DISTRICT 1
Conservation Officer (CO) Pete Shambaugh and Lieutenant (Lt.) Ryan Aho were patrolling in Ontonagon County checking hunters on the opening day of firearm deer when they stopped an ORV that was operating illegally with two occupants. They discovered that their other four-wheeler had broken down, they were nearly out of gas and trying to make it to a gas station. The COs went the nearest gas station and brought them back a few gallons so they could make it home.
CO Ethen Mapes was patrolling in Ontonagon County when he contacted the driver of an ATV to address operating the ATV on a state highway. Upon contact, CO Mapes discovered two untagged turkeys in the back of the ATV which also had no trail permit. The driver stated that he shot the turkeys when they came into his deer bait with a .22. Upon retrieval of the .22 from the subject’s deer blind, several fresh grouse carcasses were located which the subject also admitted to shooting out of season. Enforcement action was taken.
The night prior to opening day of firearm deer season, CO Steve Sajtar received a fishing complaint on the Menominee River. The complainant stated that two individuals were catching overlimits of whitefish and hiding the fish in a bucket. CO Sajtar responded to the scene and hid in the nearby bushes to observe the suspects. CO Sajtar observed one of the two suspects catch 12 whitefish. CO Sajtar contacted the suspect when he returned to the vehicle and issued a citation for taking an over-limit.
On the night of November 15th, CO Sajtar observed a pickup truck without a license plate travelling on a road in Menominee County. CO Sajtar conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and discovered a 10-point antlered deer in the bed of the pickup. CO Sajtar contacted the operator and asked where his registration plate was. The operator replied, “Sorry officer, I just bought this truck a couple weeks ago and haven’t had a chance to register it yet.” The operator admitted to operating the vehicle without insurance and provided a title for the vehicle that was not yet signed or dated. CO Sajtar noticed an uncased rifle in the pickup and found it to be loaded. Next, CO Sajtar asked the operator and passenger who shot the deer that was in the bed of the truck. Eventually the passenger admitted that he shot the deer earlier that night without a license and tagged the deer with his grandpa’s tag. The passenger admitted to using his grandpa’s senior resident kill tag because he did not want to purchase a non-resident kill tag after killing the deer. The passenger received citations for borrowing the tag of another and taking a deer with no valid license. Reimbursement for an unlawfully taken or possessed 10-point antlered deer is $7,000.
In Menominee County, CO Steve Sajtar observed a vehicle parked unlawfully across a county road adjacent to a corn field. As CO Sajtar neared the parked vehicle, the vehicle drove off. CO Sajtar followed the vehicle for a short distance and conducted a traffic stop after observing the vehicle cross the centerline several times. While talking with the operator, CO Sajtar noticed an open firearm case in the back seat. CO Sajtar checked the firearm case and found a loaded rifle. A citation was issued for transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. Immediately after clearing the initial traffic stop, CO Sajtar witnessed another vehicle travelling over the centerline of the same county road. CO Sajtar conducted a traffic stop for the lane violation and found a loaded rifle in the vehicle. Another citation was issued for transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
In Menominee County, CO Steve Sajtar responded to a domestic violence call where an intoxicated male had threatened to kill his girlfriend and her two-year-old child with a rifle. After calling 911, the girlfriend had locked herself in a bedroom with the child. The rifle was in another bedroom and the male party was reported to be inside the house breaking things. CO Sajtar and a deputy arrived on scene together and made entry into the house. The male party was located and placed into custody without incident. The rifle was seized for evidence. The male party was lodged at the Menominee Couty Jail on charges of felonious assault and domestic violence.
CO Alex VanWagner received a complaint on November 10th from a subject who had just witnessed another individual shoot a deer with a rifle. CO VanWagner arrived on scene and located a dead 7-point buck, which had an entry wound consistent with that of a rifle bullet. The suspect was interviewed and confessed to shooting the buck. Evidence was seized and a report was sent to the Iron County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
CO Alex VanWagner responded to a report of a hunter who fell from his hunting blind in Iron County on opening day of firearm deer season. Dispatch advised a 77-year-old hunter had fallen and possibly broke his hip. Upon arrival, it was determined that the hunter exited his blind to head back to camp. He stepped onto the porch of his elevated blind and the boards broke, causing him to fall through. His friend went to check on him due to him being late to camp. The hunter was found lying beneath the blind and reported a great amount of pain in his right hip area. CO VanWagner, along with emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and DNR fire officers, loaded the subject onto a portable transport unit and carried the subject out of the woods to the ambulance. The subject was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
While on patrol in Iron County, COs Alex VanWagner and Phil Helminen responded to a complaint of an erratic driver, with a young child in the vehicle, running people off the road and then crashing into a sign. The vehicle then fled the scene. The suspect vehicle was located at a residence near the scene of the crash. Interviews were conducted with the driver and third party, and the driver was arrested and lodged for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with child endangerment. A report will be sent to the Iron County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
CO Jared Ferguson was called by an anonymous complainant regarding the taking of deer without a license. CO Ferguson located the suspect and during the interview, she confessed to buying a license after she shot the deer. A complaint warrant will be done.
CO Jared Ferguson was heading home for the night when a vehicle passed him at a high rate of speed and driving recklessly. CO Ferguson made a traffic stop and found an uncased / loaded firearm in the front seat. Law enforcement action was taken.
COs John Kamps and Jackson Kelly responded to a hunter harassment and malicious destruction of property complaint in Marquette County. The COs were notified by the complainant that the suspect had flipped over his hunting blind and got into a verbal altercation. When the COs arrived on scene, the suspect was sitting in his vehicle. The COs noticed there was a shooting lane cut from the suspect’s driver’s side window to a bait pile and a loaded hunting rifle in the passenger seat. The suspect soon admitted that he had not purchased a hunting license. The suspect was issued citations for loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, hunt deer without a license, and he was asked to leave the property. The complainant did not press charges for the flipped over blind.
COs John Kamps, Cody Smith and Jackson Kelly ran a deer decoy patrol in a known complaint area. A vehicle was stopped after the passenger of the vehicle pointed a rifle out the window at the decoy. When asked for a hunting license, the individual stated that he had left it at camp before taking a ride to town. When the individual realized that CO Kamps was checking his license status, he confessed that he didn’t have a license. A citation was issued for an uncased firearm in a motor vehicle and for hunting without a license.
COs John Kamps and Jackson Kelly followed up on a suspected illegal deer. The COs interviewed two suspects who admitted that one had shot an 8-point without a license in his possession and the other shot another buck without having purchased a license. The suspects then purchased a combo tag so they could tag the deer and bring it to the processor. Law enforcement action was taken including seizing the illegal deer which was donated to three families.
CO Jeremy Sergey and Sgt. Mark Leadman were patrolling in Marquette County when an individual approached them and stated his dad was hunting on state land and some nearby camp owners surrounded his dad’s truck with large logs. The COs went to the location of the truck and waited nearby in the brush. Three individuals came out of the woods, two of them holding rifles, and began looking into the window of the victim’s truck. The COs made contact and determined that none had hunting licenses with them and that they had blocked the road. They followed the men back to their camp and discovered an untagged spike horn deer hanging from the buck pole. The third individual had a warrant for his arrest out of Mackinac County. All firearms and the deer were seized. Multiple citations were issued.
COs Jeremy Sergey and Jackson Kelly were patrolling the Marquette/Dickinson County line when a vehicle slowly passed by them. CO Sergey could see a rifle in the passenger seat with the muzzle pointed towards the passenger door. CO Sergey told the driver to stop. The driver stated the rifle was loaded and the safety was off. A citation was issued for having an uncased and loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
DISTRICT 2
Cpl. Mike Hammill and CO Andrea Dani encountered a hunter and his friend in a brush blind. The subjects were hunting over a bait that exceeded the legal limit and the hunter did not have a deer license. The hunter was cited for hunting without a license and baiting more than two gallons. They were warned for destroying trees and vegetation on public land to create the blind.
Sgt. Mark Zitnik and CO Andrea Dani followed up on an early and over-limit of bait discovered prior to September 15th. The hunter confessed to placing truckloads of apples there throughout the summer. A citation was issued.
On opening day of firearm deer season, CO Robert Freeborn and Sgt. Mark Zitnik responded to a complaint of a subject living on state land for a long period of time. After locating the subject at their campsite in a remote section of Schoolcraft County, it was determined that the subject had several misdemeanor warrants along with an outstanding felony warrant. The subject was placed under arrest and lodged in jail.
CO Robert Freeborn and Cpl. Todd Sumbera arrested a subject on a felony warrant from a case CO Steve Butzin had this spring. The subject’s charge was arson fourth degree resulting from a grass fire that was intentionally set.
CO Jason Ruth and Lt. Skip Hagy were patrolling the Gould City area when they noticed a group of trucks congregated on the roadway. Contact was made and one of the drivers had a loaded firearm inside his truck. A citation was issued.
CO Cole VanOosten followed up on an illegal blind on state land that had been there for numerous years. CO VanOosten issued the man a citation three years ago for the same violation. The man had failed to remove the blind after receiving the citation. CO VanOosten contacted the man on opening day of firearm deer season and issued him citations again for the violations observed including occupying a permanent blind on state land and for hunting over more than two gallons of bait.
CO Cole Vanoosten and Sgt. Calvin Smith were patrolling near McMillan when a call came out of a vehicle that had left the roadway and hit multiple trees. The two occupants of the vehicle were also trapped inside. The COs were first on scene and checked the wellbeing of the driver and passenger. Miraculously neither one had serious injuries. The COs assisted the fire department with extraction and used their issued equipment to help stabilize the vehicle.
DISTRICT 3
CO Chad Baldwin was asked to speak with fourth and fifth grade classes at Ellsworth Elementary School about being a conservation officer. CO Baldwin explained the duties and tasks of a CO and shared interesting stories and situations he has been in over his career. He also displayed a fur kit and quizzed students on their knowledge of local animals and gave out prizes to the winners.
COs Nathan Beelman and Duane Budreau responded to a shining complaint involving a vehicle on a rural two-track road. CO Beelman checked the area and found the vehicle parked in the same location as described in the complaint. CO Beelman contacted the driver who initially denied having any guns in the vehicle, but after further investigation, it was found that there was a loaded pistol on the passenger seat and a loaded shotgun in the bed of the truck. The driver was ticketed for a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and given a warning for failing to disclose as a concealed pistol license (CPL) holder.
After several weeks of attempting to contact a hunter suspected of buying a license after killing a deer, CO Albert was able to catch up with him and interview him about his archery season deer hunt. The hunter admitted to taking an 8-point deer prior to purchasing his license. He said he wasn’t hunting at the time; he was at his house and saw the deer pass through his yard and he shot it with his bow as he couldn’t pass it up. The commercially processed venison from the buck was seized along with the antlers. A report was submitted to the prosecutor’s office for charges.
While patrolling on commercial forest land, CO Andrea Albert found one of the roads on the property was posted with “No Trespassing” and “Private Road” signs. Commercial forest properties are not allowed to be posted as they are open to the public for hunting and fishing. CO Albert contacted two hunters further down the posted road. Both were using bait to hunt deer, and one had forgotten her licenses at their cabin. A ticket was issued to one subject for the illegal deer bait, as they were husband and wife. After a discussion about the posting of the property, the hunters advised they would immediately remove the signs.
CO Andrea Albert developed a suspect during the 2023 firearm deer season that appeared to have shot an 8-point buck and then bought his license after the fact. On the opening day of the 2024 firearm deer season, CO Albert and Sgt. Bill Webster visited the subject’s property and found the owner and another subject hunting over bait and without licenses. CO Albert questioned the subject about his deer he took last year. A confession was obtained for taking an 8-point buck during the 2023 deer season without a license and over bait. The European mount of the deer was seized, and charges are being sought through the prosecutor’s office. Tickets were issued to both subjects for hunting deer without a license and using bait to hunt deer.
In the middle of the night, after a very long day of patrolling during the firearm deer season, CO Andrea Albert observed an oncoming vehicle swerve into her lane of travel. CO Albert followed the vehicle and noticed signs of intoxicated driving. A traffic stop was conducted, and standard field sobriety tests (SFSTs) were administered to the driver. CO Albert arrested the driver for OWI with a blood alcohol content of .166, over twice the legal limit. The operator was also driving while suspended due to a previous drunk driving.
CO Andrea Albert received a complaint of three adult males with rifles and no hunter orange sitting in a field on the second day of firearm deer season. CO Albert contacted the hunters and found that none of them had purchased deer hunting licenses, they all had semi-automatic rifles with magazines that held over five rounds, and no one was wearing hunter orange clothing. CO Albert explained the rules and the importance of taking hunter safety to the first-time hunters. All three subjects were ticketed for hunting deer without a license.
CO Andrea Albert and Lt. Jim Gorno were on patrol during the firearm deer season. CO Albert conducted a stop on a slow-moving pickup truck in a remote part of Antrim County. The driver was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant and lodged at the Kalkaska County Jail. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a loaded revolver in between the driver’s seat and center counsel. He had taken the gun from his mother without her knowledge or permission. Family members were concerned about his safety as he was allegedly using methamphetamine and fentanyl and had been acting erratically and paranoid for the last several months including making statements that he had shot someone. A warrant request for possession of a concealed pistol in a motor vehicle and for operating without security was submitted to the prosecutor's office for charges.
CO Duane Budreau checked a hunter at first light on the opening morning of firearm deer season. After previously confirming the site had been heavily baited with at least a ton of sugar beets, CO Budreau approached the hunter in his blind. As CO Budreau approached the blind, he noticed the subject was aiming his rifle out the front window. CO Budreau announced his presence and identified himself. The subject was upset as he explained to CO Budreau that he was about to shoot a nice 7-point buck. CO Budreau explained to the hunter that he wouldn’t be there if he hadn’t been baiting and issued a ticket. CO Budreau visited the site two days later and all the bait had been removed.
CO Tom Oberg received a Report All Poaching (RAP) complaint of a subject who was baiting on state land. CO Tom Oberg went to the location and located the tree stand and bait. CO Oberg noted he had issued a ticket to this same subject at the same exact location for baiting just two weeks prior. CO Oberg contacted the hunter on the opening day of firearm deer season. CO Oberg questioned the hunter on why he would continue to bait at the same location after he was already issued a ticket. The hunter did not have an explanation. The hunter was again issued a ticket for baiting deer.
CO Tom Oberg responded to a call of a suicidal subject in the Pigeon River State Forest. A friend of the suicidal subject called Otsego County Central Dispatch reporting it after suicidal statements were made to him. CO Oberg and an Otsego County Sheriff’s deputy arrived at the location and quickly located the subject. CO Oberg and the deputy spoke with the subject regarding the matter, which at first, he had denied it and just wanted to leave. After a short while, the subject admitted to having a loaded pistol inside his truck and had intentions of harming himself. The subject was placed into protective custody. A suicidal note was also located once he was placed in custody. The subject was transported to Otsego Memorial Hospital for evaluations.
CO Tom Oberg was stationary off a roadway which he had received a RAP complaint the night prior for activity of people shining deer. CO Oberg noticed a truck coming down the road and observed a light coming out of the vehicle and shining a nearby field. CO Oberg performed a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the occupants. They stated they knew exactly why they were being pulled over and stated they should not have been shining. CO Oberg also located two rifles in the vehicle. A ticket was issued for shining deer in the month of November.
CO Kyle Cherry received a complaint of possible trespassing and road hunting activity in Otsego County. The complainant was able to forward a picture of the suspect to CO Cherry. CO Cherry immediately recognized the suspect as a male he has arrested before who cannot legally possess firearms. CO Kyle Cherry and Sgt. Mike Mshar located the suspect at his home address and conducted an interview. A confession was obtained for possessing firearms and attempting to take a deer on private property without permission. The suspect was arrested and lodged in the Otsego County Jail. The suspect was charged with prohibited felon in possession of firearm, prohibited felon in possession of ammo, no hunter orange, and possess firearm with blood alcohol content (BAC) over 0.08. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.
CO Kyle Cherry was on patrol in Otsego County when a dog ran in front of his patrol truck. CO Cherry was able to brake and avoid hitting the dog. CO Cherry observed the dog had a collar for an invisible fence. CO Cherry was able to get the dog in the bed of his truck and began checking nearby residences. The owners of the dog were located and returned safely.
COs Jack Gorno and Matt Theunick stopped an ORV in north Cheboygan County coming from the operator’s deer blind. The subject had no helmet, no ORV licenses, no hunting licenses, no hunter orange, and a loaded firearm on the ORV. CO Gorno ticketed the subject for loaded firearm on an ORV and warned the subject for several other violations.
CO Jon Sklba contacted a subject hunting deer without a license in her possession in Presque Isle County. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Jon Sklba responded to a possible domestic violence complaint in Presque Isle County. A subject entered a home without permission from the owners to locate his wife. CO Sklba was first to arrive on scene and secured the area. The subject was arrested by local sheriff’s deputies.
COs Alex Bourgeois, Jon Sheppard and Assistant Chief Brandon Kieft investigated a complaint of an illegal permanent blind in Negwegon State Park. The COs walked about a mile through a thick swamp to get to the blind that was put on the state park property by an encroaching camp. When the COs arrived at the blind, they observed the hunter to be hunting over bait. The hunter also was not wearing hunter orange. The COs issued the hunter a ticket for the bait and no hunter orange. The hunter was advised to move the blind back onto the camp’s property.
COs Alex Bourgeois and Jon Sklba received a RAP complaint that members of a camp were shooting deer and not tagging them. The COs contacted the camp and confronted them about the reported violation. The hunters admitted that they did not tag their deer after harvesting them and they were already processed. While talking to the hunters, CO Bourgeois observed a bag of corn by their rifles in their shed. CO Bourgeois questioned the hunters about the corn and asked if they had bait at their blinds. One of the hunters admitted to using the corn as bait and that he shot one of the deer over the bait. The hunter consented to showing CO Bourgeois where he was hunting, and the CO discovered bait there. CO Bourgeois issued the hunters tickets for failing to validate their kill tags and seized three untagged deer. The deer were donated to area families in need.
COs Sidney LaLonde and Dan Liestenfeltz deployed an antlered deer decoy in a popular road hunting area in Montmorency County. The COs stopped a hunter from shooting the decoy when the hunter got out of the vehicle and loaded their weapon. Upon checking their hunting license, it was found the hunter only had an antlerless tag. The COs also found a loaded pistol in the vehicle and the subject did not have a CPL. A ticket was issued for a loaded firearm in motor vehicle and a warning was given for attempting to take a deer with no license.
COs Sidney LaLonde and Dan Liestenfeltz responded to a report of a lost hunter in Montmorency County. The COs used their emergency lights, siren, and speaker in attempt to locate the hunter. The COs stopped a passing vehicle to see if they had seen anyone. The vehicle had the missing hunter in it; he had made it to a cabin and asked for help. The hunter walked several miles in the wrong direction and through a large swamp but was unharmed and medically cleared.
After dark on November 15th, CO Jon Sheppard stopped at the Manning Hill Park in Alpena County before ending his shift. While at the park, CO Sheppard noticed a male subject anxiously pacing back and forth nearby. CO Sheppard contacted the subject and asked if he was okay. The subject responded that he did not want to live anymore. CO Sheppard spent approximately 15 minutes talking to him before he agreed to get medical help. CO Sheppard radioed for EMS, gave him a bottle of water, and spoke to him until the ambulance arrived. He was transported to the hospital without incident.
COs Jon Sheppard and Alex Bourgeois were patrolling state forest land in Alpena County checking for deer hunters when they heard a gunshot nearby. CO Sheppard arrived in the area where the shot came from first and contacted one subject in a ground blind. CO Sheppard asked to see his hunting license which he did not have on his person. He stated that his license was back at camp and not in the vehicle parked nearby. CO Sheppard asked what he was going to do if he harvested a deer, and he replied that he would use a relative’s tag. CO Sheppard advised him that was not legal. CO Sheppard walked back to the vehicles with the subject and CO Bourgeois arrived. While at the vehicles, the COs heard another gunshot very close. CO Bourgeois walked to the location of the shot and contacted another hunter in a tree stand. The subject had just shot a deer on posted and fenced private property from state land. He did not have permission from the landowner to hunt the private property and the landowner wanted to pursue charges for trespassing. CO Sheppard checked multiple other blinds belonging to people in this hunting group and found bait at each and another freshly killed deer that was taken over bait. Tickets were issued for hunting deer with aid of bait, hunting without kill tags on person, and a report is being submitted for recreational trespass. The deer were seized, and the meat was donated.
CO Jon Sklba located a large bait pile on state land while on patrol in Presque Isle County. In addition, there was a pop-up blind with no name or license number affixed, illegal ORV use leading to the blind and bait, and a large portion of state land that was posted as private. CO Jon Sklba relayed the information to Sgt. Paul Fox. On the opening morning of firearm deer season, Sgt. Fox checked the area and located the blind, bait, and hunter. The hunter was a youth apprentice hunter. The hunter’s father was several hundred yards away and not close enough to be within the threshold of the supervision requirements. Contact was made with the parent and the individuals were educated on the various violations. A ticket and several warnings were issued for the violations and the subject was advised to remove the bait and posted signs.
Sgt. Paul Fox was patrolling in the Pigeon River Country State Forest just into Cheboygan County when he encountered a vehicle driving down a remote two-track. Sgt. Fox contacted the subject who was heading out of the woods for the evening. Sgt. Fox discovered that the subject had been hunting over bait and had a loaded rifle in the cab of the vehicle. A ticket was issued for transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
DISTRICT 4
CO Zack Walters received a call from a hunter stating they took a deer without a license. The hunter stated he had purchased a combo tag and accidentally shot an additional deer that they did not have another license for. Upon further conversation, it was discovered that he had killed four deer in total while only having purchased two tags. The hunter stated that he had never been hunting before and had been sitting alone and saw a group of does enter the field and took a shot at approximately 150 yards, but never saw a deer go down. Sometime later another deer entered the field, and he took another two shots, again not seeing a deer go down and thought he missed again. Thinking he missed, he shot the next two deer that entered the field, he never exited the blind to check for any signs of hitting the deer. After firing five rounds at the five different does, he exited the blind to find two deer dead in the field and another two dead within 60 yards of the field. CO Walters seized the two untagged deer which were then donated to a local family. CO Walters issued a citation to the hunter for taking two deer without a license and gave a warning for improper tagging.
CO William Kinney and Lt. Joe Molnar were the first on scene to a car crash with injuries. One vehicle was severely damaged and was on its side and had been pushed over the guardrail. The other vehicle was severely damaged nearby. The driver in the overturned vehicle was unresponsive and her condition was unknown. Her husband was standing in the overturned vehicle supporting his wife who was still seat belted in the vehicle. Lt. Molnar was able to climb into the back hatch of the overturned vehicle to check the unresponsive female’s condition. Lt. Molnar stabilized the victim and CO Kinney was able to break the sunroof so she could be extracted from the vehicle. With the assistance from a Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s deputy and volunteers on scene, the husband and wife were safely removed from the vehicle. The unresponsive victim was breathing and responded when asked her name. The subjects were turned over to EMS upon their arrival for care.
COs Logan Turner and William Kinney followed up on a baiting complaint on firearm deer season opener. Upon contacting the suspect in a deer blind, two deer were in the bed of the suspect’s truck and neither one had been tagged. COs Turner and Kinney also located several hundred pounds of illegal deer bait consisting of sugar beets, corn and carrots. The deer were seized, and a report has been submitted to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
CO William Haskin was patrolling in Wexford County when he heard a rifle shot. CO Haskin located the hunters and helped them track their deer. After the deer was dispatched, CO Haskin asked the hunters if he could see their licenses, only one hunter could provide a hunting license. A citation was issued for hunting deer without a license.
CO Josiah Killingbeck observed an ORV parked on the edge of a rural roadway. He observed lights nearby in the woods. CO Killingbeck contacted a hunter who immediately said, “I was just getting ready to call you.” CO Killingbeck observed that the subject was in possession of a spike horn buck which violates the antler point restrictions (APRs) in Lake County. The hunter said he was sitting and took a hasty shot at a deer that was passing through. The subject admitted if he had taken time to look at the deer before shooting, he would’ve observed the spikes. The deer was seized, and a citation was issued.
CO Josiah Killingbeck drove by a residence that had a deer blind in the front yard which was overlooking a bait pile at the edge of the yard. CO Killingbeck contacted a hunter in the yard who admitted to placing the bait for the deer. CO Killingbeck asked the subject for his firearm, and he produced a rifle. The suspect admitted to being a felon and thought it was just handguns he couldn’t possess. The suspect became upset and said that the clerk at the gas station where he purchased his deer license should have told him that he could not hunt with a firearm. CO Killingbeck advised the suspect that the clerk has no way of knowing if someone is a felon or not. The suspect was arrested and lodged in the Lake County Jail. A report has been submitted to the Lake County prosecutor for charges.
CO Josiah Killingbeck was talking to a subject on the side of the road about a trespass complaint when a truck drove by him with a deer sitting in the bed of the truck without a license attached. CO Killingbeck cleared the complaint he was on and attempted to catch up to the vehicle with the untagged deer. CO Killingbeck pulled into a nearby camp and was told that the hunter was in the residence getting his hunting license. CO Killingbeck contacted the hunter who walked out with his hunting license. The subject said he had forgotten his kill tags when he went hunting. CO Killingbeck asked where the subject’s firearm was, and the subject told him it was already in the residence. The subject then changed his story and said he was not sure where his gun was. CO Killingbeck looked through the truck’s window and observed a gun case in the back seat. The suspect admitted his gun was in the back seat and allowed CO Killingbeck to check his firearm. CO Killingbeck determined that the gun was loaded and issued the hunter citations for possessing an untagged deer and possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
DISTRICT 5
CO Charlie Jones was on patrol in Clearwater Township, Kalkaska County, when he contacted four subjects recreationally trespassing from a previous complaint. Upon contact, CO Jones observed bait near a ground blind. After further investigation, all hunters were trespassing and hunting over bait and one subject, who is a non-resident, purchased a resident license. A report will be submitted to the Kalkaska Prosecutor’s Office for review.
COs Charlie Jones and Jake Hamilton were patrolling in Kalkaska County, when CO Hamilton noticed a pickup truck swerving across the roadway and driving in the wrong lane. A traffic stop was initiated. Upon contacting the driver, CO Hamilton detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. CO Jones conducted SFSTs. The driver was subsequently taken into custody for operating a vehicle while under the influence. He was transported to the Kalkaska County Jail and lodged without incident.
CO Charlie Jones and Sgt. Brian Olsen were on patrol in Crawford County, when they noticed a vehicle pulled over on the shoulder of the road. The COs approached the driver and discovered that a passing motor vehicle had struck and injured a deer. The driver had shot the wounded deer with his pistol while it was on the side of the road. Upon checking the cased rifle in the vehicle, the COs confirmed that it was loaded. As a result, the driver was issued a citation for having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
CO Jacob Hamilton was patrolling in Kalkaska County when he began following a vehicle driving slowly down a two-track with fields on both sides. The vehicle pulled off the two-track and stopped in a clearing with its headlights pointing towards the tree line. CO Hamilton pulled up and began speaking with the driver and his 12-year-old son in the passenger seat. While speaking to the driver, CO Hamilton observed a cocked and loaded crossbow being held by the 12-year-old. CO Hamilton discussed the safety concerns of having a cocked and loaded crossbow in a vehicle and issued a citation for the violation.
While conducting a shining patrol, CO Matthew Zultak observed a vehicle operating in a careless manner around a curve. CO Zultak continued to observe the subject operating at a high rate of speed and failing to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle was stopped, and upon investigation, it was determined the operator was operating under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested for OWI and lodged in the Roscommon County Jail.
CO Matthew Zultak contacted a motor vehicle parked in the middle of a wildlife planting in Roscommon County. Upon contact, it was determined the subject was in possession of a cocked crossbow in the vehicle. In addition, it was determined that the subject's juvenile child was hunting on the edge of the wildlife planting area without a license. A citation was issued for possessing a cocked crossbow in a motor vehicle. Warnings were given for operating in a closed area, allowing minors to hunt without a license, and no name and address on a hunting blind.
While patrolling Missaukee County, CO Breanna Garrett was dispatched to assist a lost hunter near Dead Stream. The hunter, a 73-year-old male, had gone out earlier in the evening for a "spot and stalk" hunting trip. As darkness fell, he believed he was returning to his side-by-side vehicle but had become disoriented in the swamp. The hunter had limited battery life on his phone, poor cell service, and only the light from his phone. CO Garrett responded to the area accompanied by a Missaukee County deputy. After several attempts, dispatch was able to obtain coordinates indicating the general direction of the hunter by pinging his phone. CO Garrett and Deputy Vanderhoff walked into the swamp and eventually located the hunter about 750 yards from his side-by-side. He had no injuries, but due to his bad knees, he took some time to walk out of the swamp. Meanwhile, COs Ben McAteer and Matthew Zultak arrived on the scene. By communicating with CO Garrett, they were able to find a better walking route for the hunter. The two COs used their patrol truck to get closer to the group’s location. The hunter was grateful for the quick response and was relieved to be safely out of the woods.
CO James Garrett was patrolling southern Roscommon County during the opening morning of firearm deer season when he stopped a vehicle with its windows down. He spoke with two hunters inside, both wearing hunter orange. The driver stated he was not hunting but was just driving his friend around who was and mentioned there were two rifles in the backseat. CO Garrett asked to inspect the firearms and the passenger's hunting license. The two agreed and exited the vehicle, at which point CO Garrett noticed they had unholstered pistols in their laps. He instructed them to leave the pistols on the seats. He confirmed that both rifles were cased and unloaded, then requested their CPLs. The driver provided his Michigan CPL, while the passenger handed over his pistol registration and hunting license, admitting he did not have a CPL. CO Garrett educated him on CPL laws and issued a citation for possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle.
CO Jeff Panich received a complaint about a large buck hanging on a buck pole in Alcona County which had been taken by a local resident who was believed to be a felon. After further investigation and during a subsequent interview with the suspect, it was revealed that the individual had taken the deer with a firearm, and he was, in fact, a felon. Charges are being pursued through the Alcona County Prosecutor's Office.
CO Tyler Sabuda received a complaint about trespassing in Iosco County and was able to locate the individual responsible, who had taken a late-night excursion onto several private properties before getting his vehicle stuck on one of them. The individual admitted to driving around while “drunk” the night before, looking for deer because someone at the bar had mentioned there were nice deer in the area. Four of the property owners have requested trespassing charges against the suspect and those charges are currently being pursued through the prosecutor’s office.
CO Casey Pullum and a United States Forest Service (USFS) law enforcement officer (LEO) were patrolling rural Oscoda County when they found a truck parked with its tailgate down, revealing three deer inside. Two hunters were standing nearby. While congratulating the hunters, the COs sensed their reluctance to discuss the deer. A check of the harvest tags revealed that one tag for a spike buck had been purchased only 30 minutes before the officers arrived and since hunting hours had ended over two hours before, it was clear the deer was shot without a valid license. During questioning, one suspect admitted he didn’t see the spikes when he shot the buck, and he only had an antlerless license. Uncertain about how to proceed, he purchased another tag for the deer. The COs explained that he should have reported the incident to the RAP hotline. The deer was seized, and charges are being filed through the Oscoda County Prosecutor's Office.
While working in Alcona County, CO Jesse Grzechowski received a tip about a hunter who had shot an 8-point buck and bought the license after the fact. CO Grzechowski interviewed the hunter, who gave a full confession to shooting the 8-point and buying a license the next morning. The deer was seized, and charges are being sought through the Alcona County Prosecutor’s Office.
COs Casey Pullum, Joshua Jobin, and a USFS LEO were notified by a hunter of a possible assault that occurred on public land during the evening of the opening day of firearm season. As the hunter made his way out to a location on public land he passed another subject in a tree stand. A heated argument ensued back at their vehicles, in which the tree stand hunter pulled a pistol out of his pocket and pointed it at the hunter. After speaking with both subjects, the subject was ultimately arrested for felonious assault and booked at the Oscoda County Jail.
While patrolling state land, CO Kyle Bader observed a deer hanging on a buck pole at a camp and noticed that the deer did not have a kill tag attached. CO Bader contacted a subject he watched pull into the camp minutes earlier. The subject told CO Bader his young son had killed the deer at first light that morning. The boy came out and was proud to confirm the story. The subject stated that he had a tag for the deer in his van and handed it to CO Bader. The tag was purchased 45 minutes earlier and hours after the deer was killed. The man was cited for the violation and all the youth hunters in the camp were able to review the tagging laws they had learned about in hunter’s education earlier that year.
CO Jeff Goss assisted CO Craig Neal at an emergency call for a man who fell out of a tree stand on the Arenac/Gladwin County line. The COs assisted EMS responders in getting the injured man out of the woods. The COs learned that the man was attempting to remove his tree stand from the tree, 25 feet off the ground, when the fall occurred.
CO Ryan Weakman received a RAP complaint from an individual who had shot a buck that ran onto a neighboring property. The complainant had no way of contacting the landowner and was asking for assistance. CO Weakman was able to locate a landowner and phone number. CO Weakman spoke with the landowner and obtained permission for the complainant to retrieve his deer. Both the landowner and complainant had a history with each other, but a peaceful resolution was agreed upon. The complainant was allowed to retrieve his deer in the presence of a CO. CO Weakman helped the complainant track his deer and locate it successfully.
COs Craig Neal and Sgt. Jon Wood responded to the call of a hunter in full cardiac arrest in a remote location on state land. The COs remembered passing a vehicle parked along a rural road that matched the description of the victim’s vehicle. The COs were able to guide the ambulances into the area and then went on foot to locate the victim. The COs assisted with CPR and other needs as requested by EMS personnel and family members.
While patrolling on opening weekend of firearm deer season, CO Ryan Weakman encountered a subject driving a tractor down a back road with what appeared to be a deer in the front bucket. CO Weakman observed the tractor quickly turn into a driveway as he approached. CO Weakman contacted the tractor driver, who admitted to shooting the buck. Further checking revealed the buck was not tagged. When CO Weakman questioned the subject on why there was no tag on the deer, the subject told CO Weakman that he was planning to use his wife’s tag. The hunter still had one of his own unused buck tags, but he told CO Weakman he planned on using his wife’s tag so that he could shoot more bucks. CO Weakman confiscated the 10-point buck and the hunter’s unused kill tag. The hunter was issued a citation for possessing an untagged deer. The buck was donated to a local Vietnam veteran for consumption.
COs Josh Russell, Craig Neal, Tyler Sabuda, and Sgt. Jon Wood responded to a sinking vessel complaint on Saginaw Bay. The COs launched their vessels and searched the rough waters for the waterfowl hunter and his vessel. The US Coast Guard located the hunters and their vessels miles from the provided coordinates. The hunters were rescued from the water and taken to the closet launch to be evaluated by EMS.
DISTRICT 6
CO Chirs Kravitsky received a complaint of a hunter who had shot a deer on another person’s property in Sanilac County. Upon arrival the complainant stated that a subject hunting adjacent to his property had shot at a buck on his property the day prior. The complainant stated that he spoke to the subject about the incident and thought it had been cleared up. However, the next day the subject hunting shot a six point on the complainant’s property. When CO Kravitsky arrived on scene the deer was located on the property line. When CO Kravitsky contacted the subject who had trespassed, he was found to not have a valid hunting license for 2024 nor did the hunter have any hunter’s orange. Charges will be sought through the Sanilac County Prosecutor.
CO Dan Robinson was finishing up patrols on opening day when a call came out for a suicidal individual attempting to jump from a window. The CO arrived on scene and contacted the teen and his mother in his bedroom where he talked with the teen until other units arrived. Ultimately, the teen went in for evaluation uninjured.
COs Jacob Robinson and Sgt. Chad Foerster were patrolling on firearm opening morning when they received a complaint about subjects on a property hunting over bait. The COs contacted a subject hunting the property and found him hunting over bait and not wearing hunters’ orange. While contacting the subject, a very close rifle shot was heard on the opposite end of the property. The COs contacted that subject and located multiple piles of bait in front of the subject’s deer blind. The COs assisted in tracking the deer which was shot over the bait. The 8-point antlered deer was located, seized, and charges are pending for hunting/taking deer over bait. The COs did return to the initial location and issued the original hunter a citation for hunting over bait along with a warning for not wearing hunters’ orange.
COs Jacob Robinson and Lt. Jeremy Payne were on patrol in Montcalm County and followed up on a complaint where a suspected deer was taken without a license. Through the investigation, the COs were able to prove that the subject harvested a 10-point antlered deer without a license. The deer was seized, and charges are pending at the Montcalm County District Court.
COs Adam Schiller and Michael Lator observed bait placed out in front of a hunting blind and contacted the hunter in the blind overlooking the bait. While talking with the hunter, it was revealed that he shot a deer the day prior, stating from a different location. Further investigation of the bait pile showed fresh blood on the bait in question. Ultimately, the subject admitted to shooting a deer over the bait two days prior. Charges are pending for the illegal take of the deer over the bait.
CO Mark Siemen was called to the Lexington Harbor for subjects snagging salmon. CO Siemen spoke with the caller and was able to sit in the caller’s vehicle to watch the fishermen. CO Siemen observed multiple fishermen snagging salmon and contact was later made. In all, four fishermen were issued citations for snagging and for not having a fishing license.
CO Dan Robinson reports on a 2-year investigation regarding the illegal taking of deer from a licensed deer ranch. COs Dan Robinson and Mike Haas were working various complaints at the ranch of trespassing and deer turning up shot or dragged through cuts in the fences. A complaint of poaching at another location led CO Robinson to a possible suspect in the deer ranch investigation. Eyewitnesses were able to tell COs that some of the ranch deer antlers were seen at a local residence. A search warrant was issued, and the residence was searched which led to four other subsequent search warrants for evidence including phones, Facebook, and DNA. CO Robinson worked with Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police and combed through body camera footage from a previous search warrant they executed on the same residence not too long prior where antlers and a stolen firearm were observed at the residence. Six sets of antlers were connected to the suspect through video evidence that matched deer taken or killed at the ranch. The monetary damages to the ranch are near $70,000 in lost property and damage to the facility. Subsequent interviews were obtained with other witnesses and those close with the suspect. Arrest warrants were issued for the suspect which included 9 felony counts of larceny, destruction of private property, and possession of stolen items. One misdemeanor warrant was also issued for recreational trespass. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody on all charges. The investigation was a group effort with District 6 Conservation Officers, Michigan State Police, Saginaw Chippewa Police, and the Mt. Pleasant Police Department.
COs Mike Eovaldi and Mark Siemen received a tip of baiting activity at the property of a suspect who is known to be revoked from hunting and trapping until 2026. The COs located the bait pile from the neighboring property. That evening, the COs snuck into the area and located the suspect sitting in a deer blind over the bait pile with no hunter’s orange and a .350 legend rifle with an over-capacity magazine. The suspect stated that he was not hunting, rather just out getting fresh air because he felt sick. The suspect was placed under arrest for hunting while revoked and lodged in the Sanilac County Jail. On the way to the jail, it was discovered the suspect had a warrant from DNR LED out of Sanilac County for failing to make payments on previous wildlife violation convictions.
DISTRICT 7
On November 13th, CO Carter Woodwyk received a complaint from the RAP Hotline of a single firearm shot heard from a neighboring property. The caller indicated this activity occurs annually. The CO responded to the area and spotted a subject holding a firearm, who was dressed in full camouflage, and immediately disappeared upon seeing the CO. After speaking with multiple subjects on the property and conducting a consent to search of a small trailer, the suspect was located hiding behind a couch, under a blanket. The suspect was subsequently arrested on three active warrants and charges will be submitted for felon in possession of a firearm, hunting deer with a firearm in the closed season, and obstructing a police officer.
CO Travis Dragomer contacted a hunter who was illegally hunting over a pile of corn. Further investigation revealed that the hunter was a convicted felon. The firearm was seized, a citation was issued for the bait violation, and charges are being sought through the Berrien County Prosecutor's Office for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
CO Matt Page received a complaint of an illegal bait pile. CO Page located three different bait sites all equipped with solar lights attached to trees to illuminate the large bait piles with blinds a short distance away. COs Page and Tyler Cole attempted to check the bait sites multiple times and eventually contacted an individual who had an untagged deer back at camp. CO Page asked to see the hunter’s tags and he responded, “I was going to ask you guys how to do that.” Enforcement action was taken for baiting in a closed area, possessing an untagged deer, and failure to report harvest.
COs Matt Page and Jeff Robinette observed two hunters walking out of the woods who began running upon noticing the COs. CO Page pursued the individuals a short distance maintaining visual. Attempting to hide from the COs, the hunters removed their orange. Upon locating the hunters, two additional members of their party were located as well. A total of six citations were issued for deer hunting without a license, no hunter orange, and uncased firearms in a motor vehicle.
CO Matt Page contacted a group of hunters. One individual was not in possession of deer tags and claimed they were back at the house. When asked what they were going to do when they shoot a deer, the individual stated, “That’s a good question.” The hunter then stated, “I’m going to be honest I don’t even have deer tags, I was just going to use one of theirs.” CO Page then learned of another hunter baiting deer. Additionally, it was found that the person who placed the bait did not complete their harvest report for the deer from earlier in bow season. Citations were issued.
CO Alex Peters received a complaint from CO Olivia Moeller. CO Moeller stated Indiana COs located an antlered deer with a Michigan tag on it that had not been validated. CO Peters interviewed the suspect who stated that he had forgotten to validate the tag and was unaware he needed to complete the harvest report. During the interview, the suspect admitted to shooting the buck with a centerfire rifle. Charges will be requested through the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.
COs Nicholas Thorton and Alex Peters received a complaint about a safety zone violation. The COs contacted the suspect who was well within the safety zone, was not wearing hunter orange, and was illegally using a 30-06 rifle. Citations were written for hunting within a safety zone and hunting deer with a 30-06 in the Limited Firearm Zone.
CO Jeremy Beavers observed a hunter sitting in an ORV. The hunter got out of the ORV, grabbed a firearm, and walked towards a trailer with hay bales. CO Beavers asked for his license, and he said he did not have one and did not need one because he was hunting coyotes. Shortly after learning he was getting a ticket for hunting without a license, the subject stated he was hot and started to take layers of clothing off. Sitting down onto the ground, he became unconscious. CO Beavers put the subject in the recovery position and called for an ambulance, at which time the subject came to and said he did not want an ambulance. The emergency medical technicians informed CO Beavers that he was fine and there appeared to be nothing wrong. A ticket for hunting without a license was issued.
COs Mark Reffitt and Jeremy Beavers observed an individual dragging a deer out of the woods. When the hunter noticed the COs nearby, he stopped what he was doing and placed a tag on the antlerless deer. CO Reffitt interviewed the hunter and his friend, who arrived several minutes later, and learned that the tag did not belong to the hunter who was transporting the deer out of the woods. CO Beavers left the area to investigate another deer the hunters had also taken that morning. Upon examination of the tag on the buck, the COs noticed that the kill tag was attached but had not been validated. The hunter who had shot both deer was issued a citation for the tagging violation and was educated on how to properly validate and attach kill tags. The individual who dragged the deer out of the woods was warned for possessing and transporting an untagged deer.
While patrolling Kent County on opening day of the firearm deer season, CO Justin Ulberg drove past a deer blind that was near the road. CO Ulberg noticed some pumpkins tossed out in front of the blind. Further investigation revealed that the hunter did not have any orange in the blind and did not have a 2024 deer hunting license. A citation was issued for the violation.
While patrolling in Ottawa County, CO Justin Ulberg encountered an angler fishing in one of the Grand River bayous. While looking at the angler’s bucket of fish, it appeared that the angler may have caught too many fish. CO Ulberg counted the fish and discovered the angler was 30 bluegills over his daily limit. A citation was issued for the violation.
DISTRICT 8
CO Cullen Knoblauch received a call from a landowner in Waterloo Township about subjects trespassing on a posted wood lot. CO Knoblauch walked out into the wooded lot surrounded by swamp and noticed one subject, in all camouflage carrying a gun, who took off running into a swamp. The subject came to his senses when he got stuck in mud and surrendered. A second subject dressed in only camouflage, also carrying a shotgun, took off running in the opposite direction. The second subject also came to his senses when he heard his friend give up. One subject was cited for trespassing, no hunter orange, and hunt deer with no license. The second subject was cited for trespassing, no hunter orange, and fail to display hunting licenses.
CO Nick Thornton was checking a hunter after dark on the side of the road when he noticed a vehicle approaching. CO Thornton noticed the approaching vehicle had the bright lights on. As the vehicle passed, CO Thornton noticed the truck drive dangerously close to his patrol truck. CO Thornton also noticed the vehicle did not have a license plate. CO Thornton politely excused himself from the hunter check and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. CO Thornton immediately detected the signs of intoxication upon contact with the operator. CO Thornton conducted an operating while intoxicated investigation and ultimately arrested the individual for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
CO Ed Rice received information of a non-resident hunting in Michigan without a hunting license. CO Rice arrived at the property and observed two hunters exiting a field. CO Rice contacted both hunters. One of the hunters from Maryland stated he did not have licenses and was scouting for deer. CO Rice continued the interaction and eventually got the man to admit to hunting without a license. CO Rice issued a citation for fail to display hunting license. After finishing up, CO Rice observed a third hunter exit the woods without hunter orange. CO Rice discovered the man did not have his hunting licenses with him. CO Rice issued citations for no hunter orange and fail to display hunting licenses.
CO Jason McCullough and Fisheries Division Biologist Matt Diana assisted the Robotics Team at a local elementary school as they prepared for their upcoming robotics competition. The team developed a way to track fish movements using a robot and hydrophone system. The DNR employees listened to the presentation and provided feedback and advice to the students as well as discussed future careers in the world of fish and wildlife management. The robotics team will take their completed project to competition in the very near future.
CO Marc Mankowski checked a bait site and found fresh blood and hair. CO Mankowski observed two hunters who were field dressing a deer, put it in their truck, and attempt to drive off their property. The deer was found in the bed of the truck without a tag and an uncased firearm which was in the back seat. Both hunters did not have a license in their possession and were issued citations for multiple violations and the deer was seized. The hunters then threw their neighbor under the bus and CO Mankowski located a bait site on another property with charges being pursued for the neighbor.
CO Marc Mankowski received a tip about a group of hunters trespassing on private property. The group was contacted and failed to provide hunting licenses but asked if their Tennessee lifetime license worked. They were advised it does not since they weren’t in Tennessee. The group was found with loaded firearms after hours and admitted to hunting on the neighbor’s property on accident. Citations were issued and the hunters from Tennessee stated, “I’m never coming back to Michigan.”
CO Elliot Worel spoke with the 7th grade history students at Marshall Middle School as part of a Veteran’s Day celebration. CO Worel, along with other local Calhoun County veterans, talked to the students about how they entered service, some of their experiences while serving, and what it meant to them. CO Worel also shared how his time and experience in the US Army helped contribute to him becoming a Michigan Conservation Officer.
COs John Byars and James Rowley responded to an injured hunter in central Ingham County. The hunter had shot two deer from an elevated blind along a winter wheat field. He exited the blind and made his way to one of the deer. The doe was still alive when the individual reached it. He decided to put the deer down with a pistol he was carrying. As he was drawing the pistol and adjusting his grip, his left fingers went in front of the pistol’s muzzle. He gripped the pistol in his right hand and placed his finger inside the trigger guard. The pistol discharged a bullet into the fingers of his left hand. Damage was done to the left middle, ring, and pinky fingers. The individual made his way back to the truck and was transported by ambulance to Sparrow Hospital for treatment.
DISTRICT 9
COs Les Bleil and Dan Walzak located a pair of cyclists using a path in Pointe Mouillee State Game Area and tracked them down to inform them that they cannot be back there for safety reasons during hunting season. After the contact, the cyclists flagged the COs down and informed them that there is a concern with a kayaker. The man on the kayak paddled in with one hand. CO Bleil assisted the man onto the rocks and found that the angler was holding his fingers together with a treble hook buried deeply into his fingers. CO Bleil cleaned the wound using a first aid kit. After the injury was cleaned, CO Walzak loaded the man into his front seat and drove him to his truck while CO Bleil paddled the man’s kayak back to the launch. COs Walzak and Bleil loaded up the kayak in the bed of the man’s truck. The man denied an ambulance and stated that he could drive himself to the nearest Urgent Care facility.
CO Dave Schaumburger located a pair of waterfowl hunters hunting with a firearm in a township that prohibits firearm use through a local hunting control. When he met them at the dock, CO Schaumburger recognized one of the hunters immediately since he has been issued quite a few tickets in the past. The hunters brought in a banded mallard as their only duck. One of the hunters did not have a plug in her gun. CO Schaumburger was suspicious of this pair and asked the female hunter if this was a charter. She stated that they were just friends. While issuing a ticket for an unplugged firearm and the local hunting control violation, the female hunter came up to CO Schaumburger’s window and stated that it was a charter. She said that she had a $1,200 credit with the captain from a cancelled salmon trip and every time they went duck hunting, it was $200 off the credit. Today was the first duck hunt and she was able to provide text messages of their conversation. CO Schaumburger issued a citation for the unplugged firearm to the female hunter and issued a citation for the violation of the hunting control and operating an uninspected charter vessel to the captain. Ironically, this is the third charter boat violation for this captain. The banded duck was seized and donated to another hunter.
CO Luke Robare worked the opening weekend of firearm deer season. CO Robare received a complaint of an individual who potentially shot three bucks on opening day. When CO Robare interviewed the suspect, he stated that his wife was in the blind and shot two of the three bucks. Upon further investigation, the suspect admitted to shooting all three bucks opening day and that his wife was never in the field with him that day. The suspect tagged two of the bucks with his wife’s tags and he tagged one with his tag and was saving his other buck tag in case he saw “a big one.” CO Robare seized one of the deer and the suspect’s remaining buck tag and will be submitting charges with the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office for taking an over-limit of bucks.
COs Kris Kiel and Brad Silorey were patrolling on opening evening of the firearm deer season. Upon pulling into a bank parking lot to look across a large field, the COs observed a pickup truck backing out of the field, next to a deer blind, at prime time. The COs pulled up and contacted the driver and asked if he had gotten a deer. The driver stated that he had not been hunting, only cleaning the mouse feces out of his blind and stomping down the tall grass in front of it. CO Silorey asked the subject if he had any bait out near his blind, which he replied, “No.” When asked if he had any firearms in the vehicle, the subject produced an unloaded and cased rifle. The COs then asked the subject if he had taken any deer yet this year to which he replied, “A 5-point during archery season.” When asked for his deer license, the subject produced both combo tags. He was then asked what he tagged the 5-point with. The subject stated, “I may have screwed up and put my doe tag on it.” While CO Silorey looked up the subject’s license history, the subject showed CO Kiel a picture of the untagged 5-point buck that he had taken on November 2nd. CO Silorey returned to notify the subject that he had not purchased any antlerless tags and had not registered his deer. At this time, he was asked, “If we were to walk out to your blind, would we find any bait?” The subject confessed that he just now put bait out there. The COs followed the subject out to his blind, which was right where the COs had observed the truck parked a few minutes earlier. In front of the blind was a gigantic smorgasbord of corn, carrots, and apples. The subject was written citations for baiting deer and failing to register his deer. The COs followed the subject back to his residence to seize the meat and antlers from the 5-point buck he had taken and never tagged. A report will be submitted to the prosecutor for charges on the deer.
CO Sydney Griffor and Lt. Todd Szyska were driving around near a piece of state game area about 40 minutes after legal shooting hours were over, when they observed two individuals at a vehicle wearing orange. The COs stopped to speak with the two to see if they had any luck hunting. Before getting out of the patrol truck, the COs watched the hunters attempt to hide the shotgun under their pop-up blind. The hunter stated he wasn’t hunting and that he and his girlfriend were going to go into state land and put up the pop-up blind, so it was ready for the next day’s hunt. The shotgun was loaded, and the individual continued to lie, and the story was not making sense. Eventually, both individuals stuck with the story that they were going to bring the pop-up blind out there in the dark and the loaded shotgun was so he could protect his girlfriend. A report will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office for seeking charges for possess loaded firearm during closed hunting hours and the hunter had not taken a hunter’s safety education course.
COs Zack Cardinal, Jaime Salisbury and Sgt Danielle Zubek, were checking deer at a local processor on opening day of firearm deer season. A nice sized buck was observed being unloaded from a pickup truck. CO Salisbury checked the attached kill tag to confirm that it was validated correctly. CO Salisbury noticed that the tag was only purchased several hours before that moment. After speaking with the man who shot the deer, it was eventually discovered that the deer had been shot with an illegal firearm at 2 AM the prior night outside of the man’s home in Washington Township. Charges are being sought in Macomb County for the illegal 8-point deer, illegal firearm, taking a deer out of season, taking a deer outside of legal hours, baiting in a closed area, using artificial light to take game, and destruction of evidence.
CO Jaime Salisbury was notified of a hunter causality incident that had taken place on November 16th shortly after legal hunting hours. CO Salisbury arrived on scene and learned that a man had been accidentally shot in the face by one of the other members in his hunting party. The hunters were set up 360 yards apart in an open field. Several deer were observed running across the field between them. Both hunters took shots at the deer. One of the hunters was struck with a bullet in his face. He was life flighted to Hurley Hospital in Flint where he underwent surgery and is expected to recover. CO Salisbury was assisted on scene by CO Zack Cardinal, Sgt. Danielle Zubek, and several troopers with the Michigan State Police. An accident report will be submitted to the Lapeer County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
CO Brandon Hartleben responded with the MSP to a contentious neighbor dispute outside of Chelsea, MI. COs Hartleben and Mike Drexler had taken a hunter harassment complaint in the area the evening prior. After speaking with the complainants, CO Hartleben and the MSP trooper contacted the other hunters on the neighboring property. The hunters were coming in from searching for a deer when contact was made. After reviewing the situation and complaint with the hunters, CO Hartleben asked to check deer since two of the hunters had blood on their boots and pants. The hunters stated that they were unsuccessful in finding the deer in the field, but that there were deer in the garage. In the garage were two untagged deer that had been shot that morning. Further investigation into the hunters revealed a myriad of issues. In total, three deer were seized from the residence: an 8-point, a 7-point (shot that morning), and a doe. A guest hunter at the property was issued a citation for failure to immediately validate and attach a kill tag. Charges will be sought with the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office for a wide range of charges related to the seized deer.
CO Brandon Vacek received information from Station 20 that a deer tracking dog was currently tracking a deer in Monroe County. The dispatcher noticed a discrepancy with the license purchase for the hunter in question. CO Vacek was then notified the dog handler was requesting contact after the large 8-point buck was located, but the hunter was unable to return to tag the deer. After further investigation, it was determined that an out of state hunter was in town for a short period of time, shot the deer with a compound bow, and could not find a blood trail to locate the animal prior to dark. The CO conducted an interview over the phone with the hunter and confirmed suspicions that the hunter had failed to purchase a deer hunting license prior to hunting and shooting the buck. Charges will be sought through the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office for taking a deer without a license.
Sgt. Shane Webster responded alongside COs Eric Smither and Andrew Monnich to a trespassing situation in Lenawee County. The story unfolded that a father had his daughter shoot at a deer directly on the property line, but the shot was ineffective in killing the deer. The father then pursued the deer onto the neighbor’s property and utilized his pistol to shoot multiple times and kill the deer well after dark. Having been the one to kill the deer, the subject also was in violation of an over-limit of bucks, being he had used his tags during the archery season. Charges will be sought through the prosecutor’s office. The deer was seized, and the meat was donated.
While patrolling Belle Isle, CO Ariel Young was conducting stationary RADAR patrols to combat speeding at the park. CO Young conducted two traffic stops for speeding. The first individual was travelling at 42 mph in a 25-mph zone and stated that they were trying to get to the yacht club and needed to use the restroom. The second individual was from out of state and driving a rental car that was fully electric with a battery that was very close to being out. This individual was going 48 mph. Upon contact, the driver was obviously anxious due to the state of the battery life in the car. CO Young escorted the vehicle to the Nature Center where there were locations for charging electric vehicles. The driver was then cited for their speed.
