The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife concluded Operation Donor Deer, resulting in 35 convictions for 55 violations. Rodney Shields, owner of Rod's Custom Deer Processing, pleaded guilty to felony charges including illegal venison sales and theft by deception, receiving $16,500 in restitution and suspended jail time.
Enforcement
Pennsylvania's 37th Class of the Ross Leffler School of Conservation graduated 24 new State Game Wardens on January 31st. Notable graduates include Katherine Nealen (academics award), Adam Beinhauer (EVOC driving award), Michael Shatalov (marksmanship award), and David Kennedy (fitness award and Life Saving Award for rescuing a hiker on the Appalachian Trail).
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are investigating an unlawfully killed bull elk found on private property off Horsethief Road, approximately 13 miles west of Roundup, between January 30 and February 1. Only the head and backstraps were removed, with all other meat wasted. Game warden Randy Hutzenbiler is seeking public information and offering rewards up to $1,000.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is investigating the illegal killing of a bull moose found along Middle Cottonwood Trail near Bozeman on January 28. The moose carcass had a single fatal bullet wound. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is investigating the illegal introduction of northern pike into Pine Grove Pond in Kalispell, a popular family fishing site. A pike was caught on January 29, and FWP is offering up to $1,000 in rewards, with Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited pledging $2,000 and Flathead Wildlife, Inc. pledging $500 for information about the illegal introduction.
The Maine Warden Service and Maine Association of Search and Rescue (MASAR) are searching for 19-year-old Chance Lauer, missing since January 19th from Orchard Trail Apartments in Orono. Ground searches began with Maine Warden Service, MASAR, and ten K9 units from the Maine Warden Service and Maine Search and Rescue Dogs (MESARD).
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks increased the reward to $31,000 for information on an illegally killed collared wolf near Gardiner. The Large Carnivore Fund and Wolves of the Rockies contributed $30,000 to the initial $1,000 reward. Game wardens believe the wolf was killed around December 25 in wolf management unit 313.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Bureau of Wildlife Protection has a new director. Richard “Rod” Danley, who has worked for the Game Commission for more than 25 years, started in the role Sept. 27, overseeing and directing the agency’s law-enforcement operations.
Two Washington men were charged on Dec. 11 with various wildlife violations in connection with the alleged unlawful take of a trophy bull moose in Idaho. The moose was killed along the Idaho–Washington border near the town of Twin Lakes.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking the public’s help in gathering information on four whitetail bucks that were dumped on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property between Bridger and Belfy in Carbon County. Only the heads were removed from the bucks and all meat was wasted.
Applications are being accepted until Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, for the next Ohio Wildlife Officer training school, according to the Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife. The Division of Wildlife is seeking to fill up to 12 wildlife officer positions throughout Ohio and training for new wildlife officer cadets begins in August 2026.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wardens are seeking the public's help in gathering information regarding the shooting of a white-tailed deer out of season along Eastside Road west of Troy in Lincoln County.
Game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are looking for tips from the public about two bull elk that were killed in Hunting District 380 west of Toston.
Two Sidney, Montana men, Talburt Halfred and Shawn Daleske, were recently arrested on felony charges related to the unlawful killing of seven mule deer does and fawns near Bloomfield, Mont., in Dawson County in December 2024.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on a cow and spike elk that were shot and left to waste on private property between Georgetown Lake and the East Fork Reservoir, south of Philipsburg.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wardens are seeking the public’s help in gathering information regarding the shooting of a cow elk on private land approximately two miles south of Polebridge near the North Fork Road in Flathead County.
On November 24, a poached bighorn sheep ram was located by a sportsman above Big Salmon road near Partridge Creek. The ram had been shot between November 20-22 with no attempt to recover the animal.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department enforcement officials are looking for information pertaining to a dead whitetail buck found southeast of Bismarck.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on a white-tailed deer buck that was shot and left to waste at the U.S. Forest Service Blue Mountain Recreation Area just west of Missoula.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on a black bear cub that was shot and left to waste on U.S. Forest Service land west of Stevensville in the Bitterroot Valley. The incident took place near Silverthorn Creek off the St. Mary Peak Road.
