Central Ohio – Wildlife District One
State Wildlife Officer Chad Grote, assigned to Marion County, and Natural Resources Officer Megan Morrissette patrolled Delaware Wildlife Area during the 2025-26 white-tailed deer gun hunting season. They observed an individual discard what appeared to be deer parts in the woods. When contacted, the individual claimed to be dumping deer parts for a friend who had taken the deer earlier in the week. The officer discovered the second individual had not completed the game check process for the harvested deer. The hunter was issued a summons for failing to game check a deer by noon the day after the harvest. The first individual was issued a summons for state property litter, and the two individuals collected the deer parts for proper disposal. Both were found guilty in Delaware Municipal Court and paid a combined $350 in fines.
This spring, State Wildlife Officer Matt Teders, assigned to Madison County, received a call from an angler at the Deer Creek State Park marina who observed a bird trapped in the natural resources officer’s patrol boat. Officer Teders unlocked the boat’s cabin and rescued a trapped prothonotary warbler. The warbler was released unharmed to continue its migration.
Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two
State Wildlife Officer Matt D. Smith, assigned to Huron County, received a complaint that someone had dumped a white-tailed deer carcass and other garbage next to the Huron River in Willard. Upon further investigation, Officer Smith determined a suspect. He contacted the individual, who was found to have dumped the deer, and issued a summons for stream littering. The individual paid $350 in fines and court costs.
State Wildlife Officer Brian Baker contacted a successful angler at the Huron Boat Ramp cleaning station and conducted a license and bag limit compliance check. After the contact, the officer noticed the individual struggling to clean fish with a new electric fillet knife. Officer Baker offered tips on cleaning the fish and the angler happily accepted the help. Officer Baker filleted several fish, demonstrating the cuts and angles needed to minimize waste.
Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three
During the 2025-26 white-tailed deer hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Randy White, assigned to Lorain County, responded to a complaint of an individual hunting after dark. The hunter was observed spotlighting a buck and shooting it using an arrow with an illuminated nock. Officer White determined that it was the hunter’s second antlered deer for the season. The hunter was charged for multiple violations, the deer was forfeited, and the suspect paid more than $2,800 in fines, court costs, and restitution.
This spring, law enforcement staff completed outreach to pet stores about preventing injurious aquatic invasive species from getting into Ohio’s valuable water resources and negatively impacting native species. As a result, several aquarium clubs requested speakers for their monthly meetings. State Wildlife Investigator Jason Hadsell, assigned to Lake Erie, and Aquatic Habitat Biologist Josh Kocik attended a Medina County Aquarium Society meeting to discuss environmental and biological impacts and legal implications surrounding aquatic invasive species. The program was well received, and the outreach efforts have forged partnerships for the detection and prevention of invasive species throughout Ohio waters.
Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four
In early April, State Wildlife Officer Ted Witham, assigned to Jackson County, received information about a trash dump on Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area. Officer Witham located the litter in a parking area along the roadway. The next day he contacted a suspect and found the individual who had dumped the trash. The suspect was later found guilty in Jackson County Municipal Court and was ordered to pay $235 in fines and court costs.
State Wildlife officer Jerrod Allison, assigned to Coshocton County, and Wildlife Officer Supervisor Brad St. Clair observed people fishing the spillway at Mohawk Dam. The officers watched several people leave trash along the shore when they were done fishing. The officers spoke with the individuals and issued two summonses for litter and one summons for fishing without a license.
Southwest Ohio – Wildlife District Five
State Wildlife Officer Brad Buening, assigned to Mercer County, received a call from a concerned citizen regarding the dumping of fish remains along Coldwater Creek, near a kayak and canoe launch area for Grand Lake St. Marys. Officer Buening investigated and found numerous catfish parts around the canoe launch. Officer Buening soon discovered a suspect dumping fish parts in the same spot. The suspect was issued a summons for stream litter and was found guilty in Celina Municipal Court. The individual was ordered to pay $203 in fines along with court costs of $122.
State Wildlife Officers Jasmine Grossnickle, assigned to Miami County, Mathew Bourne, assigned to Clark County, and Alex Almeter, assigned to Greene County, along with Wildlife Officer Supervisor Matt Hunt, assisted with a youth fishing event at the District Five office for children from Dayton. In past years, the group had fished in streams and rivers around the area with limited success. Retired wildlife officer Trent Weaver connected the group leader with the Division of Wildlife to expand the group’s opportunities. The group visited the District Five fishing ponds with approximately 30 children and chaperones. The trip was very successful, with all participants catching fish.
