MN DNR K9 Conservation Officer
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2022-10-24
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) started some winter prep by getting snowmobiles out and ready for some seasonal preventive maintenance. He also started to get boats prepared for winterization. Duck hunters were checked and success over the weekend appeared slightly down from recent weeks. Activity on the Rainy River was high over the weekend and the bite is starting to pick up on the river and Lake of the Woods. Violations encountered included fishing with extra lines, duck hunting with no state duck stamp, unplugged shotgun while duck hunting, and no wearable PFDs on a watercraft while duck hunting. A wolf depredation was also investigated.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) worked the youth firearms and early antlerless seasons in northwest Minnesota. Mild weather kept deer movement to a minimum, but Woinarowicz still checked some nice deer hunters had taken. Enforcement action for the week included recreational trespass, taking deer without a valid license, failure to validate the tag at the kill site, transporting untagged deer, and unlawfully erecting a permanent stand in a wildlife management area.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working grouse-, archery deer- and waterfowl-hunting activity, as well as angling activity, this past week. Regas also worked the youth deer hunt over the long MEA weekend. Time was spent working an investigation of bough harvesters trespassing on posted private property. They returned numerous times after being advised of the trespassing on the private property. Regas worked with the landowner to be alerted when the trespassers returned. Regas eventually nabbed the trespassers as they were trespassing and harvesting even more boughs. One trespasser was arrested on an outstanding warrant and the remaining trespassers were released with notice of pending charges by criminal complaint for gross misdemeanor trespassing and theft of timber/decorative boughs. The case is currently ongoing with the landowner to establish the extent of the damage or total theft of decorative boughs from the 40-acre parcel. Regas also checked ATV riders who were out on area trails enjoying the quite nice weather this past weekend.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports successful hunters and anglers around the area. Prachar responded with a Beltrami County deputy and State Trooper to a call of a deer trapped in a swimming pool. The deer was tangled in three different types of rope and cables, along with a tarp and various pool equipment. The deer was released unharmed from the tangle and the freezing water. Enforcement action was taken for shining deer, underage consumption, and open bottle in a motor vehicle.
Warroad #1 vacant.
Warroad #2 vacant.
Baudette #1 vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2022-10-24
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking deer hunters during the youth and early antlerless seasons. Time was also spent checking turkey and grouse hunters. Anglers were checked throughout the week.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) patrolled area lakes and forest roads. Waterfowl hunters, who were having mixed success, were checked.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports an active youth deer hunt along with lots of hunters taking part in the area?s early antlerless season. Warm weather, though, caught some hunters ill-prepared as a number of complaints were taken regarding whole, gutted deer dumped on minimum maintenance roads. It appeared the hunters didn?t take the necessary steps to remove the hide and cool the deer before it spoiled. It is illegal to wantonly waste harvested game. Vinton assisted the sheriff?s department with a disturbance and CO Jordan Anderson with a group of hunters who were hunting outside of the only antlerless permit area. Enforcement action was taken for hunting outside the antlerless permit area, no deer license, no license in possession and operating an ATV on a county highway.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) worked alongside COC Jesse Drown this week. Drown and Swedberg appeared on the Gone Outdoors Radio show discussing life as a conservation officer and what our training looks like. The youth firearms deer season was slow with the warmer weather, but activity on area lakes increased with anglers taking advantage of the perfect conditions. Enforcement action was taken for careless operation of an off-highway motorcycle on a highway, lend/borrow of a big-game license, and transporting a loaded firearm. Swedberg and Drown also assisted other agencies with other calls for service.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) checked small-game and deer hunters, worked ongoing cases, and assisted with a search warrant. He also worked complaints about dogs chasing deer and hunter-harassment.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working small-game, migratory waterfowl- and deer-hunting enforcement. Duck hunters were pleased to find plenty of migrating birds. Ring-necked ducks, mallards and redheads were most commonly found in game bags. Windy and dry conditions continued to hamper most pheasant hunters. Enforcement action was taken for shooting prior to legal shooting hours.
Bagley vacant.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2022-10-24
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl, pheasant and deer hunters. Injured-animal complaints were received around Evansville. Training was given on snowmobile laws and regulations to sheriff?s deputies in Douglas County.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers, pheasant hunters, waterfowl hunters, and deer hunters. Calls were fielded about the youth deer season and the early antlerless season. A few new ducks are being seen in the area, and warmer weather during the last park of the week brought out some fall anglers around the area.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports helping with the interview panel for upcoming traditional hires. Numerous hunting questions and complaints were also fielded.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the week focused on small-game and big-game enforcement. A night shining detail was worked with area officers, and Wood also worked with CO Ryan Brown on a fish overlimit case. Overall, the bird numbers observed by hunters have been disappointing and there has been very limited success.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) and COC Ryan Christenson presented a snowmobile law and regulation class for a local sheriff?s office. Time was spent checking waterfowl hunters, youth hunters, and early antlerless hunters. Multiple youth were successful in harvesting deer. Several violations were observed throughout the week and enforcement action was taken.
CO Andrew Goodman (Fergus Falls) found an uptick in hunting and angling participation leading into the weekend. Many areas are again impacted by dry conditions, which have presented some access challenges. Overall, though, hunters have had moderate success. Goodman encourages all outdoor enthusiasts to deliberately apply safe practices during the remaining hunting seasons.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports spending most of his enforcement efforts on small-game and angling activity in the surrounding areas. Follow up on a trapping case was conducted and enforcement action was taken. Pheasant-hunting success has been mild through the week. Brown also worked with CO Wood on a walleye-overlimit case.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked throughout both Douglas and Todd counties this week, monitoring the youth firearms deer and the early antlerless seasons. Lots of hunters were out. Some were having success, and everybody complained about the downright hot weather. A hunter was cited for bowhunting over bait while also occupying an illegal tree stand in a wildlife management area. Several reports of hunter harassment were fielded, with charges pending. A citation was issued to an individual for transporting an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle on a roadway.
Osakis vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2022-10-24
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports grouse and woodcock hunters having success. He also checked anglers and deer hunters, who reported limited success with the changing weather. Reports from the public included trespass complaints, animal-related calls and damage to public water access property.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked small-game and deer-hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken on an ATV violation.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) working the youth deer season and coinciding early antlerless season. Time was also spent checking anglers and duck hunters. Enforcement action was taken for violations including illegal possession of deer, taking antlerless deer in the wrong zone, hunting deer without a license, and unplugged shotgun. Hunters are reminded it is their responsibility to know what license or permit they need, and not that of the local gas station attendant.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass County lakes for waterfowl-hunting and angling activity. Hunters and anglers are reporting limited success. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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