Three convicted in Rock County poaching case
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MADISON — Three Rock County men have been convicted of illegally shining and shooting deer after a nearly year-long investigation by Wisconsin conservation wardens.
The case started when a Rock County sheriff's deputy spotted the occupants of two pickups shining into a field about 3:30 a.m. last December.
Shining—using high-powered lights to scout for deer in the dark—is legal if you don’t have firearms in the vehicle.
During a traffic stop on the men’s vehicle, the deputy spotted firearms in the car. He forwarded information to two Rock County wardens, who, during months of investigation, discovered the three were doing most of their shining and shooting activities in the Arbor Ridge Subdivision just west of Janesville off County Highway A.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says 23-year-old Joshua Beyer of Janesville, 22-year-old Christopher Kummer of Milton and 20-year-old Chris Taylor of Evansville were convicted in October after an investigation that started last December.
They were convicted of shining seven deer, although authorities think they were shined and shot at more.
Beyer was ordered to pay about $15,000 in fines, will lose his hunting licenses for 21 years and serve one year in jail. Kummer faces approximately $3,000 fine costs, and will serve three years of probation for six counts and 30 days in jail on the seventh count. He also will lose his hunting licenses for 21 years. Taylor was convicted of two counts of illegally shining deer. He will pay about $2,154 for each count and lose his hunting licenses for six years. He will not serve any jail time.
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