2 men accused of `thrill killing' animals in Wis. counties

May 25, 2008

http://www.startribune.com/local/19229809.html?location_refer=Local%20+%20Metro

Associated Press

PORTAGE, Wis. - Two men are accused of " thrill killing " hundreds of

wild birds and animals in Columbia and Marquette counties over the course of a

year.

" It was just a ridiculous amount of poaching, " said Casey Krueger,

Portage warden with the state Department of Natural Resources.

" Any time that someone shoots something for the sake of 'a thrill'

or 'to look cool' in their mind, you won't find much compassion from

the Columbia County public when they shoot an animal and lay it out to rot. "

Authorities say Josh Kerl, 21, of Portage, and Adam Stalsberg, 22, of

Neshkoro,

used a high-powered rifle and spotlight to shoot animals from their vehicle.

Krueger said each man received 82 citations, but there could have been as many

as 200 such citations for a multitude of violations of hunting rules. After a

certain

number is reached, it's not feasible to continue to cite them, he said.

He said each man will face two misdemeanor charges in Columbia County: hunting

deer during closed season, and hunting a deer at night with a spotlight. Each

charge

carries a $2,100 fine, the possibility of 60 to 90 days in jail and a three-year

revocation of hunting licenses.

According to authorities, the two killed mostly small game out of season,

including

hundreds of rabbits, squirrels and raccoons, but they also killed deer, turkeys,

crows, snapping turtles, ducks and protected species of owls, turkey vultures,

red-tailed

hawks and sandhill cranes.

Kerl and Stalsberg have preliminary hearings scheduled in August, with

Stalsberg

facing a $19,000 fine and Kerl facing a $20,000 fine, Krueger said.

If they plead not guilty, they will go to trial.

Krueger called it the biggest poaching case in the area in at least 25 years.

" I hope it outrages people, " Krueger said. " There's going to

be a lot of questions, and I'm not naive enough to think that there are only

two people out here doing this. "

No phone listings for the men could be found when The Associated Press tried

to

reach them for comment Friday night.

Information from: Portage Daily Register, http://www.wiscnews.com/pdr

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure

that just ain't so.

- Mark Twain

May 26, 2008

If, found guilty, they should do community service for a long time.fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: http://www.startribune.com/local/19229809.html?location_refer=Local%20+%20Metro2 men accused of `thrill killing' animals in Wis. counties Associated PressPORTAGE, Wis. - Two men are accused of "thrill killing" hundreds of wild birds and animals in Columbia and Marquette counties over the course

of a year."It was just a ridiculous amount of poaching," said Casey Krueger,Portage warden with the state Department of Natural Resources."Any time that someone shoots something for the sake of 'a thrill'or 'to look cool' in their mind, you won't find much compassion fromthe Columbia County public when they shoot an animal and lay it out to rot."Authorities say Josh Kerl, 21, of Portage, and Adam Stalsberg, 22, of Neshkoro,used a high-powered rifle and spotlight to shoot animals from their vehicle.Krueger said each man received 82 citations, but there could have been as manyas 200 such citations for a multitude of violations of hunting rules. After a certainnumber is reached, it's not feasible to continue to cite them, he said.He said each man will face two misdemeanor charges in Columbia County: huntingdeer during closed season, and hunting a deer at night with a spotlight. Each chargecarries a $2,100 fine, the

possibility of 60 to 90 days in jail and a three-yearrevocation of hunting licenses.According to authorities, the two killed mostly small game out of season, includinghundreds of rabbits, squirrels and raccoons, but they also killed deer, turkeys,crows, snapping turtles, ducks and protected species of owls, turkey vultures, red-tailedhawks and sandhill cranes.Kerl and Stalsberg have preliminary hearings scheduled in August, with Stalsbergfacing a $19,000 fine and Kerl facing a $20,000 fine, Krueger said.If they plead not guilty, they will go to trial.Krueger called it the biggest poaching case in the area in at least 25 years."I hope it outrages people," Krueger said. "There's going tobe a lot of questions, and I'm not naive enough to think that there are onlytwo people out here doing this."No phone listings for the men could be found when The Associated Press tried toreach them for comment Friday

night.Information from: Portage Daily Register, http://www.wiscnews.com/pdrWhat gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure that just ain't so.- Mark Twain