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Hunters: Be on alert for meth labs
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Gun deer season

Wisconsin's gun deer season begins Saturday and continues through Nov. 29. Licenses are available at Department of Natural Resources offices, through the DNR's website and at some retailers.



Online

The DNR has complete information online at dnr.wi.gov

DARLINGTON - With the gun deer hunting season only three days away, hunters may need to prepare to encounter a much more dangerous forest-dweller: meth labs.

The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office has discovered two different methamphetamine manufacturing sites located in wooded areas within the last two weeks.

"One lab was just out in the open, just a small one-bottle system," said Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill. "But the other was in a sort of shack and was a more sizable operation."

The second lab took most of a day to dismantle, and required a hazardous materials team to handle the contents, Gill said.

"Some of the dangers of these things is that the chemicals can cause fires or chemical burns," Gill said. "And we definitely don't want them getting in the groundwater."

Gill said that to the untrained eye, a lab assembly may only resemble a pile of garbage. He encourages hunters to be on the lookout for anything suspicious.

Possible signs of a meth lab include detritus such as plastic bottles (possibly containing a white- or pink-colored sludge), Coleman fuel cans, lye bottles, dismantled batteries or plastic hoses. Strong odors of chemicals could also indicate the presence of a nearby lab.

hunters are discouraged from handling possible meth lab paraphernalia, as leaking materials could easily injure improperly equipped handlers.

Additionally, should hunters observe people near a possible meth lab, they should try to avoid confrontations, as meth users can display highly erratic and volatile behavior. Any hunter who observes suspicious activity should contact law enforcement immediately, Gill said.