District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2021-08-23
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) reports working angling and ATV activity during the past week. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, transporting fish without skin patches and operating an ATV on a state highway. A cease and desist order was issued for introducing and spreading fill in a wetland area.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) focused on bear-baiting activity and ATV enforcement this week. Numerous calls about the upcoming bear season were taken and a presentation was given to local youth attending firearms safety classes. Violations encountered included possession of an open container of alcohol on an ATV, consumption of alcohol by people under 21 years of age, failure to display ATV registration and failure to operate ATVs with lights illuminated as required.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working boating and angling activity on special regulation lakes this past week. Time was spent patrolling area ATV trails and handling reports of nuisance bears. Assistance was provided to a motorist who had a crash with a large bull moose. The moose died from its injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the vehicle was provided a possession permit for the moose. The salvageable meat was utilized and DNR Wildlife research staff obtained valuable biological samples from the moose.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports an increase in nuisance-bear calls. Bears are fighting to find natural forage, and farm crops are an easy food source.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2021-08-23
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending training at Camp Ripley this week. Time was also spent working on wetland cases, checking anglers, and taking wildlife-related complaints.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) handled several nuisance-bear complaints.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. He armored rifles and monitored area ATV trails for activity.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports providing security for the Greenwood Fire that is burning near the BWCAW.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) worked from an ATV much of the week checking bear baits, recreational vehicles, and other state forest activities. Many bear hunters have been seeing bears coming in to their baits and hope they will have some luck when the season opens. Conditions were dusty on the trails and not many ATVs were seen. The recent rain should help improve trail conditions. Swedberg also answered multiple questions regarding low water on lakes and rivers.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) received new complaints of litter, aquatic vegetation removal and nuisance beavers. Peterson also assisted with in-service training.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing, AIS and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent at Camp Ripley for annual in-service training.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling and boating activity. AIS compliance checks were performed. A complaint of illegal digging was investigated with the area hydrologist and soil and water conservation district. Warren also attended annual training.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week following up on aquatic vegetation, wetland, and invasive species violations. Resource protection notifications were issued in several cases in which violations of wetland fill or illegal removal of aquatic vegetation were found. Time was also spent patrolling for fires and responding to injured-animal calls. Property owners are reminded to look at the DNR website for updates on burning conditions. Currently, no fires are permissible in Otter Tail County, including small campfires in contained pits. Enforcement action was taken for careless fires, burning prohibited materials, and no burning permit.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-08-23
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports taking questions related to the upcoming hunting seasons. It is a good time to make sure you have all the proper licenses and stamps before the seasons start. Enforcement action was related to fishing and ATV violations.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent the week following up on numerous complaints. Several ATV riders were out and about, and several youth were given warnings for illegal operations. Plautz monitored AIS and fishing enforcement. With the low water levels, it?s tough to launch boats at many accesses, which also are filled with aquatic vegetation. Overlimit and double-tripping complaints were monitored, but no violations were encountered.
CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) reports focusing on angling and ATV activity throughout the week. Calls and questions regarding the upcoming early teal and goose season, road right-of-way access and potential big-game violations were handled. Goodman reminds people that even with the recent rain, burning restrictions remain in place as the area remains very dry with an additional hazard of strong winds.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked the DNR booth at the Douglas County fair this week. Lots of positive contacts were made with community members on fish- and game-related questions and topics. Also, annual in-service training was attended at Camp Ripley.
CO Hannah Wood (Wheaton) assisted with in-service training at Ripley during the week, issued minnow-transport permits and took several calls regarding miscellaneous wildlife issues. Wood also gave a laws and ethics talk at a firearms safety class.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) checked angling and recreational vehicles during the previous week. Time was also spent checking bear-baiting and taking nuisance-bear complaints. AIS compliance and boating activity were also monitored.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement. AIS compliance was also monitored. Douvier fielded multiple nuisance-animal complaints and answered various bear-baiting questions.
CO Dan Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were focused on checking anglers and boaters and monitoring AIS law compliance. Additional time was spent on ATV enforcement and nuisance-animal complaints.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2021-08-23
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) continues to prepare for the upcoming hunting season openers. Time was spent patrolling local wildlife management areas for abandoned property. Fire enforcement remains a primary focus, even though the area received a fair amount of rain. Training was attended at Camp Ripley.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for bear bait and recreational vehicle activity. Baum investigated ongoing aquatic plant management and bear-bait violations. Baum had another individual ride along for a day.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass County lakes for angling and boating activity. He also attended training. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) focused on ATV riding, angling, and bear baiting. Follow-up work was completed on open cases and Cross responded to calls for service. Cross also attended a youth firearms safety field day.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) spoke at a firearms safety class, and checked bear-baiting activity and ATV riders.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) spent time working ATV enforcement and checking bear baits. Kunst took enforcement action on ATVs operating on the highway, expired registration and illegal bear-baiting signs.
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