District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-02-01
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, snowmobile riders, ATV operators and fish houses. A court trial was attended for a hunting while intoxicated case from this past deer season. Extra lines and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were the most encountered violations during the week.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) is taking registrations from youth for an upcoming snowmobile safety class. Plautz checked ice anglers and snowmobile riders and inspected aeration ponds this past week. Ice thickness is growing and the lakes are a popular place any day of the week and especially the weekends.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports a little more snowmobile activity after this past weekend?s snowfall. Trails have not been groomed due to the lack of a decent base. Fishing continues to be popular despite a modest bite on most lakes.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week focused on angling enforcement. She took TIP calls regarding dead turkeys and illegal angling on Lake Traverse, assisted the Wilkin County Sheriff?s Office, and took a report of a mountain lion sighting in Breckenridge. Enforcement action for the past week included failure to notify transfer of ownership (snowmobile), operating a snowmobile with expired registration, operating a snowmobile without safety training, driving after revocation, selling a snowmobile without a bill of sale, angling with extra lines, leaving lines unattended, angling without a license in possession, and angling without a license.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the past week focused on checking angler and ATV and snowmobile operators. Additional time was spent checking trappers and predator hunters. Baumbarger and CO Gutzwiller investigated a complaint of a poached deer near Appleton.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) worked ice fishing and recreational vehicle activity throughout the previous week. Time was also spent following up on a case and monitoring coyote hunting. Violations observed related mostly to angling licenses and fish houses.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) spent the majority of the past week on area lakes and trails monitoring ice fishing and snowmobiling activity. Compliance throughout the week was rather good but several citations were still issued. Anglers in tight groups of shelters are reminded to reel in their fishing lines before visiting neighboring shelters, thus preventing unattended line citations. Tip-ups outside of shacks resulted in a few anglers cited for using too many lines. Additionally, portable shelters left on the ice unattended overnight need to have shelter licenses, and those that don?t can expect citations.
CO Emily Leeb (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement. Enforcement action for the past week included fishing without a fishing license in personal possession.
Comments