Thermal Robotic Deer: A Potential Solution to Vermont's Deer Jacking Problem?

Vermont game wardens have previously used robotic decoys successfully. The thermal upgrade could enhance these efforts against evolving tactics, particularly in high-incident areas.

In Vermont, where white-tailed deer are integral to the natural landscape alongside the Green Mountains and sugar maples, illegal hunting practices such as deer jacking pose a significant challenge to conservation. Deer jacking involves spotlighting deer at night to immobilize them before taking an illegal shot, threatening wildlife populations and the principles of ethical hunting.

This article explores the severity of the issue in Vermont and examines whether a new thermal-emitting robotic deer, developed by a Wisconsin taxidermist, could aid local game wardens. The discussion draws from an adaptation of James Fanelli's Wall Street Journal article, "How to Catch a Wily Poacher in a Sting: A Thermal Robotic Deer," published on July 23, 2025.

The Scope of Deer Jacking in Vermont

Vermont's legal deer harvest typically stands at around 17,000 animals each year, with preliminary estimates for 2024 exceeding 17,200, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. However, poaching, including deer jacking, undermines these figures, though exact numbers are difficult to pinpoint. Enforcement records and news reports reveal a ongoing problem, with numerous cases emerging annually. For example, in 2022, five hunters in Windsor County faced 78 charges for poaching deer, including out-of-season kills. That year also saw another group fined heavily for similar offenses. In 2021, a family in Rockingham was investigated for illegally killing five deer, with spotlighting suspected as a method. Additionally, a 2023 case involving high-speed deer jacking resulted in sentencing for one individual, underscoring the risks involved.

These incidents are not outliers. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department operates Operation Game Thief, a hotline for reporting violations, and in late 2024, it intensified efforts with cash rewards to combat poaching during hunting season. While statewide statistics on deer jacking are not always isolated from broader poaching data, wardens issue thousands of violations yearly across the U.S., and Vermont follows suit. The state's rural roads and extensive public lands make it susceptible to nighttime spotlighting by individuals ranging from professionals selling antlers to novices unaware of the violations, as noted by a Florida officer in Fanelli's Wall Street Journal article. This activity erodes confidence in regulated hunting systems that maintain deer herds at approximately 140,000 statewide, based on recent estimates.

Innovative Solution from Wisconsin

Brian Wolslegel, a 54-year-old taxidermist from Wisconsin, has created lifelike robotic decoys that have assisted in apprehending poachers across the U.S. for years, according to Fanelli's reporting in the Wall Street Journal. These decoys feature movements such as wiggling ears, moving legs, and even simulating defecation with M&M's in one instance. Wolslegel's latest invention, showcased at the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association conference in Erie, Pennsylvania, in July 2025, is a heat-emitting robotic deer designed to counter poachers using thermal rifle scopes or drones.

Poachers nationwide, including those in Vermont, are increasingly tech-savvy, employing thermal imaging to detect body heat and avoid non-heated decoys. Wolslegel's thermal model addresses this by incorporating heating pads and coils to replicate an animal's warmth, assembled from real deer skin, polyurethane molds, glass eyes, and remote-control car parts. As collaborator Dave Tanger explained to Fanelli, the mechanism is electric, with details kept confidential to prevent exploitation by poachers or competitors.

How the Thermal Decoy Works

Wolslegel produces 50 to 60 deer decoys and 10 to 20 turkey decoys annually, along with models of elk, moose, wolves, and bears, priced from $2,200 to $7,000 depending on size and features, per Fanelli's article. The thermal deer is available for just under $6,000. Decoys evolve based on law enforcement feedback, starting from simple fishing line mechanisms for ear and tail movements to advanced features like leg motion and head turning.

In operations, officers position the decoy near roadsides and monitor remotely. When a poacher shoots, hidden teams intervene. Mark Kropa, a law-enforcement supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, told Fanelli that his team conducts 10 to 15 such stings yearly, leading to 10 to 30 charges. Decoys endure 20 to 30 shots over their five- to 10-year lifespan, barring damage to circuitry.

Wolslegel, who began this work 30 years ago after forgoing a firefighting career, now focuses on his business, family, and deer farm, having ceased hunting himself. He is already planning a next iteration: a decoy that emits visible breath using CO2 cartridges, ideal for cold mornings.

Potential Impact on Vermont Enforcement

Vermont game wardens have previously used robotic decoys successfully, as in 2015 stings that captured poachers, according to local reports. The thermal upgrade could enhance these efforts against evolving tactics, particularly in high-incident areas like Chittenden or Windsor counties. Although priced at nearly $6,000, the decoy's cost may be justified by fines—hundreds of dollars plus potential jail time—and the prevention of ecological harm.

Vermont officials attend conferences like the one where Wolslegel presented, suggesting thermal decoys could soon appear in the state. In the interim, residents are encouraged to report suspicions via Operation Game Thief at 1-800-75-ALERT.