Central Ohio – Wildlife District One
During the 2024-25 white-tailed deer hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Tyler Eldred, assigned to Morrow County, discovered a husband and wife had committed multiple wildlife violations. One individual provided false information while completing the game check process on an antlered deer harvested without a valid deer permit. The spouse harvested several deer without completing the game check process. Multiple charges were filed in Morrow County Municipal Court and the couple were found guilty and ordered to pay more than $300 in fines and court costs. The buck was seized and forfeited to the state.
State Wildlife Officer Tyler Eldred, assigned to Morrow County, recently attended the Morrow County Conservation Club’s annual Take a Kid Fishing event. The event was well attended, with more than 70 young anglers participating in the free event. The kids caught lots of fish and made many memories.
Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two
During the 2024-25 white-tailed deer muzzleloader hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Nathan Cass, assigned to Crawford County, received information that a hunter had exceeded the county bag limit of three deer. Officer Cass discovered that the suspect had harvested six deer, with three game-checked in Medina County despite being harvested in Crawford County. The suspect was charged with three counts of taking more than the county bag limit and three counts of providing false information when game checking a deer. The suspect was ordered to pay $1,220 in fines, court costs, and restitution and received 60 days of jail time, suspended, and 12 months of supervised probation. The venison was seized as evidence.
State Wildlife Officer Craig Barr, assigned to Allen County, received a phone call from two employees at a restaurant regarding a bird that flew inside the building. Officer Barr responded and found a sparrow inside the restaurant. After several attempts, the sparrow was captured and released outside, where it flew away unharmed.
Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three
Earlier this year, State Wildlife Officer Craig Porter, assigned to Jefferson County, followed up on a white-tailed deer hunting violation. Officer Porter discovered that the suspect did not have a valid hunting license or deer permit when harvesting an antlered deer and issued summonses for the violations. The suspect appeared in Jefferson County Court and was ordered to pay $395 in fines and court costs and forfeit the deer’s antlers and venison.
Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four
State Wildlife Officer Jacob Parker, assigned to Monroe County, conducted a range permit inspection on two individuals at Monroe Lake Wildlife Area. The users had their range permits but were frustrated that they had to pay to use the public property. Officer Parker pointed out all the recent improvements that have been made to the range, including new concrete benches and a new foot bridge, and explained that the money from the sale of permits allows for improvements and maintenance on wildlife areas. The users thanked him for the explanation and came away with a better appreciation of public property.
Southwest Ohio – Wildlife District Five
State Wildlife Officer Isaiah Gifford, assigned to Clinton County, and State Wildlife Officer Supervisor David Warner participated in a Cops and Bobbers fishing event hosted by the Blanchester Police Department. More than 100 children attended the second annual event. The kids also had the opportunity to practice archery in the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s archery trailer — staffed by a local hunter education instructor — and learn about the Ohio Division of Parks and Watercraft’s patrol boat and K-9 unit.
