District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2022-04-11
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) investigated a calf depredation in the Greenbush area. Tip-up anglers were checked on Lake of the Woods and work continues removing old frozen-in fishing shelters.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Time was spent on the Rainy River for what was an expected busy weekend. Anglers found moderate success, with water temps still only around 36 degrees. Enforcement action was taken for insufficient number of life jackets on board watercraft, fishing without a valid license and failure to renew watercraft registration.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) taught the law and ethics portions of the ATV safety class in Grygla and firearms safety in Warren. He also patrolled the area for ATV activity, taking enforcement action for no helmet on a juvenile ATV passenger, no ATV registration and operating an ATV on a state highway.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) monitored ATV activity and prepared for the upcoming turkey season. A presentation was given to Newfolden-area ATV safety students and assistance was given to the Polk County Sheriff?s Office with searching for a suspect who fled on foot from a deputy.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working angling activity on area lakes as the panfish bite picked up with the warm weather. Regas received reports from anglers of varied success for bluegills, crappies and perch. Regas cautions anglers venturing out on ice as conditions are deteriorating quickly and snow early in the week has hidden thin ice hazards, There have been several reports of ATVs breaking through the ice on area lakes. Time was spent assisting the sheriff?s office with reports of ATVs breaking through the ice and monitoring boater AIS compliance. Violations encountered and addressed this past week include ATV registration and watercraft AIS violations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) attended Division training at Camp Ripley
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2022-04-11
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports speaking at firearms safety classes in Fisher and East Grand Forks this week. Time was also spent working on a fire case in the Fosston area. Anglers and ATV operators were also checked and various wildlife-related complaints were received.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. He also worked a boat and water detail on the Rainy River over the weekend. The accesses and river were extremely busy.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week assisting with firearms safety classes and attending annual in-service training. Around 60 students are currently completing their firearms safety classes in the Detroit Lakes area.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing, spring goose hunting and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent attending annual in-service training at Camp Ripley.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) monitored rivers and streams for fish run activity. Angling activity was worked, with ice conditions continuing to change daily. Forest trails were monitored for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Area WMAs were patrolled.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking angling activity and following up on ongoing wetland cases. A few anglers were adventurous enough to get one more weekend on the ice and all had excellent success. Sunday?s rain and the weekly forecast should end the 2022 ice fishing season as ice conditions have deteriorated significantly. Calls from the public included questions about trout fishing, beaver trapping, and shed hunting. As the weather warms, parents of juveniles and operators of ATVs and dirt bikes are encouraged to look at the regulations book for information on where and how to legally operate them. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of dirt bike violations, including roadway operation and juveniles operating without safety training.
Bagley vacant.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2022-04-11
CO Andrew Goodman (Fergus Falls) spent the majority of the week training at Camp Ripley and conducting equipment maintenance. Calls related to bird mortality and new fishing regulations were handled. Additional time was spent planning safety education classes and attending a Grant County Rural Safety Day committee meeting. The event will again be held at the Grant County Fair with opportunity for area youth to win prizes and sign up for an ATV safety course field day.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) attended annual training this week. Plautz monitored area ice anglers and ATV riders, and investigated litter that was dumped. Plautz is investigating illegal shooting of deer that occurred in the past month.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. Station equipment maintenance was performed and trapping violation investigations continue. Spring turkey activity has been observed in the mornings.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) reports terrible ice conditions around Douglas County had basically ended the ice fishing season for most anglers. A few panfish were being caught on a few select spots with decent ice. ATV riders were observed throughout the county as nicer weather arrived, and several operators were cited for expired registration and having juvenile passengers without helmets.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. Fire enforcement was also worked. Water levels are still extremely high and temperatures are still low, resulting in poor angling success. Be cautious if you are going out on watercraft as there are still some floating ice chunks out in the lake.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing, recreational, and commercial enforcement. Division training was also attended. Numerous nuisance-animal complaints were fielded.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were focused on checking anglers, ATV operators, and spring beaver trappers. Additional time was spent on preparing equipment for spring use, handling injured-animal calls, and attending training.
Osakis vacant.
Elbow Lake vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2022-04-11
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking panfish anglers and monitoring ATV activity. He received several calls about sick/injured wildlife. Enforcement action consisted of no license in possession and targeting game fish in the closed season. He also reports assisting other law enforcement agencies and area Wildlife staff.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass and Crow Wing counties for angling activity. He also assisted with patrolling the Rainy River. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for angling activity. He answered calls for an incidentally trapped otter and nuisance-beaver issues. Baum wants to remind anglers to check ice conditions frequently if they?re heading out.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) spent time checking late ice anglers and ATV riders. She also took various phone calls, including an injured-animal complaint.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked anglers and took multiple injured-deer calls. Enforcement action was taken for expired registration and no license in possession.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent time at annual training and investigated deer-season violations. Calls were received regarding injured/sick animals. Equipment was maintained in preparation for the changing seasons
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily attended annual in-service training. Some anglers were checked as the lake ice continues to hold up. Some accesses are in bad shape, though. Enforcement action was taken for an angling violation.
ATV rec officer vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2022-04-11
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking panfish anglers and monitoring ATV activity. He received several calls about sick/injured wildlife. Enforcement action consisted of no license in possession and targeting game fish in the closed season. He also reports assisting other law enforcement agencies and area Wildlife staff.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass and Crow Wing counties for angling activity. He also assisted with patrolling the Rainy River. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for angling activity. He answered calls for an incidentally trapped otter and nuisance-beaver issues. Baum wants to remind anglers to check ice conditions frequently if they?re heading out.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) spent time checking late ice anglers and ATV riders. She also took various phone calls, including an injured-animal complaint.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked anglers and took multiple injured-deer calls. Enforcement action was taken for expired registration and no license in possession.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent time at annual training and investigated deer-season violations. Calls were received regarding injured/sick animals. Equipment was maintained in preparation for the changing seasons
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily attended annual in-service training. Some anglers were checked as the lake ice continues to hold up. Some accesses are in bad shape, though. Enforcement action was taken for an angling violation.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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