The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently reported that Brush Ranch Outfitters near Galesville, Wis., a captive deer farm, pleaded no contest to several hunting-related charges stemming from a 2017 case in which the farm was accused of running an illegal deer-hunting operation.
The deer farm was accused of opening the fence to their farm and funneling wild deer in.
The Trempealeau County Circuit Court has approved the plea agreement, which calls for Brush Ranch Outfitters to pay $17,505 in civil forfeitures for charges including the unauthorized taking of live wild animals from the wild; providing incorrect information to the DNR; trapping with illegal methods; failing to register deer; and, possessing game during the closed season. Multiple trophy bucks also were found to be illegally harvested and ordered confiscated by the court.
A state investigation conducted by DNR wardens revealed the owner and an employee placed illegal bait piles to lure wild deer into their captive deer farm through alterations made to the fence. According to statements made by Hoff during the investigation, deer were lured in to improve genetics within their captive deer herd. Brush Ranch Outfitters knowingly allowed wild deer to enter their captive deer farm where deer hunts were sold for profit.
