District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-04-05
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports area lakes are for the most part ice-free. Time was spent around fish-run areas and assisting with a work crew along Minnesota/South Dakota border waters over the weekend. Turkeys have spread out and should be seen in more locations over the next week. Bowfishing south of Highway 210 on lakes has already started. Richards was interviewed by a local radio show talking about the new sunfish regulations and the upcoming spring turkey hunt.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the past week focused on checking anglers and ATV operators. Additional time was spent monitoring spring fish-run activity and organizing upcoming firearms safety classes with local instructors.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) assisted CO Wood in Traverse County checking anglers on the border waters. A wildlife management area damage and trespass complaint was investigated in Grant County. ATV-helmet violations were prevalent over the warm weekend.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the majority of the past week focused on angling enforcement. Angling activity continues to increase in the area. Several area COs came out to assist Wood during the busy weekend. Nice weather brought out large crowds and she was pleasantly surprised by the low violation rate. Wood assisted the Traverse County Sheriff?s Office with a boat crash on the Mustinka River. The incident remains under investigation. Violations for the week included angling without a license, taking fish in closed season, and not having enough life jackets on board.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) worked recreational vehicles and angling activity during the previous week. Time was also spent patrolling vacant stations, checking trapping activity and taking wildlife-related complaints. Enforcement action involved several ATV violations.
CO Emily Leeb (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement throughout the past week. Enforcement action taken included fishing without a license. A commercial minnow inspection was also completed.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) set up and instructed two ATV safety classes over the weekend, certifying almost 40 students from around the state. Plautz monitored high activity at Glendalough State Park, fishing activity, and fish-run activity. Plautz is investigating a TIP of an illegally shot turkey out of season. Incidental furbearer catches were turned into her as well.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) prepared station equipment for the upcoming open-water season. Boats are being trailered around Alexandria more and more each day, and spring panfish bites are near as water continues to warm. An ice fishing case was closed from winter with a citation issued for angling without a license and providing a false name to a peace officer.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2021-04-05
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers throughout the past week. Time was also spent working on a wildfire-related case.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) assisted with a security detail, monitored the spring fish run and beaver trapping, and took a wolf-depredation complaint.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) patrolled area forest roads and trails for ATV activity. He followed up on a complaint of a possible wetland violation and fielded calls regarding use of public lands.
CO Hannah Mishler (Bemidji #2) and K9 partner Storm attended training at Camp Ripley. The team also participated in the K9 detection trials in St Paul, where they certified for another year in detection of various wild game species and zebra mussels. Time was also spent following up on fire-related incidents. Two incidental otter catches were handled.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports assisting neighboring officers with a search warrant and patrolling for fire activity during times of fire restrictions. Conditions are extremely dry in the Perham area and caution should be used. Area creeks were monitored for spring fish-run activity.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time in the Two Inlets State Forest and in Itasca State Park monitoring ATV activity. Swedberg also investigated several reports of illegal burning in the county. Swedberg reminds people they need a permit to have a fire bigger than a campfire and that having a permit only allows for the burning of certain things. Permit holders must also follow all other forestry and fire regulations.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) worked ongoing cases and assisted with a search warrant execution. Off-highway motorcycle and forest road closures was also worked, as was a wildlife call.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked ATV and off-road vehicle activity. She monitored wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas. Angling activity was worked with ice on area lakes beginning to break up. Rivers and streams were monitored for spring fish run. Area ponds were worked for leeching activity. A patrol was conducted near Itasca State Park.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) monitored illegal fire activity, checked anglers, conducted vehicle maintenance, and patrolled for ATV violations. Most area lakes are now ice-free and anglers will be able to start fishing open water this week. Some shore anglers were checked and reported little success as the water is still too cold. Landowners itching to burn yard debris are reminded there are burn restrictions throughout the state and to check with the DNR website prior to burning for up-to-date information. Landmark seized incidentally caught otters, followed up on reports of dead eagles, investigated a fire in Maplewood State Park, and followed up on a commercial bait complaint. Warm weather over the weekend brought out ATV and OHM operators looking for the first ride of the season. Landmark urges ATV and OHM operators to read the regulations and make sure their equipment is registered prior to operating. Enforcement action was taken for allowing the illegal operation of an OHM, fail to transfer ATV/OHM titles, operation of an OHM in a public roadway, unregistered OHM, failure to renew ATV registration, and juveniles operating without safety certificates.
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2021-04-05
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) followed up on an ongoing case, investigated a new arson near Hayes Lake and prepared equipment for use on the Rainy River.
CO Marc Johnson (Warroad South) worked ATV enforcement, monitored activity at public accesses, patrolled state parks and forests and worked a fire enforcement detail with DNR Forestry. In addition, calls regarding open burning and dogs chasing deer were investigated. The ice is starting to leave Lake of the Woods and anglers are reminded to renew expired boat registration and ensure boats are equipped with all required safety equipment. Violations encountered included failure to activate a burning permit, use of an unauthorized incinerator, no angling licenses in possession and allowing dogs to chase deer.
CO Aaron Larson (Baudette West) worked primarily angling enforcement. Violations were related to boat and water laws.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) monitored angling activity at public accesses along the Rainy River, spent time patrolling in the Pine Island and Beltrami Island state forests, and worked fire and burning activity in northern Beltrami County. Violations encountered include miscellaneous boating safety equipment issues, no valid boat registrations and burning during a burn ban/failure to obtain a burn permit.
CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) assisted local law enforcement in Mentor and the Beltrami Island State Forest with fire investigation and traffic control. He continued to monitor fishing activity in the area. Reports of a deceased great horned owl and incidental otter were taken. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display current ATV registration, juvenile passenger on an ATV without a helmet, and expired boat registration.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to calls of burning prohibited materials and a car-killed eagle. He also conducted follow-up interviews pertaining to recent wildfires and investigated unlawful taking of deer from this past deer season. Enforcement action for the week included trapping without valid license and take big game with an invalid license.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) worked angling, ATV and fire enforcement this past week. Angling violations were handled.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports monitoring seasonal closures for ATV activity and spring beaver-trapping activity. Time was spent following up on an ongoing case from the deer season and assisting Forestry with the investigation of several suspicious wildfires. The investigations are ongoing. Regas also handled a number of reports of incidental catches while spring beaver trapping. Enforcement actions for the week included ATVs operating on the roadway.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports an increase in boat traffic throughout the area. Time was also spent working AIS enforcement.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2021-04-05
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) worked primarily ATV and fire enforcement. Forest roads/trails remain closed due to trail conditions and the potential for fires given the dry conditions. Miscellaneous wildlife-related complaints were handled. Several questions were fielded about the bowfishing season, which currently is only open south of State Highway 210. Make sure to check your ATV and boat registration before going out.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) primarily worked ATV and trapping enforcement. ATV violations that were found included failure to display registration, operating an unregistered ATV, allowing illegal operation by a juvenile and operating without headlights. Kunst also received a call about a mountain lion sighting in the Remer area.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked trapping, angling, and ATV enforcement. Cross also responded to a nuisance-bear call, trapper-trespassing incident, and to a gray wolf that had been hit by a car. Enforcement action was taken for operating motor vehicles in a closed state forest, youth helmet violations, trapping without a license, trespassing, target shooting in a game refuge, and operating an ATV with too many passengers.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) reports the ice largely went out on area lakes this past week. A few ATVs were seen moving around, but the forest roads and trails remain closed to motor vehicle use. Mathy followed up on waters-violations cases and received reports of accidentally taken otters. A litter violation was investigated. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations
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