Kansas man added to list of suspected poachers

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

OBERLIN, Kansas -- A Long Island, Kansas, man has been charged in connection with a deer poaching incident in early December in Decatur County, Kansas.

Jake Swisher, age unknown, of Long Island now faces charges similar to those filed against five Wisconsin men after a hunting excursion ended with 12-16 dead deer -- many of them trophy size -- loaded onto a Kansas game warden's trailer and parked outside the courthouse in Oberlin during the Wisconsin men's arraignment on Dec. 8.

Swisher is charged with misdemeanor charges of:

* Unlawful possession of wildlife, on or about Dec. 8, possession of a carcass of a big game animal -- an antlered mule deer having an inside spread measurement of at least 22 inches, unless a carcass tag is attached in accordance with state wildlife rules and regulations.

* Taking a big game animal, on or about Dec. 8, an antlered mule deer having an inside spread measurement of at least 22 inches, without a valid big game permit as required by law.

Judge John E. Bremer has ordered that Swisher appear in court on Feb. 8, at 10 a.m., to answer to the charges.

Swisher will appear with five men from Wisconsin who are charged in the same incident.

Each of the five is charged by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks with taking trophy mule deer buck illegally, a misdemeanor.

The men are:

* John H. Jacobs III, 53 years old, of 668 Fernando Drive, DePere, Wisconsin.

* Mark G. Jacobs, 45, of W 882 Bain Road, DePere.

* John H. Jacobs IV, 30, of 2824 Libal Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

* Paul J. Jacobs, 26, of 668 Fernando Drive, DePere.

* Joseph R. Jacobs, 23, 2122 Potter Drive, DePere.

Judge Bremer set bond at $16,700 each; the men posted a total of $83,500, and were released.