Turkeys intentionally poisoned

OCONTO COUNTY - The wild turkey carcasses in a photograph provided by the Wisconsin DNR are just a few of the hundreds found in Oconto County.

"Our wardens responded, found the dead birds, and that led us to an investigation," said DNR Regional Warden Byron Goetsch.

The DNR says the birds were poisoned with food left out as bait on private land west of Pound in Oconto County.

Turkey hunters in the area are shocked.

"Kinda upsetting. They're a lot of fun in the springtime - hunting and chasing them. That's a lot of fun for a lot of people," said Shawn Kozlowski of Oconto Falls.

The DNR found out about the turkey kill after a citizen tip came into its hotline.

The DNR believes it has found the person responsible for the crime, and that person could face criminal and civil charges, as well as fines of $175 dollars per turkey.

Investigators won't name the suspect, or discuss possible motives. No arrests have been made.

"It makes you sick," said Wade Jeske. Jeske is the chairman of Oconto County's chapter of the Conservation Congress. He also runs Lena Swamp Archery.

"We do a lot with the kids and turkey hunting is getting really popular," said Jeske.

Jeske says he wonders who could have done this.

"I don't know if it's a hunter a bit disappointed or angry, or if it's from the agriculture side. I'd be surprised if it came from the farming part of it because they do give out agriculture tags for people who have crop damage from turkeys," said Jeske.

The state DNR has recently dealt with two similar incidents - a deer thrill kill in Waupaca County and a duck kill on the Fond du Lac River. Goetsch says it's disheartening.

"I've been doing this job for a number of years now and have not seen this number of incidents in the short time frame that we've seen and my hope is that this is going to discontinue, and not continue in the future," said Goetsch.

The DNR says many of the turkeys were eaten by other wildlife, leaving just carcasses and feathers. But the other wildlife is not in danger based on the poison investigators believe was used.