Nick Chavez, Assistant Special Agent In Charge, Region 3 Law Enforcement, addresses media during a press conference Nov. 10 in Richland Center, Wis. announcing state and federal wildlife charges against 46 hunters from 11 States. - USFWS photo by Scott Flaherty

Evidence seized by state and federal agents is on display during a press conference Nov. 10 in Richland Center, Wis., announcing wildlife charges against 46 hunters from 11 States. - USFWS photo by Scott Flaherty

A commercial outfitter and 45 hunters from 11 States were charged November 9 in federal and state courts in Wisconsin following a two-year investigation into illegal white-tailed deer and turkey hunting in southwest Wisconsin by special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  

The investigation focused on Blue River Outfitters, Blue River, Wis., and its principal owner, Adam Lee Lawinger , 27, of Blue River.  A federal Information filed Nov. 9, 2005, in U.S. District Court, Madison, Wis.,  alleges that Lawinger, through Blue Ribbon Outfitters, provided guided white-tailed deer and wild turkey hunts to out of state hunters on land owned and leased by Lawinger in Richland and Iowa Counties.  The hunts violated numerous Wisconsin laws including: knowingly permitting hunters to kill deer and turkeys without licenses; directing hunters not to kill female deer in "Earn-A-Buck" zones; repeatedly using female deer carcasses to register multiple buck deer killed by the hunters; baiting deer within the chronic wasting disease control zones; shining and shooting deer at night; and allowing hunters to kill turkeys with a .22 caliber rifle.  

Lawringer was charged in a two-count Information for conspiring to sell wildlife deer and turkey that were taken in violation of Wisconsin law and later transported in interstate commerce, and for selling wildlife, namely two trophy white-tailed bucks that were illegally killed by two California hunters in Wisconsin and transported to California.  If convicted, Lawringer faces a maximum of five years in prison and $250,000 fine for each offense.

The charges were announced November 10 at a press conference in Richland Center, Wis., hosted by the Wisconsin DNR, Service, and the district attorneys for Iowa and Richland Counties.  Nicholas Chavez, Region 3’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge told media that the poachers who took the trophy animals should not be confused with real hunters who abide by law and ethics of hunting. "When I look at the evidence in this investigation, I find it disturbing that these majestic animals were taken for the mere sake of greed and ego," he said

“The advertised price for a week long hunt started at about $2750. The price went down for repeat customers and for out of season hunts he offered his services for free, but charged $1,000 to those hunters who shot a deer,” said Special Agent Ed Spoon who cooperated with Wisconsin wardens throughout the investigation.

Federal wildlife charges were also filed against Tod Moore, 41, of Mechanicsburg, Penn; Jeff Godfrey, 42, of Lillian, Ala., and Thomas Shea, 43, of Panama City Beach, Fla. for purchasing and transporting in interstate commerce trophy white tailed deer that they took in violation of Wisconsin law.  They each face similar penalties of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

State charges have also been filed against 42 hunters from Texas, Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin.