"Wastefully killing wildlife:" DNR, Sheriff's officials need help with wildlife "thrill killing" case

GREEN LAKE (WITI) -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, along with the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office, is asking the public to assist with a wildlife “thrill killing” case.

On Saturday, November 29th, DNR Conservation Warden Nate Ackerman received complaints of gunshots heard overnight, northwest of Green Lake.

Green Lake Sheriff’s deputies working with Ackerman located seven dead whitetail deer in various locations within a three-mile area in the towns of Brooklyn and St. Marie. At one site a buck, an adult doe and a doe fawn were all found in the same field.

All of the deer were shot and left with no obvious attempt to recover them.

On Saturday evening, DNR conservation wardens working in the area overheard numerous gunshots. A short time later, a Green Lake Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a suspect vehicle. A pursuit ensued, during which the suspect crashed his vehicle. The adult male driver, who was not injured, was taken into custody.

Investigators believe that more deer were illegally killed and that more individuals are involved.

Ackerman commended Green Lake deputies for rapidly responding and quickly locating suspects.

The warden said the wildlife shootings under investigation bear no resemblance to hunting.

“During the annual nine-day gun deer season, more than 600,000 licensed hunters take to the woods to enjoy Wisconsin’s great outdoors and the fine traditions surrounding the annual deer hunt,” Ackerman said. “These hunters are ethical and work hard to legally harvest a deer. This appears to be a case of wastefully killing wildlife without reason, an act which is abhorrent to real hunters.”

Investigators request that anyone with information related to this investigation contact warden Nate Ackerman at 920-369-6028 or the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 920-294-4000.

Another option is to call the confidential DNR tip line at 800-TIP-WDNR or 800-847-9367.