District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2023-12-18
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked trapping, snowmobile, and angling activity around Roseau. Most waterbodies are still forming ice, but anglers are finding some patches of thicker ice. Fishing results vary.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent time attending a first aid training hosted by the Warroad Port of Entry (U.S. Customs) and checking area trappers. A warning for having a body gripping trap without a 7-inch overhang was issued.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week working trapping, big-game, and angling activity. Fontes found the fisher/pine marten season to be slower than anticipated for most folks, likely due to the warm and relatively snow-less weather conditions. However, Fontes also found that the bite on portions of the Lake of the Woods is on fire. Enforcement action was taken for illegally setting a trap in a culvert, leaving a trap outside of the season, possession of a walleye/sauger overlimit, transporting fillets without skin patches, and illegal big-game registration, among other violations.
CO Jamus Veit (Baudette East) continued spending time getting to know his new station and meeting with local staff. He attended first aid training in Warroad. Time was spent checking anglers on Upper Red Lake. The anglers are reporting mixed results. Caution is advised when venturing out onto early ice.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working trapping and early ice fishing. Time was also spent attending first aid training in Warroad. Complaints of dumped deer carcasses were also handled.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week working trapping and angling enforcement. Bruesewitz also participated in the Thief River Falls Shop with a Cop event held by the area college?s local law enforcement club. Time was also spent participating in first responder medical training held by the Warroad Customs Port of Entry.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working trapping activity and angling activity throughout this past week. Time was spent following up on TIP information and ongoing deer-season investigations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports that warm weather and rain have made the ice on Upper Red Lake very unpredictable. Numerous ATVs have gone through the ice this season alone and there have been numerous instances where anglers have had to be rescued. Time was spent working angling and furbearer-trapping activity.
Baudette West vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2023-12-18
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week checking ice anglers. A few snowmobile operators and ATV operators were checked. Additional time was spent working deer-hunting and small-game-hunting enforcement.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) checked anglers on area lakes. Ice conditions still have not improved and activity has been slow. Vollbrecht assisted the Beltrami County Sheriff?s Department and the Kelliher Fire Department with an ice rescue on Upper Red Lake. The airboat was used to shuttle numerous people across a large open-water area to shore. The ice sheet continues to shift with the strong winds.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) checked open-water anglers as well as ice anglers during the week. The bite remains on the slower side, but people continue to test limits with ATVs and hard-sided houses, despite ice conditions. Additional time was spent monitoring trapping activity and addressing wildlife management area issues.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) patrolled area lakes and public lands for fishing and trapping activity. Ice conditions are not the best, but a few people were out fishing. Instruction was provided at a snowmobile safety field day.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent the week monitoring ice angling activity and ice conditions. ATV and snowmobile operators have started to venture out on the ice, but extreme caution should be used, as warmer weather has caused ice conditions to deteriorate on some lakes. Angler questions about rules and regulations were answered.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) urges anglers to continue to use caution on area lakes. Five or more inches of ice is becoming more common, but areas of soft ice and thinner ice can still be found. Landmark also started a background investigation for next year?s CO Academy, spoke at a snowmobile safety course, and answered wildlife- and enforcement-related calls.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) patrolled for small-game hunters, observed good grouse numbers in the area, and checked ice and spearing anglers. Ice still ranged from 6 to 8 inches. Follow ups continued about property left on public lands and a call about a safety concern at a public water access was followed up on.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for ice angling activity. Unusually warm weather has left area ice fairly thin. Always use caution on early ice and remember that it is never completely safe. Violations this past week included fishing for trout on a designated trout lake, during a closed season and not having a fishing license in possession while ice fishing.
Moorhead vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2023-12-18
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked small-game hunting, trapping and ice angling, and began a background investigation on a conservation officer applicant. Cross assisted with the rescue of anglers on Upper Red Lake who had become stranded due to poor ice conditions. Cross reminds all people to be aware of the ice conditions and take extra caution this year, especially given the warmer weather so far.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) monitored trapping and angling activity around the Remer area. An angling investigation was completed where two individuals were found to be fishing a designated trout lake without trout stamps, fishing a designated trout lake during a closed season, and fishing without a license. The original complaint originated from a social media post.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports assisting counties with Wetland Conservation Act complaints and site visits. He continues to investigate trapping and hunting complaints. He urges anglers to be aware of poor ice conditions in the area. He reports checking grouse hunters, who have seen a good number of grouse but had empty game bags. He is also in the early stages of a background investigation.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for expired ATV registration and no license in possession.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent time checking anglers on area lakes. A Class 2 ATV was located doing donuts and operating on a snowmobile trail. Enforcement action was taken. Saewert responded to a grass fire and educated the landowner on permits. The public is cautioned on burning due to the dry conditions and reminded to obtain a permit if they are going to burn. A snowmobile safety class was attended with CO Anderson.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked on follow up on cases from last fall. McGowan also worked Cass County lakes for angling activity. There is little to no fishing activity on Leech Lake due to poor ice conditions.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked ice anglers. The ice is slowly building with as many as 8 inches reported, however there are still open-water spots on deeper portions of lakes and cracks and ice ridges have become hazards. Mathy also started working on a background investigation of a CO applicant. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2023-12-18
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week focused on angling and small-game enforcement. Hopes were high for birds moving through the area with the fresh batch of snow, but poor weather conditions proved to make success quite difficult. Follow up from the deer season continues.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) started working on a background investigation for a potential new employee. Plautz assisted area volunteer safety instructors with a snowmobile safety class, checked area ice anglers, and monitored trapping activity. A dog was found caught in foothold trap while trespassing on the neighbor?s property. The property owner and dog owner were able to safety remove the dog from the trap. People need to make sure their dogs are staying home where they belong.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) checked pheasant hunters and angling activity. With ice conditions being poor, not many anglers have made it out on the water bodies. Reminder if you are going to venture out for ice fishing, check the thickness of the ice as often as you can because it is very unstable. Brown also gave a law and ethics talk at a snowmobile safety class in Herman.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers and ATV riders. Ice conditions vary across the area and people need to be careful when hitting the ice. Please prepare ahead of time. Injured-animal calls and burning complaints were received throughout the week.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) monitored the very light ice fishing pressure around Alexandria this week. Ice conditions are extremely variable, with several lakes still wide open. Pheasant hunters continued to be out with good conditions. A citation was issued to homeowner for burning garbage.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) reports moderate angling activity with questionable ice conditions in areas. Znajda continues to spread the word about ice safety and the precautions to take. Various fish were in the buckets and overall ice anglers are enjoying decent success. Time was focused on trapping and angling activity, with various enforcement action taken. Wounded-animal calls were handled.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working on various tasks for the district and starting on background investigations for the Division.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers, trappers, and pheasant hunters. Warm weather and rain have had negative impacts on area ice conditions. Anglers are urged to use extreme caution if attempting to walk onto the ice.
Comments