Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four

Central Ohio – Wildlife District One

During the statewide white-tailed deer gun hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Josh Elster, assigned to Pickaway County, was contacted about a butchered deer carcass, pizza box, and other trash observed along a road. The pizza box had a receipt with personal information attached. Officer Elster checked the harvest records for the address. He discovered a subject with a valid hunting license and deer permit, but no harvest. Officer Elster drove to the address to speak with the subject. Upon arriving, he noticed tools used for deer butchering and dried blood on the garage floor. Further investigation revealed the hunter had helped a friend butcher a deer. The subject then dumped the deer carcass and trash along the road. The subject was issued a summons for littering and ordered to pay $250 in fines and court costs.

State Wildlife Officer Tony Zerkle, assigned to Fairfield County, and Wildlife Officer Supervisor Bill Bullard attended the Hebron Fish Hatchery Open House in April. Over 300 visitors were in attendance to learn how fish are raised and studied. Officer Zerkle assisted dozens of children with bluegill fishing. Officer Bullard answered law-related questions about fishing in Ohio and educated visitors on the duties of Ohio wildlife officers.

Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two

During the whitetailed deer gun hunting season, State Wildlife Investigator Jason Parr responded to an incident involving property damage. Four hunters were conducting a deer drive and fired numerous times, with one of the rounds striking a nearby house. The homeowner, who was outside at the time, contacted wildlife officials. The hunters were identified and contacted, and their firearms collected as evidence. The bullet that struck the residence was recovered. With the assistance of K-9 Wildlife Officer May, numerous casings were found in the field where the hunters were shooting. Two of the four firearms were ruled out as being the gun that struck the house. The remaining two guns were taken to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), along with the bullet that hit the house. A forensic firearm examiner determined which of the guns submitted for testing was the one that damaged the house. The suspect pleaded guilty in Crawford County Municipal Court. He paid $325 in fines and court costs, received 180 days jail with all 180 days suspended, was placed on probation for 36 months, was required to complete a hunter education course, and had his hunting license suspended for three years.

Recently, State Wildlife Officers Charles Mcmullen, assigned to Sandusky County, and Matt D. Smith, assigned to Huron County, were contacted by a concerned citizen about an injured bald eagle near Bellevue. The officers arrived at the location and found the eagle about half-mile from the road in a woodlot. The officers believed the eagle was injured in a territorial dispute with another eagle. Once secured, the eagle was transported to Back to the Wild Rehabilitation Center for care.

Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three

In February, State Wildlife Officer Zach Hillman, assigned to Cuyahoga County, contacted an individual about a possible whitetailed deer hunting violation. This individual had harvested a buck a few weeks prior, in January. During the conversation, the hunter admitted that he did not possess a valid deer permit when the buck was harvested. One misdemeanor summons for hunting deer without a valid deer permit was issued. The court found the individual guilty and ordered him to pay

While reviewing whitetailed deer harvested in Monroe County during the 2021 season, State Wildlife Officer Wes Feldner noticed a possible violation. The hunter harvested a buck and possessed a 10-year hunting license, but Officer Feldner also discovered information that the hunter was not an Ohio resident. With the help of State Wildlife Officer Tom Frank and West Virginia Department of Natural Resources officers, Officer Feldner determined that the suspect had fraudulently purchased a resident hunting and fishing license, and also had had several other deer-related violations. The hunter was charged with fraudulently purchasing resident