State pays scofflaws over hound deaths

Claimants include hunting-law criminals

At least four individuals who have filed verified claims to receive compensation from the state of Wisconsin for hunting dogs killed by wolves had prior criminal convictions for hunting-related offenses. These payments, as well as those to individuals with less serious hunting-related forfeitures, are legal. The four convicted criminals are: * Josh K. Schlosser, 31, of Oconto: 2009 misdemeanor conviction for killing a bear without a license; was fined $2,108 and had his DNR hunting privileges revoked for three years. Filed a claim seeking $4,500 for the death of a hound in 2011; received the maximum $2,500. The state Department of Natural Resources is now investigating whether Schlosser was hunting without a license in 2011. Schlosser, in an interview, said his wife was doing the hunting when the hound was killed. * Rickey J. Nelson, 49, of Loyal, in Clark County: 2002 misdemeanor conviction for killing a bear without a license; he was fined $2,064 and lost his DNR privileges for three years. Nelson also had prior misdemeanor convictions for trapping during closed season and without a license and possessing a deer during closed season, for which he was fined $2,860. The state has paid Nelson $2,500 for each of two dogs — one killed in 2009, the other in 2012. * Kenneth F. Strobl, 66, of Catawba, in Price County: 2003 misdemeanor convictions on one count of killing a bear without a license and one count of unlawful sale of animal parts. Strobl was originally charged with illegally killing two bears and selling 30 bear gall bladders to an undercover conservation warden. He was fined $2,749 and had lost DNR privileges for five years. Strobl received $2,000 for a hunting dog killed in 2011. * Brandon M. True, 43, of Gillett, in Oconto County: 2009 misdemeanor conviction for being party to killing a bear without a license; he was fined $1,000 and lost hunting privileges for one year. True is in line to get $2,500 for a dog killed in 2013. Source: Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Wisconsin, the only state with a program that compensates the owners of dogs killed by wolves while hunting other animals, has paid tens of thousands of dollars during the past decade to individuals who have violated state hunting or firearms laws.

Seven individuals received a total of $19,000 in payments after they were convicted of crimes or paid forfeitures for hunting or firearms-related offenses, according to an analysis by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. An additional $20,000 went to four claimants who were subsequently fined for such offenses, including bear hunting without a license.

In one case, the state Department of Natural Resources paid $2,500 to a man for a dog death that happened while he was prohibited from having a hunting license, due to a prior criminal conviction. The DNR, in response to the Center's inquiries, is investigating. But even if the claimant was breaking the law at the time, which he denies, he will get to keep the money.

'Having a license is not an eligibility requirement for reimbursement of dogs killed by wolves,' said Tim Andryk, the DNR's chief legal counsel.

The DNR program also has approved more than $80,000 in payments to repeat claimants — those who put dogs in successive situations where they were killed by wolves. And money has gone to people from other states who brought their dogs here to hunt.

No other state compensates owners for hunting dogs killed by wolves, DNR staff confirm. The purpose of the program is to mitigate damage caused by an expanding state wolf population.

In all, during the decade under review, 2004-2013, the DNR's wolf depredation program has approved nearly $390,000 in payments for lost hunting dogs. The deaths typically occur when hounds with electronic tracking collars are released to hunt or pursue other animals, especially bears.

Some compensated depredations occurred in areas that the DNR has flagged as being at high risk for wolf attacks.

Most of the hunting dog owners compensated for fatal wolf attacks do not have a history of violating hunting or firearms laws, and those who do are not precluded from getting payments.