Central Ohio – Wildlife District One
In January, State Wildlife Officer Mark Williams, assigned to Franklin County, received a call from a licensed nuisance trapper whose trap had been illegally disturbed. Officer Williams discovered that an individual had removed the trap and released a raccoon before returning and resetting the trap. Officer Williams provided information to the suspect on the importance of licensed trapping. The suspect was issued a summons for disturbing a legally set trap and paid $149 in fines and court costs.
In March, State Wildlife Officer John Coffman, assigned to Fayette County, assisted other Ohio Division of Wildlife staff and Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District staff with a Future Farmers of America (FFA) career development event at Miami Trace High School. The group challenged students to a wildlife test and nature interpretation test to assess their knowledge of Ohio’s wildlife, plants, and conservation. The event included many schools from across the FFA district, and attending students had an opportunity to talk to wildlife professionals about future career opportunities.
Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two
During the 2024-25 waterfowl hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Reid Van Cleve, assigned to Ottawa County, observed two waterfowl hunters in Maumee Bay shoot three scaup and let the ducks float away without attempting to retrieve them. Officer Van Cleve contacted the hunters and discovered they had three scaup beyond the daily limit hidden in their boat, meaning the group had harvested six scaup more than the daily limit. They were issued a citation for taking more than the limit and for wanton waste. The individuals appeared in court and were each ordered to pay $750 in restitution, fines, and court costs.
State Wildlife Officer Eric VonAlmen, assigned to Wood County, received information regarding an antlered white-tailed deer that was reported during the last week of the 2024-25 archery hunting season with inaccurate harvest information. Officer VonAlmen contacted the hunter and discovered that the deer was harvested during the statewide deer gun season in December 2024 but not reported until the end of the archery season. The antlers were seized as evidence and the suspect was issued a summons for providing false information during the game check process. The individual paid $250 in fines and court costs.
Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three
State Wildlife Officer Scott Traver, assigned to Stark County, participated in an ecology fair at the Stark County Public Library. The event aimed to showcase the importance of community health, wildlife biodiversity, and natural ecosystems in Ohio. Officer Traver discussed the importance of conservation and wildlife with visitors, covering topics such as hunting and fishing as well as planting for butterflies and other pollinators. Officer Traver shared pollinator plot seed packets with young attendees. Organizations participating in the event included the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Stark Parks, Canton City Health Department, the Audubon Society, local food banks, The Ohio State University, and The Wilderness Center.
State Wildlife Officers Matt Madgar, assigned to Geauga County, and Zach Hillman, assigned to Summit County, responded to a hunting without permission complaint during the spring wild turkey hunting season. The officers met with the suspect and determined that the individual hunted without permission and harvested more than the season bag limit of one bearded turkey. The suspect used both a rifle and a shotgun during the unlawful hunt. The suspect was charged for two counts of hunting without permission, taking more than the season bag limit, and taking a turkey by unlawful means. The harvested turkeys were seized as evidence. The individual was found guilty in Trumbull County Eastern Court and was ordered to pay $1,385 in fines and court costs.
Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four
During the 2025 spring wild turkey hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Matt Van Cleve, assigned to Pike County, contacted two turkey hunters after their hunt. Officer Van Cleve learned that one individual was acting as a hunting guide for the other. The client was properly licensed, but the guide did not have a valid hunting license or a spring turkey permit. The guide was issued summonses for hunting without a valid hunting license and hunting turkeys without a permit. The defendant pleaded guilty in Pike County Court and paid $430 in fines and court costs.
Southwest Ohio – Wildlife District Five
Following the 2024-25 white-tailed deer hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Mark Schemmel, assigned to Auglaize County, reviewed harvest records and discovered a suspicious game check entry. Officer Schemmel contacted the hunter and determined that the hunter failed to complete the game check process before harvesting another deer. In addition, the second deer was harvested without a valid deer permit. The suspect was cited for the violations and paid court costs and fines totaling $304 in Auglaize County Municipal Court.
State Wildlife Officer Gus Kiebel, assigned to Adams County, recently attended a sixth-grade career day with Ohio Division of Wildlife communications specialist Kathy Garza-Behr. The event was hosted by the Adams County Ohio Valley School District, with approximately 240 students attending. The students asked questions about educational paths to wildlife jobs and were curious about the best part of a Division of Wildlife career.
