(photo courtesy of klazy3.com)
MILES CITY, Mont.– Coordination between Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proved to be successful in bringing an eighteen month investigation to a close. In March of 2013, the investigation yielded $12,015 in restitution and fines to Carter County and the state of Montana, 4 years of privilege revocation and the recovery of six unlawfully killed buck deer.
Four Wisconsin residents were investigated for numerous hunting violations, including the unlawful killing of six mule deer and white tailed deer bucks, in the Chalk Buttes area of Carter County. Montana game wardens, Todd Enders and Ryan Karren, along with state investigator Lennie Buhmann, traveled to Wisconsin where they coordinated with Wisconsin DNR officers to conduct interviews, bring the investigation to conclusion and the eventual filing of charges. Buhmann states, “This case is a great example of the successful results that can be obtained when two resource protection agencies work together.”
Douglas Scherf (48) of Green Bay, WI. was charged with four counts of using deer licenses belonging to others and four counts of possessing unlawfully killed buck deer. He plead guilty to one count of unlawfully possessing a trophy mule deer buck and paid $8,535.00 in fines and restitution and his hunting privileges were revoked for 24 months.
Harlow Scherf (74) of Woodruff, WI. was charged with five counts of loaning deer licenses to another person(s). He was found guilty on all five counts and paid $1,175.00 in fines.
Brian Emmerich (38) of Woodruff, WI. was charged with one count of loaning a deer license to another person. He was found guilty and paid $235.00 in fines.
Brian Kastner (39) of Woodruff, WI. was charged with two counts of using deer licenses of others and two counts of unlawfully possessing a mule deer and whitetail bucks. He plead guilty to two counts of unlawful possession and paid $2,070.00 in fines and restitution and his hunting privileges were revoked for 24 months.
(Report by Cathy Stewart, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks – Region 7)
