This undated photo provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources shows a vehicle holding more than 2,000 pounds of live, illegal red swamp crayfish (prohibited for their destructive nature to habitat and native species) that conservation officers seized as a truck tried to cross from the U.S. at Sarnia, Ontario. After a "Cuffs & Collars" haitus, the Daily Press will be again periodically running reports from the DNR on calls the agency has responded to locally. (Michigan Department of Natural Resources via AP)

ESCANABA – The following reports detail daily activity of Michigan conservation officers from Nov. 9, 2025, to Nov. 22, 2025, throughout the following District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce and Schoolcraft.

CO Steve Butzin received a complaint in Nahma Township about an individual who had shot a deer out the window of a pickup truck on the opening night of firearm deer season. CO Butzin was given a great description and direction of travel from a witness who observed this occurring. CO Butzin worked through the night to collect evidence before a snowstorm rolled in and blanketed the area. CO Butzin was able to locate the suspect vehicle at a nearby camp later that night, as well as an antlerless whitetail doe which was left dead in a ditch near the camp. In the morning CO Butzin requested the assistance of COs Chris Lynch, Robert Freeborn, Mark Zitnik, Andrea Dani and Alex French. The COs were able to uncover additional evidence which pointed at several individuals as being suspects in the unlawful taking of this deer. Ultimately an interview was conducted, and a confession was obtained. A report is being submitted to the Delta County Prosecutor’s Office pending charges of taking a whitetail deer outside of the established hunting hours, taking a whitetail deer from a motor vehicle, taking of a whitetail deer using artificial light, and three counts of possessing a loaded or uncased firearm in a motor vehicle. Three firearms were seized, and the appropriate restitution is being requested for the unlawful taking of the animal.

COs Andrea Dani and Brandon Maki responded to a call involving a deceased hunter found in his deer blind. The COs and Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers arrived on the scene and located the deceased hunter in his deer blind. The COs assisted with the investigation and the transport of the individual to EMS personnel before clearing the scene.

Acting Sgt. Cole VanOosten was on patrol during the firearm deer season opener when he encountered a hunter exiting the woods soon after daylight. It was determined that the 80-year-old hunter had just harvested a 4-point buck. Sgt. VanOosten was able to assist the man in recovering and loading the deer into his truck. The man stated he had been hunting in the Upper Peninsula (UP) his entire life and this was likely going to be his last trip to the UP to hunt because of his health.

During the opening day of the firearm deer season, CO Justin Vinson received a call of a hunter who had fallen into his ground blind and sustained injuries. CO Vinson responded to the scene and assisted Portage Township EMS with locating and bringing the hunter out to the waiting ambulance so they could be evaluated.