District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2021-10-25
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked deer hunters, duck hunters, grouse hunters and walleye anglers throughout the week. A complaint of hunter harassment is being investigated from the youth deer season. Lots of youth hunters reported seeing and shooting deer.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) spent the week checking bird hunters, anglers and youth deer hunters. Youth deer hunters had good success over the weekend and the fishing has begun to pick up on the Rainy River. Enforcement action was taken for an individual assisting in taking deer with the use of bait.
CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) reports a good turnout for the youth deer season. Reports of several nice deer have been taken. Brown wants to remind hunters to check the regulations book for bag limits and bonus tag usage for the youth season. Prior to the start of the youth season, Brown was left a voicemail by an individual stating there was a wounded deer in the field with the head flopping all around. Once Brown received cell phone service, he called the individual back. The caller stated, ?After a closer look, I see that it is a wet cardboard box, so you don?t need to come dispatch it.?
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) monitored deer-hunting activity during the firearms youth deer hunt, and responded to multiple calls from people with questions on regulations of the youth deer hunt. He also responded to a call of ATVs in the Old Mill State Park. Enforcement action for the week included operating an ATV in a state park, no state park permit and ATV-registration violations.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) monitored big-game, small-game and waterfowl-hunting this week. He also investigated violations from the recently ended bear season. A good push of waterfowl was observed this week with the wind and temperature changes. Duck hunters in the right locations did well. Youth firearms deer hunters had good success during the youth firearms deer season. Violations encountered included portable stands and cameras left overnight in wildlife management areas, operating an ATV on a county highway where prohibited, establishing a bear bait without a license, unregistered bear bait and bear bait sign violations.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports checking duck, goose, grouse and deer hunters, as well as anglers this past week. Time was spent issuing possession permits for car-killed deer and special-use ATV permits. Regas reports encountering a trio of hunters erecting hunting stands getting ready for the upcoming firearms deer season. However, they were also placing a pile of sugar beets out in front of the deer stand they were erecting. When they realized that it was likely that the sugar beets may not be completely consumed in sufficient time before opening morning, they found it in their best interest to remove the sugar beets on their own. Regas also reports investigating a gray wolf mortality. It was determined the wolf was an immediate threat that was actively pursuing cattle and was shot by the livestock producer. The wolf was donated to the Bemidji State University biology department for scientific research and educational study. Regas reports assisting neighboring officers with enforcement saturation details in shining and trespassing complaint areas. Violations encountered and addressed this past week included hunting license and trespassing violations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports grouse hunters are having mixed success with harvesting birds. Time was spent working big- and small-game hunting activity.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2021-10-25
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports contacting several people out during the youth deer season. Anglers and waterfowl hunters were contacted throughout the week. Various angling and hunting related violations were encountered.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked small-game and youth firearms deer hunters.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored angling and waterfowl hunting on area lakes. He received complaints of deer shining and questions regarding CWD. Shining activity was worked.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports assisting many drivers after they had collisions with deer. Drivers are reminded that this time of year deer can be moving at all hours and drivers need to drive cautiously. Vinton also met area hydrology staff for a site inspection at an area lake. Several calls were taken about possible fishing overlimits. Patrols were conducted during the youth deer season and several young hunters were contacted. Enforcement action was taken for ATV operation on a county highway and unregistered ATVs.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week working deer hunters and duck hunters, and following up on some bear-hunting cases. Not many hunters were seen throughout the week, and the ones who were seen did not have much luck. Some youth hunters were successful over the weekend getting their deer. Enforcement action for the week included WMA violations, trespassing on a wildlife sanctuary, and not having a hunting license in possession.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted with a trespass case, worked deer hunters and handled calls of late shots and hunter harassment.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing, waterfowl- and small-game hunting enforcement. Time was also spent working the youth firearms deer season.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked small-game and waterfowl-hunting activity. Complaints of possible illegal activity in area WMAs were investigated. The youth deer season was worked. Patrol was conducted for shinning activity. ATV and off-road vehicle activity was worked. Lakes were monitored for angling activity.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking pheasant, waterfowl, and deer hunters. Archery hunters are reporting the deer are starting to move around more and youth hunters reported good numbers. But that didn?t necessarily translate into success for everyone. Time was also spent working on a background investigation for the upcoming CO Academy.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-10-25
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time working the youth deer hunt along with the early antlerless season. Several youth were checked, mostly having good success. She responded to a TIP call regarding fishing overlimit where two separate anglers were found with overlimits of crappies. Plautz cited a hunter for hunting big game without a license as they explained to her they went to town and got gas, hit the ATM machine and drank a beer, but forgot to buy the hunting license. Plautz responded to trespass complaints and hunter-harassment calls.
CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) worked a variety of fall hunting activities throughout the week. With cooler weather settling in, deer were on their feet for the youth and early antlerless hunts. Waterfowl activity was once again limited but a fair number of pheasant hunters continued to have early season success. Trespass and road-hunting complaints were investigated and enforcement action included ATV-registration, federal waterfowl regulation and stamp-validation violations.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl, pheasant and firearms deer hunters. Several complaints were received and handled involving trespass, poached deer, shining, deer carcasses being dumped and shooting from the vehicle. One complaint involved a six-point buck that was shot and gutted. Then the whole deer was dumped in the road ditch near Stalker Lake in Otter Tail County. Anyone with information please call the Turn in Poachers line.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked a busy youth firearms and early antlerless deer season weekend. Lots of hunters were observed, with some success observed. Lots of area youth were able to harvest deer, some for the first time. Citations were issued for angling with extra lines, operating an off-highway motorcycle on a paved county road and dogs chasing deer. Calls of injured animals and trespassing were also handled.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) checked pheasant and deer hunters. Time was also spent following up on complaints involving WMAs. Holt completed a background investigation of an applicant for the next CO Academy.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working small-game, waterfowl, fishing, and big-game enforcement. Enforcement action taken included taking a hen pheasant and use of toxic shot on federal land. Multiple trespass complaints were handled and deer-hunting related questions were answered. Douvier also taught a firearms safety class and field day where 24 students were certified.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers and pheasant and waterfowl hunters. Additional time was spent checking deer hunters during the youth deer hunt and early antlerless season. Complaints of late shooting were also investigated.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2021-10-25
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) worked hunting and angling around the area. Enforcement action was take for a crappie overlimit and a big-game violation.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for small-game, big-game and recreational vehicle activity. He saw a few successful youth hunters during the youth firearms deer hunt this weekend. Baum took enforcement action for various ATV-related violations.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) checked multiple hunters and ATV riders throughout the week. Youth deer hunters were checked and some were successful in harvesting their first deer over the weekend. A crappie-overlimit case was also worked.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) worked the youth/early antlerless deer seasons as well as fishing activities. Many people are getting ready for the upcoming deer season. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, allowing illegal youth operation and PFD-related violations. Illegal possession of a big-game animal, excavations in a public water and wetland violations were also investigated.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked deer hunting, small-game hunting, and fall angling. Cross saw a successful youth deer hunt and lots of excited new hunters in the field. The success rate was pretty high with the recent colder weather and increased deer movement. There was lots of activity with all the fall hunting seasons in full swing. Cross reminds archery hunters and trappers in the field that blaze orange clothing must be worn during open firearms deer seasons.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked waterfowl hunting and fishing activity throughout the week. Waterfowl hunters are reporting slow success. Enforcement action was taken for numerous waterfowl-hunting and angling violations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked hunting activity. The forests were busy with activity during the busy MEA weekend. Several youth were out hunting for deer, grouse, or ducks. One duck-hunting group had to be assisted getting unstuck from thick muck on the shore of Leech Lake. Mathy also worked on a fishing investigation and taught at a firearms safety class.
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