Wisconsin Sharpshooter Hit with $10,000 Fine Over Deer Culling Violations

In the event that the weekend wasn’t quite long enough for you, here’s to hoping that your favorite dispatch from the outdoor world can give you 5-or-so minutes to prep yourself for yet another week.

So, without further ado, let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

HE FORGOT
WISCONSIN SHARPSHOOTER HIT WITH $10K FINE OVER DEER CULLING VIOLATIONS

A professional sharpshooter in Wisconsin has found himself on the wrong side of the law after being accused of multiple violations during a deer cull operation. Christopher Tuhy, an employee of Wildlife Management Service, pleaded guilty to 10 civil counts of hunting deer without a proper license back in December. For his actions, he has been fined $10,000 and had his hunting privileges revoked for a year.

The penalties stem from activities in 2022, when Tuhy culled over 100 deer in southeastern Wisconsin to address nuisance populations causing issues like crop damage and vehicle collisions. Deer culling in suburban areas is a common practice to control overpopulation, but it operates under strict regulations from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Permits are issued to local governments, not private contractors like WMS, and include requirements for licensing, registration, and proper handling of carcasses. Tuhy admitted he forgot to purchase a deer hunting license that year, despite having one in previous and subsequent years…

Alaska House passes bill tightening residency requirements for hunting and fishing licenses: House Bill 93 aims to ensure that only people who spend enough time each year in Alaska to qualify for a Permanent Fund dividend can buy resident hunting and fishing licenses, which tend to cost less and offer higher bag limits than nonresident licenses.  Read the full story.

Legislation to put point restrictions on deer hunting in W.Va. moves forward: House Bill 4504 would require a second buck taken by a hunter in West Virginia to have at least three scoreable points on one side before it would be legal. The legislation was introduced by Delegate John Hott of Grant County. Read the full story.

State Senator Introduces Legislation to Encourage More First-Time Hunters: Senator James Andrew Malone (D-36, Lancaster) has introduced new, bipartisan legislation to encourage more first-time hunters and reduce crop damage from deer overpopulation. His bill, SB 1142, would reduce barriers for new hunters by guaranteeing them a free antlerless deer tag for one year upon completion of the Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Course and purchase of their first standard hunting license. Read the full story.

Billionaire’s Bondurant bison herd ‘cleared’ after second brucellosis bout in five years: TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts’ northwestern Wyoming domestic bison herd is back in business after dealing with a transmissible disease the burly beasts likely contracted from nearby elk.  Read the full story.

Iowa Draws Thousands of Non-Resident Hunters and Anglers, DNR Reports: Biologist John Lorenzen reported that 61,564 non-resident fishing licenses were sold in 2025, including annual, seven-day, and one-day options. In addition, 28,698 non-resident hunting licenses—both annual and five-day—were purchased during the year. Read the full story.

Grants available for deer habitat improvement in Michigan: New for 2026, the program budget has doubled to $200,000, with grant requests now ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, while the required match remains at 25%. Read the full story.

🥶 This storm has been hard on a lot of wildlife, including whitetails. Watch as this rancher films this doe who is barely able to walk and then slides down a hill. Thankfully, she was fine, but he reported many others were not so lucky.

Hopefully the layer of ice thaws for them soon…

When he gives you that look.

📸 : @yukonwildlifepreserve

Oh, and one more thing…