State wildlife officers in Central Ohio’s Wildlife District One were active across the region this season, enforcing fish and game laws in Fayette County and leading conservation efforts in Fairfield County.
Fayette County: Multiple Citations Issued Near Deer Creek
State Wildlife Officer John Coffman, assigned to Fayette County, contacted several groups of anglers in the Deer Creek area over the summer. The checks resulted in multiple summonses for various fishing and environmental violations, including:
- Fishing without a valid license
- Stream littering
- Unlawful use of a cast net in a spillway
- Possession of undersized sport fish
- Using a cast net to take sport fish
The enforcement actions resulted in a combined total of $865 in court costs and fines.
Fairfield County: Community Cleanup at Rockmill Lake
In Fairfield County, State Wildlife Officer Jade Heizer partnered with the Fairfield County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Hunter’s Run Watershed Conservancy District, and 12 community volunteers for an environmental cleanup at the Rockmill Lake Wildlife Area.
The volunteer crew successfully collected and removed:
- 48 bags of trash
- 5 discarded tires
- 1 pop-up tent frame
State Wildlife Officers Target Illegal Fishing, Game Violations, and Cleanups Across Ohio
State wildlife officers across Ohio’s five wildlife districts were active this season, enforcing fish and game laws, removing litter, and connecting with local communities.
Central Ohio – Wildlife District One
- Fayette County: State Wildlife Officer John Coffman contacted several groups of anglers in the Deer Creek area over the summer. He issued summonses for fishing without a license, stream litter, using a cast net in a spillway, possessing undersized sport fish, and using a cast net to take sport fish, resulting in $865 in combined fines and court costs.
- Fairfield County: State Wildlife Officer Jade Heizer partnered with the Fairfield County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Hunter’s Run Watershed Conservancy District, and 12 community volunteers for a cleanup at Rockmill Lake Wildlife Area. The group collected 48 bags of trash, five tires, and a pop-up tent frame.
Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two
- Richland County Deer Investigation: Following a report of illegal hunting during the 2025–2026 deer gun season, Investigator Brian Bury, Officer Nathan Kaufmann, and K-9 Officer May investigated a suspect who unlawfully harvested a deer on private property without permission. The suspect was found guilty of hunting without permission and failing to game check the deer, resulting in $500 in fines and forfeiture of the deer.
- Putnam County Youth Event: Wildlife Officer Supervisor Troy Reimund alongside Officers Jason Porinchok, Matt R. Smith, and Nolan Johnson (assigned to Putnam, Henry, and Van Wert counties) attended a youth event at the Miller City Sportsman Club. The officers assisted with a fishing derby, BB gun range, and archery stations for 305 participating children.
Northeast Ohio – Wildlife District Three
- Cuyahoga County Wildlife Protection: State Wildlife Officer Michael Greer investigated an incident where a suspect used a vehicle to intentionally run over roosting gulls at a construction site, returning the next day to collect the birds and destroy evidence. Officer Greer and Natural Resources Officer Riley Vertosnik recovered six bags of dead gulls. The suspect pleaded guilty to 18 counts related to animal cruelty and taking nongame birds, as well as possessing criminal tools and obstructing official business, receiving 90 days of suspended jail time, 50 hours of animal-related community service, one year of probation, and $2,250 in fines and restitution.
- Archery Education: Officers Michael Budd (Tuscarawas County) and Kiri Williams (Vinton County) assisted with a “Women on Target” event, introducing over 50 women to archery safety, shooting mechanics, and hunting basics.
Southeast Ohio – Wildlife District Four
- Salt Fork Lake Patrols: Officer Jacob Parker issued citations to two unlicensed anglers at Salt Fork Lake in Monroe County. Each paid $200 in fines and court costs in Cambridge Municipal Court.
- Washington County Turtle Violations: Officer Scot Gardner cited two out-of-state anglers in Devola for fishing without a license and confiscated two softshell turtles. A third individual was cited for taking turtles during a closed season. All three pleaded guilty in Marietta Municipal Court, paying $208 each.
Southwest Ohio – Wildlife District Five
- Adams County Public Land Enforcement: Officer Micah Collier, along with Law Operations Manager Jason Keller and K-9 Officer Scout, investigated a suspect in Brown County found growing imported marijuana plants and littering on Nature Conservancy property. The judge levied a maximum fine of $500 for private property littering.
- Leadership and Training: Officers Jasmine Grossnickle (Miami County), Antoinette Freet (Licking County), and Law Enforcement Executive Administrator Kandy Klosterman attended a three-day national leadership conference in Michigan hosted by Women Warriors of the Wild, focusing on resilience and cross-agency collaboration.
