District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods, the Roseau River, and Hayes Lake, along with patrolling area WMAs and following up on reports of ATVs in closed areas. Enforcement action was taken for anglers using unattended lines and angling without a license.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers, monitoring ATV traffic, and following up with various complaints. Anglers are reporting success while braving the rough waters with the high wind we have been experiencing.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week assisting with an AIS check station and patrolling area waters. Time was spent on both Lake of the Woods and Upper Red Lake, where enforcement action was taken for taking fish without an angling license, as well as taking illegal-length fish. The check station resulted in enforcement action being taken for failure to drain water-related equipment before transporting. Additionally, Fontes spent a part of the week attending LEMA (Law Enforcement Memorial Association) training.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) worked angling and ATV activity in the area. Enforcement action was taken for illegal operation of an ATV. Prachar assisted the county with a medical emergency.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) assisted with a TIP call concerning a possible overlimit of crappies on an area lake. The suspects had left the lake prior to officer arrival but luckily an additional responding officer met them on the highway and was able to follow them back to their cabin where enforcement action was taken for possession of an overlimit of crappies. Numerous nuisance bear complaints were also handled.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working angling and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent on Upper Red Lake where good compliance was found. Various wildlife complaints were also handled.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) checked anglers on the Red Lake River and the Red River. Time was spent patrolling the area for ATV activity. Additional time was spent working Upper Red Lake. Violations encountered during the week include operating ATV without lights, operating an ATV with juvenile passengers without a helmet, and no license in possession.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake and lakes in the Blackduck area. The bite has been hit or miss depending on the day. Strong winds have made fishing Upper Red Lake difficult for most people. While patrolling Blackduck Lake, CO Vollbrecht responded to an unknown 911 call on the lake with people yelling help in the background. Officer arrived in the area of the call and found four individuals clinging to a capsized boat. The four individuals were loaded into the patrol boat one at a time and transported to shore. Two were transported to Bemidji Sanford by Blackduck Ambulance and the other two were treated on scene and released. Individuals reported to the officer the boat flipped so fast they were unable to reach life jackets. Officer did a day long ride along with a Forestry Division employee as part of their Forestry Officer Training.
Baudette East vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-06-10
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports teaching at the latest CO Academy at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent talking about ATV safety and fur ID at a Crookston Elementary School. Anglers and watercraft operators were also checked.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) checked local lakes and area ATV trails. He fielded questions on chemical pellets being used to control aquatic vegetation. He is seeing heavy off highway motorcycle use in the Wilton area. Riders should check the regulations book on where they can legally operate.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked boating safety and AIS enforcement throughout the week; with the most common violation found to be no type IV throwable device. Windy conditions and rising water made angling a challenge, but some were still finding success. Goodman presented the law and ethics talk for youth ATV riders at a safety class in Henning with CO Saewert instructing the riding portion.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) attended training during the week, attempted follow-up on ongoing cases and spent time on Academy training preparation.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. Area was patrolled for ATV and off road vehicle activity. Leeching and minnow trapping activity was worked. Area WMA?s and WPAs were patrolled. Information was provided for a complaint of a nuisance bear and AIS compliance checks were performed.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) conducted angling and boating safety checks and patrolled for ATV activity. Assistance was provided to neighboring counties sheriff?s offices. A big game case that resulted in enforcement action for wanton waste and unregistered deer was addressed. Calls on nuisance bears were handled. Enforcement action was taken for no helmets on juveniles on ATVs. CO Manteufel would like to remind boaters to have the Type IV throwable out and immediately available on watercraft 16ft and greater.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling area lakes for angling/boating activity and monitoring ATV activity. Multiple nuisance bear complaints were handled, and assistance was given to Beltrami County, with a watercraft crash on Lake Bemidji. Enforcement action was taken for off highway motorcycle operation on public road right of way.
Pelican Rapids vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-06-10
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) assisted at the academy again this week and worked on transportation projects.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and boating activity throughout the week. A TIP complaint of a possible over limit of walleye was investigated and enforcement action was taken. He also assisted local agencies with an attempt to locate a wanted person near Dalton.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, boaters and AIS issues. Osborne took several calls from people in the area that picked up baby animals thinking they were abandoned. Please leave baby animals alone as they are not injured or abandoned. The parents are most likely close and watching.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Time was spent checking anglers and those recreating on area lakes. There was a bass fishing tournament on the chain of lakes that brought 225 boats, filled with high school students. The bass fishermen were seeing a mix of success and were trying to find the mostly post spawned fish. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating and angling violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) took a variety of complaint-based calls from careless ATV operations to boats operating in a designated swimming area. She checked numerous anglers and saw lots of fish in the buckets. She responded to several wounded animal calls and dog chasing deer complaints.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working boating and ATV enforcement. Time was spent checking fisherman and handling various wildlife complaints.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking fishermen and boaters. Several calls of ?orphaned? animals were received, people are reminded to leave baby animals alone, often you are doing more harm than good by ?saving? them.
Wheaton vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-06-10
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) assisted at the academy again this week and worked on transportation projects.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and boating activity throughout the week. A TIP complaint of a possible over limit of walleye was investigated and enforcement action was taken. He also assisted local agencies with an attempt to locate a wanted person near Dalton.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, boaters and AIS issues. Osborne took several calls from people in the area that picked up baby animals thinking they were abandoned. Please leave baby animals alone as they are not injured or abandoned. The parents are most likely close and watching.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Time was spent checking anglers and those recreating on area lakes. There was a bass fishing tournament on the chain of lakes that brought 225 boats, filled with high school students. The bass fishermen were seeing a mix of success and were trying to find the mostly post spawned fish. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating and angling violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) took a variety of complaint-based calls from careless ATV operations to boats operating in a designated swimming area. She checked numerous anglers and saw lots of fish in the buckets. She responded to several wounded animal calls and dog chasing deer complaints.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working boating and ATV enforcement. Time was spent checking fisherman and handling various wildlife complaints.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking fishermen and boaters. Several calls of ?orphaned? animals were received, people are reminded to leave baby animals alone, often you are doing more harm than good by ?saving? them.
Wheaton vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-06-10
CO Corey Sura (Remer) fielded black bear complaints and started investigation of a wetlands/public waters violation he was made aware of. Enforcement action was taken for an angler in possession of an illegal length northern pike. CO?s Sura and Van Asch assisted Itasca County Sheriff?s office with rescuing a boater on Bowstring Lake. The individual was out fishing in strong winds with a small boat, when he mistook where the landing was located and began taking water over the stern of the boat, filling the watercraft completely. The individual and his four-legged friend were unharmed in the incident.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area lakes and observed varying success for anglers. CO Baum found several off highway vehicles on area trails. CO Baum has noticed an increase of OHM in the area riding in prohibited areas and wants to remind OHM riders to review the rules and trail maps. CO Baum took enforcement action for various angling, boating, and recreational vehicle violations.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) spoke at 2 ATV safety classes. She also followed up on ongoing cases and responded to a car accident.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, boating, and ATV enforcement. Numerous calls were taken for nuisance bears and other questions were fielded. Enforcement action was taken for boating, angling, and ATV violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. Area fishing has picked up as several anglers have been having success. A TIP call regarding an over limit of crappies was taken, the anglers were located on the highway and followed to their cabin. While at the cabin the six anglers were found to have 12 crappies over their limit. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass Co lakes for angling and boating activity. CO McGowan also assisted with a detail on Mille Lacs Lake, and assisted with training at the Conservation Officer academy at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for multiple violations throughout the week.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) Reports attending an event at an elementary school with CO Brodin and K9 Jet where students learned about invasive species and how K9?s are trained to detect zebra mussels. Students also learned about species ID and were able to view the TIP trailer. Seifermann and K9 Jet continue to prepare for upcoming certifications.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked anglers and recreational vehicle activity primarily. A special beaver permit was issued and an aquatic plant removal report was investigated. Enforcement action was taken for boating and burning related violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-06-10
CO Corey Sura (Remer) fielded black bear complaints and started investigation of a wetlands/public waters violation he was made aware of. Enforcement action was taken for an angler in possession of an illegal length northern pike. CO?s Sura and Van Asch assisted Itasca County Sheriff?s office with rescuing a boater on Bowstring Lake. The individual was out fishing in strong winds with a small boat, when he mistook where the landing was located and began taking water over the stern of the boat, filling the watercraft completely. The individual and his four-legged friend were unharmed in the incident.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area lakes and observed varying success for anglers. CO Baum found several off highway vehicles on area trails. CO Baum has noticed an increase of OHM in the area riding in prohibited areas and wants to remind OHM riders to review the rules and trail maps. CO Baum took enforcement action for various angling, boating, and recreational vehicle violations.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) spoke at 2 ATV safety classes. She also followed up on ongoing cases and responded to a car accident.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, boating, and ATV enforcement. Numerous calls were taken for nuisance bears and other questions were fielded. Enforcement action was taken for boating, angling, and ATV violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. Area fishing has picked up as several anglers have been having success. A TIP call regarding an over limit of crappies was taken, the anglers were located on the highway and followed to their cabin. While at the cabin the six anglers were found to have 12 crappies over their limit. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass Co lakes for angling and boating activity. CO McGowan also assisted with a detail on Mille Lacs Lake, and assisted with training at the Conservation Officer academy at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for multiple violations throughout the week.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) Reports attending an event at an elementary school with CO Brodin and K9 Jet where students learned about invasive species and how K9?s are trained to detect zebra mussels. Students also learned about species ID and were able to view the TIP trailer. Seifermann and K9 Jet continue to prepare for upcoming certifications.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked anglers and recreational vehicle activity primarily. A special beaver permit was issued and an aquatic plant removal report was investigated. Enforcement action was taken for boating and burning related violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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