A Tama County man accused of herding deer with his parachute plan has been fined and sentenced to probation. Fifty-nine-year-old Steven Risse of rural Dysart was sentenced in federal court to one year probation and fined $1,000. Risse was found guilty in May of using an aircraft to harass animals.
On the opening day of shotgun deer season in December of 2004, Risse allegedly used his powered parachute plane to chase a small deer herd toward the Benton and Tama County line, where a hunter fired several shots at the deer. The hunter was Risse’s nephew. Risse had denied pushing the deer and claimed he did not know his nephew was hunting in the area. Knowing using an aircraft to harass animals is a federal offense.