.

I ended up without any power (or internet) for a few days and thus, couldn’t get Friday’s dispatch out the door.

I appreciate all those that reached out after noticing how empty their email inboxes (and souls) were without their Friday morning edition.

But alas, we are back and if you too are still with us, that means you’ve made it to the middle of yet another week.

With that in mind, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get another mid-week dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about so far this week:

• “Senseless. Reckless and Indiscriminate.” - Egregious poaching scheme is dismantled. 🚔

• Caught on camera - Oregon officials circulating trail cam image of poaching suspect 📸

• YUGE response - 7,000 hunters apply to hunt grizzlies in Alberta 🙋‍♂️

• Bone daddy - Officials trying to help Hollywood deer with bone lodged in its throat 🦴

• Who needs a truck? - Man with a motorized scooter hauls out his fishing boat 🦼

DISTURBING BEHAVIOR
WOMAN AND JUVENILE SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN ‘HORRIFIC’ DEER POACHING SCHEME INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF DEER

A 36-year-old woman and three 16-year-old boys have been arrested in a poaching scheme that has shocked a rural Wisconsin community. 

In a story coming out of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, a group of juveniles and their female accomplice have been implicated in a poaching case a local sheriff has referred to as “Senseless. Reckless and Indiscriminate.”

The alleged crimes took place in the Fond du Lac area between the spring of 2023 and the summer of 2024. According to a press release from the Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Office, the suspects, who reside in the town of Cambellsport, would reportedly ride around in their car looking for deer to hit. The report went on to say that the group would also take a spotlight along with them and use a rifle to shoot any deer they saw from the road.

“After the initial media release in July, I was asked by a media outlet to describe what I felt about the accusations. My gut response was: ‘Senseless. Reckless. Indiscriminate,’” Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan F. Waldschmidt said in a release. “Since that time, and after reading reports and observing video and photographic evidence obtained during this investigation, those words remain my best summation of the situation.”

📸 Oregon State Police Circulating Photo of Suspect Caught on Trail Camera Where a Bull Elk was Poached. Oregon State police are circulating photographic evidence they hope will lead to the arrest of a suspect in an elk poaching incident that took place over the Labor Day weekend. According to reports, a trooper arrived in an area in Northeast Oregon where a man had begun the process of recovering meat from a mature bull elk. The animal, which was shot using archery equipment, was abandoned when officers arrived. The troopers remained on site and worked to salvage what they could from the animal in hopes that the suspect would return.

The suspect did not return, but officers uncovered trail camera footage that included a picture they believe to be the suspect in the illegal killing. Anyone who can identify the man whose photo was caught on the trail camera or have other information is asked to call Senior Trooper Kris Davis at 800-452-7888, which is the Oregon Turn in Poachers line.

7,000 Albertans Apply to Hunt Grizzly Bears Under New ‘Problem Wildlife’ Program. It didn’t take long for Albertans to respond to the province’s call to arms to help reduce the number of problem grizzly bears in Wild Rose Country. The influx of applications comes after Alberta announced it would permit selective grizzly bear hunts this fall. Under the order, the minister could issue what the province refers to as a "grizzly bear management authorization" for the purpose of hunting a grizzly bear in the province of Alberta. 

Out of the 7,000 applicants, only 30 have been selected for a shortlist so far. 

"If the need arises for a problem wildlife response, the first person on the responder list in the relevant region will be contacted. If they are unavailable, the next person will be contacted, and so on," reads an email from a Forestry and Parks press secretary.

Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen went on to reiterate that the program was created to give all Albertans a fair chance to participate, offering the opportunity to local hunters instead of government officials.

"I don't think it's necessary to hire [Fish and Wildlife] officers to do this job that Albertans can do."

Black bear hunting season begins in New Jersey: Bear hunting season has begun in New Jersey – a controversial decision that state officials say is intended to curb the population of black bears interacting with humans. Read more at ABC News.

Moose Hunting Season Boosts Local Maine Economy: There are many benefits from the hunt. While it is a financial benefit for businesses, it is also a chance to help put food onto people’s tables during the winter months. Read more at WAGM.

Wildlife crews search for injured deer with bone lodged in mouth in Hollywood Hills:  “It’s gnarly-looking,” said John Gilkey, a Hollywood Hills resident. “It’s a big, chunky bone, not just like a little bone, stuck in his or her throat.”. Read more at KTLA.

Vermont man believed to have drowned while hunting:  Police believe a Vermont man drowned when his kayak overturned while he was duck hunting. Read more at WCAX.

Wyoming asks hunters to submit elk and deer samples to help detect chronic wasting disease : The Wyoming Game & Fish Department is asking hunters in the Cody area to submit samples to help monitor for chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD impacts the nervous system and can be fatal for deer, elk and moose.  Read more at Wyoming Public Media.

Chronic wasting disease confirmed at deer farm in Kentucky: Chronic wasting disease, which is fatal to deer, elk and some other wildlife, has been confirmed in a dead deer at a farm in Breckinridge County, according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Read more at Yahoo News.

VIDEO // ^{_{SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN}}

🦼 Where there’s a will, there’s damn sure a way. Watch as one determined fisherman, who seemingly is without a pickup truck, uses his electric scooter to pull his boat from out of the water at the local boat ramp. Work with what ya got, right?

🏹 Bull rider calls out hack bowhunter that attempted to headshot a deer with an arrow.  Running his boat along the Angelina River, professional bull rider Trent Nugent spotted an injured deer with an arrow lodged in its head. He attempted to help the wounded deer, but was unable to get close enough.

Oh, and one more thing…