District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2024-04-01
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley, and then put in one last long snowmobile patrol on Lake of the Woods with CO Fontes. Some walleye anglers were having success, but the majority of the activity was by tip-up northern pike anglers who were generally having a slow day, with two trophy pike being seen and measured. Violations for the day included anglers using too many lines.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week attending annual training and responding to various complaints.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods. Fontes talked with numerous groups of people who are still getting out and fishing for both northern pike and walleyes on the ice via truck and ATV. Success has been mixed, but Fontes learned of a caught-and-released 29.50-inch walleye in Muskeg Bay. Violations encountered were the use of an extra line, operation of an unregistered ATV, and trespassing.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports worsening ice conditions as well as worsening boating conditions on the Rainy River. Some determined anglers put boats in the Clementson access and broke ice for almost 100 yards before finding open water. Dangerous ice continues to be problematic around the area. Always check ice yourself; don?t rely on past conditions or social media to guide you. Enforcement action was taken for unattended lines and illegal-length fish.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time attending training at Camp Ripley. A case regarding an individual shooting hawks was finished. Several big-games cases were started.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports monitoring for spring beaver-trapping activity and monitoring area lakes for angling activity. Time was spent patrolling area recreational vehicle trails and forest roads. He handled a wolf-depredation complaint. Regas also wrapped up a wildfire investigation and continues work on a big-game case.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-04-01
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a firearms safety class in Fisher. Time was further spent checking illegal ATV activity in area wildlife management areas. Angler activity was also monitored.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) patrolled area ATV trails and forest roads. He investigated a calf-depredation complaint and continued work on a deer season case.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) patrolled area ditches and trails for snowmobile activity, for the first time this year. Snow deteriorated steadily throughout the week, ensuring the season was short. Additional time was spent scheduling a ride-along, outreach events and safety classes. Ice on area lakes continues to fluctuate, preventing any open-water fishing up to this point.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) attended annual training and attended a career fair at Minnesota State-Moorhead this week. Other time was spent answering questions about regulations on public lands and following up on complaints from earlier in the month.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week at annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent on miscellaneous wildlife-related calls.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time patrolling the station for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. A complaint of a possible sick or injured moose was worked with Wildlife staff. Ice conditions were monitored on area lakes and rivers/streams were monitored for the upcoming fish run. Leech ponds were checked for abandoned traps from past season.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) followed up on a potential wetland violation and addressed calls concerning wildlife. A career fair at an area high school was also attended and equipment maintenance was conducted this week.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent getting to know new station and monitoring ATV activity.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-04-01
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) assisted at Camp Ripley for in-service training this week.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spoke to a firearms safety class on laws and ethics. Trapping and trespass-related calls were handled and fishing activity and ATV activity was monitored. Investigations are ongoing regarding illegal activity on area wildlife management areas. Assistance to area state park officials was provided.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) spent the week on trapping, ATV, and angling enforcement. Trappers caught incidental critters and they were turned over as required. He spoke at a career fair in Moorhead with CO Swedberg and various wildlife-related calls were also fielded.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked areas for spring fish run activity and attended training at Camp Ripley. Firearms safety class preparations are in progress. Information on the new license issuing system coming in March 2025 was reviewed.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent her week focusing on ATV and snowmobile activity with the snow that finally came to the area. She attended annual in-service training and completed equipment maintenance. She continues to get complaints of dogs chasing deer.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking snowmobile and ATV operators. Additional time was spent attending training and following up on a report of a bear near Glenwood.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-04-01
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass and Hubbard counties for snowmobile activity. Trails were busy over the weekend and enforcement action was taken for numerous violations. McGowan also assisted with training at Camp Ripley for the annual officer in-service training.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) investigated a trespass complaint. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display snowmobile registration and failure to transfer ownership.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) assisted with training at Camp Ripley. Spring ATV activity was worked and an investigation was continued on a suspected trapping violation.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) checked traps, patrolled for snowmobile traffic, and fielded numerous questions from the public. Cross additionally attended annual training at Camp Ripley for a majority of the week.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area snowmobile trails with the fresh snow this past week. Conditions after the recent winter weather encouraged many eager snowmobilers to pull their machines out of storage, after what seemed to be the end of the season. Baum checked numerous snowmobiles for registration and operators for their safety certificate. Baum wants to remind everyone planning to operate any off-road vehicle to recheck registration, ensure they have completed the proper safety class, and review the regulation books for the rules of the trails. Baum took enforcement action for various snowmobile registration and safety certificate violations.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports attending annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. He also reports monitoring trapping, angling and recreational vehicle activity.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) attended in-service training at Camp Ripley. Snowmobile activity was monitored, as was off-highway motorcycle activity. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display current OHM registration and operating on a public roadway. The public is reminded OHMs can only be operated on designated trails or private property.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) spent the majority of the week at annual training at Camp Ripley. The area remains quiet due to lakes that are in transition from ice to open water as well as the closed forest roads and trails. Some time was spent working on equipment maintenance.
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