SAUK CITY — Conservation Warden John Buss received a phone call one day in 2001 that would set the course of his life for the next three years.

The person on the other end of the line, a confidential source, told Buss about an illegal hunting operation.

"It started out with some pretty good info," said Buss, of Sauk City, whose area of responsibility covers the southern half of Sauk County. "I was going to make some illegal deer cases with it. But I had no idea it was going to be this big."

Buss kept digging, and over the next three years he helped coordinate an investigation that involved about 50 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wardens as well as agents from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The massive inquiry led to the convictions of 48 people in Iowa and Richland County circuit courts and six convictions for black bear related offenses in Ontario, Canada, said DNR spokesman Greg Matthews.

The investigation, called "Project Brother," produced cases against defendants from Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin, Matthews said.

Buss recently won praise for his work, receiving an award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the "pivotal role" he played in coordinating agencies.

USFWS special agent Ed Spoon said Buss uncovered "an extensive guiding operation offering illegal whitetail and wild turkey hunts to out-of-state clients."