Wisconsin Anglers Face Nearly $7,000 in Fines & Restitution in MN

[Rick]

Wisconsin anglers face fines, restitution totaling nearly $7,000 in Minnesota (4/5/05)

Five anglers from Wisconsin face fines and restitution of nearly $7,000 after being caught with 206 perch over their legal limit while fishing on Lake Winnibigoshish in northeastern Minnesota.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Larry Francis, Remer, was among the officers who contacted the group on March 25 as they were packing up from a day on the lake.

"They admitted to having fished for several days and that the fishing was good," Francis said. "They also admitted they possessed the rest of 'their limit' at their cabin."

There officers found 303 perch in the round (not filleted) and seven one-gallon plastic bags that contained filleted perch. Six of the seven bags were discovered between the mattress and box spring of one of the beds.

The anglers had concealed another 69 perch in a bag containing a power auger. When the counting was completed the group possessed more than 406 perch, 206 perch over the legal limit.

The perch limit in Minnesota is 20 daily and 40 in possession per individual.

Charged in Cass County District Court with gross overlimit of perch were Bradley Arthur Bricco, 31, Shawano, Wis.; Cotty George Barrett, 47, West Bend, Wis.; Allen Emil Barrett, 45, Marion, Wis.; Richard Charles Bricco, 52, and David Roy Anderson, 45, both of Clintonville, Wis.

Each man was charged under Minnesota's Gross Overlimits Law and had his license seized. The citation carried a fine of $920 and a restitution value of $410, for a total of $1,330 for each angler.

Bradley Bricco showed little remorse and made some bold statements. He was a bit more subdued when he saw the fine/restitution amount, according to Francis.

Poachers can have their fish and game licenses seized and face stiffer penalties, including having their boats, motors and trailers confiscated, under Minnesota's gross overlimits regulation in effect since March 1, 2003.

The law is based on established restitution values that determine payments made by poachers to the state for illegally taken game and fish. For example, a walleye is valued at $30.

Under the gross overlimits law, the time period for license suspension is based on those restitution values. The higher the restitution values, the longer the suspension of hunting or fishing privileges. For instance, a poacher would lose his fishing licenses for three years if he had 24 walleye, which is 18 fish over the legal limit.

The law also allows for a gross misdemeanor penalty when the value of illegally taken game and fish exceeds $1,000. The enhanced penalties apply to small game and waterfowl violators as well as commercial fishing operations. It is aimed at intentional poachers, according to DNR Chief Conservation Officer Col. Mike Hamm.

"The law is not to target the average angler or hunter who makes an honest mistake," Hamm said. "It targets those who are intentionally out to break the law."

The law also allows for joint liability when two or more people are involved. In addition, those who lose their fishing or hunting privileges in Minnesota would also be barred from similar activities in 16 other states that share reciprocity agreements. "This law gives conservation officers better ability to protect and preserve Minnesota's natural resources," Hamm said.

"Overlimit violations are among the most difficult and time-consuming violations for conservation officers to detect and enforce," said Maj. Al Heidebrink, DNR Enforcement Division operations manager. "Gross violations of overlimits can have a drastic effect on wildlife populations that are already at risk and complicate or render ineffective management efforts by professional wildlife and fisheries managers."

One of the most widely recognized deterrents against violation of natural resource laws is the loss of license privileges.

"This, when coupled with developing wildlife violator compacts providing for reciprocal license revocation agreements between states, has the potential to greatly deter even the most habitual and flagrant natural resources law violator," Heidebrink said.

An example of a flagrant violation occurred in August 2002 when conservation officers Scott Fritz and Joe Frear received a report of an illegal fish fry. Upon investigation, the officers discovered 61 bags of fish with 10 to 12 fish per bag, totaling 1,700 fish (perch, sunfish and crappies). Continuing the search, officers found several freezers containing fish. Each package was labeled with the date, lake, amount and species of fish in the bag.

"We don't expect to encounter a lot of these gross overlimit violations," Heidebrink said, "but when we do, we have the ability to swiftly and effectively deal with violators of our natural resources laws."

[hip_hop_fisherman]

The more of these I've seen lately the more I think your privaleges should be revoked for a LIFETIME.

[musky hunter]

Another good job well done. Makes one wonder how many of these gross violaters get by. The more it's publicized the better because people wouldn't do it if they feel the risk of being caught is too great.

[Ole #1]

This stuff does get to me, I think they should not let them fish for at least 5-10 yrs, if not for life.

These guys didn't just get one or two over the limit, but 206?

I wish there were something I could do to help prevent this from happening.

[Dobber]

Now. Now. I think we should cut them some slack. After all, they are thinking with a lump of cheese where a brain would normally reside.

[Ole #1]

[slick814]

Personal opinion... this has gotten WAY out of hand. I honestly can't remember inmy lifetime hearing about so many people over their limits. With that being said....

Lifetime bans from all hunting & fishing activities in MN, automatic jail time, the more you're over, the longer you're in, loss of vehicles, equipment, etc. should all be the punishment for these crimes. From what the article says, there's no way that they could plead ignorance of possession limits, etc., as they were tryting to hide a lot of the fish that they had.

Either TIP is working better and better, or there's just too many people out there who think that they can get away with things.

[mudman]

and people from WI wonder why their fisherys are hurting?

[crappieflop1212]

Sweet post Dobber.

The thing that really bugs me about these poachers is, they most likely can afford to go to the store and buy fish. I can't imagine how many lbs. of fish $7,000 could buy. I sure hope they are dirt poor and starving. Not that I'm wishing that upon them, but it would explain alot. I'm sure some are just selling the fish to make a fun and easy buck.

[fish-n-geek]

This is no more indicative of the typical Wisconsin fishermen than the similar posting about Minnesotan poachers is indicative of the fishermen there. I live in central Wisconsin and fish both Minnesota and Wisconsin waters. Myself and those that I fish with are at least as likely to call in poachers as anyone else, if not moreso.

Remember that these fools are the exception. Otherwise we'd have to extend the same sentiments that you expressed about Wisconsin fishermen on over to Minnesotans, as well.

s/fishermen/fisherpeople/g

-rus-

[abens1078]

I like the line about Bradly Brisco being a tough guy until he finds out his wallet is going to be empty for a while. I believe the word was 'subued,' Sock it to'em.

[mudman]

I was just kidding around fishing geek>

I keep forgeting to put smiles and stuff after I post.

[abens1078]

'subdued' even in quotes I misspelled it.

I also wanted to bring up something else that I forgot. A couple of the posters ahead of me mentioned this is happening all the time and that may be true but consider what our fathers may have done 25 years ago if they saw someone abusing a resource in this manner. There probably wasn't much for a TIP hotline and if there was he had to leave the lake, drive to a phone and make the call. I imagine alot of cases went unreported because fishing time was hard to come by for many and who wanted to leave the lake. Now we can contact a CO from a deerstand or an ice house. I think slobs have always been around but now the ethical sportsman can stand up for himself and the resource a whole lot quicker and easier. The biggest indication of this is that almost every state has their TIP number on the back of the hunting and fishing license and I would guess that half of the people who read this thread also have it in their cell phones....

[Sifty]

If this is a tip caller who started the ball rolling I think that it is a show that people are sick of someone taking advantage of the game laws. I like the idea of not being able to fish or hunt for five to ten years. I think faceing that much of a punishment would make one think twice.

Sifty

[delmuts]

i agree the penalties just don't seem strong enough,but? one thing is for shure, the TIP program is working!

[witter1631]

fishin geek how old are u and were u live in mosinee

[fish-n-geek]

I'm all of 25 years. we're renting a place on the back side of Indianhead until I get ambitious and buy some land.

Yourself? We might have to hook up and do some fishing. I'm pretty out of practice in this area, but I've been out on the river from the park by the cemetary a couple times. Will probably be out this weekend too.

-r-

[freebledsoe]

I have often wondered how much of a deterrent losing fishing and/or hunting privileges is to a poacher. If they are willing to break the law as far as limits on fish and game, do you think they will respect the fact that they cannot legally fish or hunt? Just a question that nags at me. Any ideas guys?

[fish-n-geek]

It is similar to losing your driving license. Some people are still going to drive after they lose their license, but the penalties for doing so will catch up with (hopefull) most of them eventually.

-rus-

[steve schmidt]

I passed on this comment a couple nights running, but this is for Mudman (comment back a ways). His comment was "this is why Wisconsin's resources are hurting....hmmmm. I fish a lot, winter, spring and summer. Go to Big Trade, Long Trade, Long Lake, Butternut, Balsam and Big ROund and there are as many Minnesota plates as Wisconsin. I bet you on the opener if you go to Deer Lake by St. Croix Falls, you will see more Minnesota plates than Wisconsin.

You know, some of the "tips" are probably called in just because the observers see out of state plates. Like if I saw a Wisconsin fisherman and a Minnesota fisherman exceed their limit...most people would call in on the out of state fisherman.

At any rate, their are good and bad on both sides of the border. One thing I will say about Wisconsin is they have followed my suggestion of reducing the limits to more match Minnesota's; that and I wish we had traffic stops like Minnesota.

By the way, I have lived in both States and would honestly say Minnesota's fishing is far above Wisconsin's. Okay Mudman...lets have a beer