Heckrodt Wetland Reserve visitors mourn the shooting of well-known buck

Sophia Voight, Appleton Post-Crescent
·1 min read
111
The deer "Bruno" was a frequent visitor of Heckrodt Wetland Reserve.
The deer "Bruno" was a frequent visitor of Heckrodt Wetland Reserve.

MENASHA - Regular visitors of Heckrodt Wetland Reserve have flooded Facebook with photos of a well-known deer over the last two weeks after learning that he had been shot.

A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources investigation determined the deer was shot unlawfully. The DNR passed the case to the Calumet County district attorney's office, according to Public Information Officer Joanne Haas.

A Facebook post from Heckrodt said the wild deer, not owned by the reserve, was shot off its property.

Known to reserve visitors as "Bruno," "The Beast," "Mr. Big Shot" or "The King of Heckrodt," the deer was adorned with a large rack and bowtie-shaped white spot on his chest, making him a regal site.

Heckrodt's post said Bruno was likely the descendent of "Moses," another large buck that frequently roamed the wetland reserve.

Many of the fawns that will be born this spring will be the offspring of Bruno, the Facebook post said, and will share his same "special twinkle in their eyes."

Sophia Voight can be reached at svoight@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Large buck known to Heckrodt Wetland Reserve shot