Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four

Central Ohio – Wildlife District One

State Wildlife Officer John Coffman, assigned to Fayette County, was patrolling Deer Creek Wildlife Area when he received a tip that two individuals were cast netting for non-forage fish out of Deer Creek. Officer Coffman was able to contact the individuals, who were found to have netted all the fish in their possession. Neither individual had a valid Ohio fishing license, and both had taken white bass with their cast nets. They were issued the appropriate summonses for their violations.

In March, State Wildlife Officer Maurice Irish, assigned to Delaware County, received a call from a concerned citizen about a trumpeter swan that had an object stuck on its bill. The caller advised that the swan was still capable of flight. Officer Irish located the swan in a flooded field. After two failed attempts, he was able to capture the bird and safely remove the object. The swan hissed at him and flew off unharmed.

Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two

In early February, State Wildlife Officer Levi Farley, assigned to Paulding County, collaborated with students who were enrolled in an afterschool program at Grover Hill Elementary. The students had been learning about helping their community and Officer Farley educated them on the benefits of birds. Officer Farley explained that Paulding County has numerous natural areas where students could enjoy time outdoors. After the lesson, the students were encouraged to come up with a way they could support wildlife. With help, they built and painted bird houses to hang on their school’s campus and donate to other spots in the county. Once students completed their projects, Officer Farley visited the school to thank the staff for encouraging student interest in wildlife and assisted in hanging the bird houses. This was a great opportunity for Officer Farley to connect with and encourage the next generation of outdoor stewards.

In April, State Wildlife Officer Charles Mcmullen, assigned to Sandusky County, received a call from the Turnin-a-poacher hotline that an individual was keeping bass that fell below the minimum length requirement along the Sandusky River in Tiffin. Upon arriving on the scene, Officer Mcmullen observed an individual matching the description received in the report. The angler was standing on a dam in the middle of the river and Officer Mcmullen called to him to shore. A yellow stringer of harvested fish was found to belong to the individual. The stringer held seven smallmouth bass, all under the legal minimum length of 14 inches. The suspect was issued summonses for possessing undersized bass and for having two fish over the daily limit. He paid $205 in fines and court costs.

Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three

During the statewide muzzleloader season in January 2022, State Wildlife Officer Tom Frank, assigned to Mahoning County, investigated a complaint about hunting without permission. Officer Frank observed an individual operating an ATV and leaving a hunting blind on the complainant’s property. Officer Frank pursued the hunter and discovered the individual with a loaded firearm. A summons was issued. In court, over $715.00 in fines and court costs were paid.

State Wildlife Officer Chris Dodge, assigned to Hocking County, and Wildlife Officer Supervisor Dan Perko were patrolling O’dowd Wildlife Area during the 2021 whitetailed deer gun season. The officers stopped to check a large group of deer hunters who had finished a hunt and were moving on. The officers discovered two loaded rifles in one of the vehicles. While gathering information for summonses, another group of hunters stopped to ask questions. One of those individuals had a loaded shotgun in the front seat of his vehicle. Officer Dodge issued three summonses to the different parties for hunting deer by the aid of a motor vehicle. The defendants pleaded guilty in Hocking County Municipal Court and paid a combined $825 in fines and court costs.

In early 2022, State Wildlife Officer Jeff Berry, assigned to Muskingum County, received a complaint about someone snagging fish at Dillon Dam. Officer Berry located the individual and observed him for some time from the shoreline near the dam. Officer Berry documented the individual’s activities and watched him snag a channel catfish by the caudal fin. Officer Berry issued a citation for snagging