Boyceville man charged with six counts related to poaching deer
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A 42-year-old Boyceville man has been charged in Dunn County Circuit Court with six misdemeanor counts related to poaching Whitetail deer.
Ray C. Stuart, 42, made an initial appearance before Judge James Peterson February 18.
Judge Peterson set bail for Stuart with a $500 signature bond.
Stuart is charged with one count of obstructing an officer, three counts of illegally hunting deer, one count of illegally shining deer and one Natural Resources count of hunting deer during closed season.
According to the criminal complaint, Warden Jaime McDermid of the state Department of Natural Resources was contacted about illegal deer hunting activity on November 26, 2019, at a residence on state Highway 64.
The person who contacted the DNR said Stuart had shot an eight-point buck with his crossbow on November 16 while “road hunting,” and had shot a four-point buck with his crossbow after dark on November 20. Stuart allegedly shot the four-point buck because it was “too dark to see what he was doing.”
The person who contacted the DNR also said Stuart had shot a 17-point buck with the aid of a spotlight on November 22 in the Town of Sheridan, the complaint states.
Stuart’s son allegedly registered the 17-point buck under his own gun deer license, and when Warden McDermid reviewed DNR records, he discovered the son had purchased a gun deer license online at approximately 11 p.m. November 22.
When Warden McDermid and another warden entered a detached garage, they observed a four-point buck and a 17-point buck head and cape. The four-pointer appeared rotten and smelled foul. The wardens also discovered an eight-point buck hanging from the garage ceiling, with very sunken eyes, indicating it had been there for a while. The eight-pointer also appeared rotten and smelled foul. A chest freezer contained multiple large deer racks, according to the complaint.
For meat
Later that day, the DNR wardens spoke with Stuart, who was visibly upset and said they were there because they were listening “to a crazy loon.” Stuart said he had legally shot the 17-point buck the opening day of gun hunting and adamantly denied shooting it the night before, the complaint states.
Stuart admitted that he’d had his hunting license revoked several times and said he knew he wasn’t going to be able to hunt for the rest of his lifetime. Stuart also admitted to shooting the four-pointer and the eight-pointer, according to the complaint.
Stuart told the wardens he had shot the deer “for the meat” and had done so without a license and during a period of revocation. The defendant insisted, however, that the 17-point buck was a “100 percent legal deer,” the complaint states.
Stuart told the wardens his son deserves to have the 17-pointer because he shot it during the daylight and said it was shot from a deer stand on top of a hill.
Eventually, Stuart admitted to Warden McDermid that he had shot the 17-pointer and had spot-lighted the buck while driving. Stuart said he “snuck through 28 rows of corn” and shot the buck in a field on Highway VV in the Town of Sheridan, according to the complaint.
Stuart refused to turn over the rifle to the DNR wardens and said poaching deer “was a chance he had to take to feed his family.”
According to the complaint, “When asked if the defendant would continue poaching deer, he said he hoped not. The defendant admitted that he was supposed to stop hunting several times, and he never has.”
Prior record
According to the complaint, Stuart’s prior DNR related violations include:
• Failure to attach a deer tag in Dunn County case 17CM134, convicted on January 24, 2018, in which Stuart’s hunting privileges were revoked for three years.
• Possessing birds in excess of the bag limit in Dunn County case 17FO280, convicted on January 24, 2018.
• Possessing birds in excess of the bag limit in Dunn County case 17FO279, convicted on January 24, 2018, in which Stuart’s hunting privileges were revoked for three years consecutive to 17CM134.
• Failure to attach a deer tag in Dunn County case 11CM66, convicted on August 30, 2011, in which Stuart’s hunting privileges were revoked for three years concurrent with Barron County DNR revocation.
• Illegal shining of deer, elk or bear in St. Croix County case 07CM1075, convicted on April 10, 2008, during which Stuart’s hunting privileges were revoked for three years.
Possible penalties
Obstructing an officer, a Class A misdemeanor, carries a possible penalty, upon conviction, of a fine of up to $10,000 and/or nine months in jail.
The four counts of poaching deer and illegally shining deer carry a possible penalty for each count, upon conviction, of a fine of between $1,000 and $2,000 and/or six months in the county jail, along with the revocation of hunting privileges for three years.
The Natural Resources count of hunting deer during closed season carries a possible penalty, upon conviction, of a fine of between $1,000 and $2,000 and/or six months in the county jail as well as the revocation of hunting privileges for three years.
Stuart is scheduled for another court appearance April 13.
