Conservation Officer Hanna Wood in her truck
Last updated: 2021-02-22
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the past week focused on checking anglers, fish houses, and snowmobile operators. Baumbarger assisted in teaching a snowmobile safety class in Glenwood and took calls regarding injured animals.
CO Emily Leeb (Morris) reports working fishing and snowmobile activity throughout the past week. Nice weather increased local recreational activity, which was nice. Enforcement action for the week included fishing with extra lines, unattended lines, illegal possession of marijuana, and no shelter tag or identification. A local snowmobile safety course was also attended.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers and fish houses, as well as ATVs and snowmobile riders. A call of an injured bald eagle was taken. It turned out to be an eagle eating on a deer carcass. Osborne attended a snowmobile safety class in Evansville.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. She took calls regarding a dead owl, and questions about duck blinds and distance between ice shelters. Enforcement action for the week included operating a Class 2 ATV on a state highway, no identification on a fish house, angling with extra lines, unattended lines, and possession of marijuana.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) continues to work ice fishing and snowmobile activity. Trails are pretty rough and in need of more snow. Plautz instructed snowmobile safety classes over the weekend, certifying more than 30 safe and responsible youth riders. Area lakes saw more activity once the cold snap passed, but fishing success is very scattered. Unmarked fish houses and failure to display shelter tags are very common violations on all lakes.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) watched throughout the week as people started coming outside again to fish and enjoy the lakes after the deep freeze. Anglers were out in full force over the weekend, with panfish cooperating the most. Several anglers received citations for using too many lines and not having an angling license.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) checked shelters, anglers, and snowmobile riders. Shelter owners are reminded the deadline for removing is drawing near. Please pick up any potential litter near your house during the removal.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) checked recreational vehicles, angling and coyote hunting during the previous week. Time was also spent following up on a trespassing complaint.
Last updated: 2021-02-22
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers this past week on local lakes. Time was also spent contacting ATV and snowmobile operators. Small-game hunting was also monitored.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored angling activity on area lakes. Individuals are reporting a good perch bite on some of the area lakes. He patrolled area snowmobile trails, but conditions deteriorated quickly with the warm weather on Sunday. Vollbrecht attended training and worked a detail on Leech Lake with CO Cross.
CO Hannah Mishler (Bemidji #2) spent time checking anglers and snowmobilers around the Bemidji area and Lake of the Woods. Time was also spent training.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports fishing activity slowing and anglers beginning to remove shelters. Vinton tracked down one angler who left their vehicle parked at their shelter for more than a week. Property owners on the lake became concerned for the wellbeing of the angler when there was no activity at the fish house. Vinton located the owner with the assistance of the Rice Police Department and learned the vehicle wouldn?t start, so the owner left it there for the week. The angler was appreciative that Vinton checked on their safety. Enforcement action was taken for no shelter license, failure to mark shelters and no license in possession.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the past week working on cases from the deer season. Swedberg also attended training. He continue to investigate multiple cases from the deer season as new information becomes available.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) attended training and worked ongoing cases.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the past week working sport fishing and snowmobile enforcement. Time was also spent giving a law and ethics presentation to a snowmobile safety class in Twin Valley.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on snowmobile and angling activity, with warmer weather bringing more people out and about. Ice house removal was monitored as the removal deadlines near. Time was spent on follow up on complaints of illegal activity in area wildlife management areas.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the past week checking anglers in the Pelican Rapids station. The bite is still slow, but anglers were much happier with the weather conditions improving.
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