District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2022-09-12
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) instructed at the DNR Academy at Camp Ripley and checked goose hunters near Middle River.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) followed up on complaints from over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for failure to allow AIS inspection of water-related equipment.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) continued to monitor local bear-hunting activity, taught game enforcement at the CO Academy, and taught the law and ethics portion of the firearms safety class in Halma. Enforcement action for the week included operating an ATV without current registration and no helmet on a juvenile ATV passenger.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working bear-hunting, the close of the early teal season and early goose-hunting activities this past week. Time was spent investigating a wolf-depredation complaint, checking anglers and patrolling area ATV and off-road-vehicle trails. Regas assisted the sheriff’s office with a trespassing complaint with enforcement action taken. Violations encountered and addressed included juvenile operators and/or passengers not wearing helmets.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports working continued bear-hunting activity. Time was spent working big-game hunters and ATV activity.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2022-09-12
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week at the CO Academy with game week instruction. Time was also spent working on bear-hunting-related complaints. Goose hunters were also checked.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) checked area anglers, goose hunters, and bear hunters. A deer farm inspection was completed.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking bear hunters, ATV riders, and some early teal hunters. Bear season has been going well and most hunters are having bears hit their bait stations. The teal season went well for the most part for hunters, with most being able to find some blue-winged teal. There were some license and duck ID issues, and hunters are reminded that an early season is a privilege and we need to be very careful about what ducks are being shot at.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) worked bear baiting, checked hunters and handled calls about ricing hours, work in public waters and personal watercraft-related complaints. Violations of unsigned and unregistered bear baits and unregistered ATVs were handled.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing, early goose hunting and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent working the youth waterfowl season over the weekend. The most common violations encountered continue to be no licenses and/or stamps and unplugged shotguns.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Follow up was conducted on open cases. Angling activity was monitored. Calls of nuisance bears, a possible injured eagle, a deceased fawn and litter on a WMA were received. Warren taught the laws and ethics portion of firearms safety class. Wild rice harvest was monitored. A call of a possible trespass while goose hunting was investigated.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week at Camp Ripley assisting during big- and small-game enforcement week. Calls from the public were related to questions about upcoming hunting seasons.
Bagley vacant.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2022-09-12
CO Andrew Goodman (Fergus Falls) continued focus on waterfowl-hunting and angling enforcement. A few ducks were around for youth waterfowl weekend, while geese remained limited. Additional time was spent on follow up and reports related to wetland and public waters violations.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) checked area for youth waterfowl weekend, finding minimal activity. Goose hunters in the area are finding some success and fishing has been good. Plautz assisted training conservation officer candidates at Camp Ripley throughout the week on small- and big-game enforcement. Plautz assisted a local Amish group of kids get supplies for an upcoming firearms safety class.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking hunters for the early teal, goose and youth waterfowl season throughout the week. Hunting success varied amongst hunting groups. Several waterfowl-related violations were observed and enforcement action was taken. He also monitored angling and boating activity in the area.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, ATV riders and waterfowl hunters. A question about the legalities of shooting ranges in Hubbard County was handled. Fishing has picked up on area lakes and waterfowl populations in the area have decreased.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) kept an eye on early goose hunters and early teal hunters this past week. Several groups were out having some success in the hot weather. Angling activity remains high throughout the area with several citations issued for no licenses and overlimits. A call is being investigated involving an attack on a person by a domesticated raccoon. Time was also spent at the CO Academy evaluating the cadets during the final week before graduation.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent time working around the state this past week. She worked the DNR Enforcement booth at the Minnesota State Fair with CO Calie Cook; assisted with a female-only hunter education/firearms safety field day in St. Cloud with COs Emily Douvier, Cassie Block, Leah Kampa, Jen Mueller, and Amber Ladd; and took part in Kerkoven?s ?Welcoming Week.? Minnow permits were issued and time was also spent working on her background investigation.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working early teal- and goose-hunting, fishing, and recreational vehicle enforcement. Assistance was also provided teaching at an all-girls firearms safety field day where 24 girls became firearms safety certified.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking waterfowl hunters, anglers, and boaters. Additional time was spent attending training and investigating a complaint of illegal work being performed in a wetland. He fielded calls about nuisance beavers and water access rules.
Osakis vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2022-09-12
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked Cass and Crow Wing county lakes throughout the week. Numerous boaters were out enjoying the warm weather and a decent fish bite. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating and angling violations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked anglers and recreational vehicles. A public water alteration complaint and litter complaint were investigated. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked hunting and fishing activity. She also investigated an ATV complaint.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports assisting with the ongoing CO Academy at Camp Ripley, attending training and conducting unit maintenance. He also received calls in regards to hunting questions, firearm questions, nuisance-animal concerns and complaints of people target practicing. Now is a good time to ensure your land is posted legally. Check the safety of tree stands and read the current rules/regulations for the upcoming deer and small-game seasons. As a general reminder, the Information Center should be utilized Monday through Friday for general questions and concerns: 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (646-6367).
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent the week cleaning up paperwork from the busy Labor Day weekend, assisting with training at the CO Academy and preparing for a busy fall season ahead.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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