District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2021-05-03
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked turkey hunters and pike anglers. Enforcement action was taken in Marshall County for an untagged turkey that was being transported. On the Warroad River, enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, fishing for northern pike and walleyes out of season and angling with an extra line from a kayak.
CO Marc Johnson (Warroad South) primarily worked sturgeon-angling activity on the Rainy River and ATV enforcement. In addition, time was spent assisting local law enforcement agencies, preparing equipment for use on Lake of the Woods and speaking at a firearms safety class in Warroad. Violations encountered included registration violations for boats and ATVs, insufficient life jackets/throwable devices and no angling licenses in possession. Anglers are encouraged to keep in mind that although the air temperatures have risen, the water remains dangerously cold.
CO Aaron Larson (Baudette West) worked angling enforcement on Lake of the Woods. Larson also spent time completing a required training.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) reports checking anglers targeting northern pike on Zippel Bay, anglers on Upper Red Lake targeting crappies, and Rainy River anglers looking to bag a sturgeon during the first ?keep? season of the year. Sura also completed commercial minnow dealer inspections for two separate groups trapping shiners on Upper Red Lake, and investigated a trapping violation. Violations addressed throughout the week included no life jackets on board, no throwable flotation device on board, no angling license in personal possession, leaving lines unattended and possession of an illegal-length sturgeon.
CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) worked primarily angling and boat and water enforcement this past week. He has noticed people are getting ready for the fishing opener and for the warmer weather. He reminds boaters to get their registration decals displayed on watercraft prior to putting them out on the water. Brown also attended a trapper safety class in Middle River with CO Woinarowicz. Enforcement actions taken this past week included no angling license in personal possession, failure to display current registration on an ATV/watercraft and no helmet on a juvenile passenger on an ATV.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to numerous nuisance-bear complaints, assisted Pennington County and the Minnesota State Patrol with calls for service, and monitored area turkey hunting activity.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) conducted patrols for turkey hunting, angling and ATV activity this past week. Wildfires were investigated, incidentally trapped otters were handled and a presentation was given to Holt-area firearms safety students. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV-related violations.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports monitoring spring fish spawning run activity and waters closed to angling, and checking anglers on special regulation lakes. Time was spent handling assorted wildlife-related calls of nuisance bears and incidental otter catches. He also investigated a report of two eagles that appeared to have been shot. Regas asks anyone with information on the two bald eagles to please call him or the TIP line. Regas also assisted with Officer Water Survival training at Camp Ripley for the Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Academy.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2021-05-03
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports speaking at a firearms safety class in Plummer. Time was also spent following up on fire-related complaints. Anglers and watercraft operators were also contacted.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) patrolled area lakes for angling and boating activity. Area lakes and trails were busy over the weekend with the nice weather. He responded to an ATV-vs.-tree accident south of Bemidji. Time was spent completing online training.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports spring fishing activity is picking up as the weather warms and panfish begin to move into the shallows. Anglers are reminded that species that have a closed season may not be targeted, even for catch and release. TIPs were taken about potential illegal angling activity. Vinton and CO Anderson worked a case of ongoing damage to a public water access. Enforcement action was taken for attempting to take fish out of season, no angling license and ATV/OHM violations.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the past week working sport fishing, spring turkey hunting and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent attending ATV and firearms safety education classes. Thank you to all the volunteer safety instructors for their hard work to provide safe and accessible classes for students.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling and boating activity. People are reminded to do an equipment check to make sure all safety equipment is onboard before venturing out on the water. Leeching activity was worked. ATV trails were patrolled for activity. A complaint of tiling in a wetland was received and investigated. Information was provided about nuisance-bear activity.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the past week checking anglers in the Pelican Rapids station. The panfish bite has picked up on most area lakes as the water is warming and most anglers are finding enough fish for a meal. Anglers are reminded it is their responsibility to know the regulations of the lake they fish. Read page 78 of the fishing regulations book for instructions on the proper way to measure fish. Numerous anglers this past week were discovered to be in possession of illegal-length crappies on area special regulation lakes. Enforcement action was taken for possession of illegal-length crappies, angling with extra lines, operating unregistered watercraft, angling without a license, no Type IV throwable, and off-highway motorcycle operation on a state aquatic management area.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-05-03
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the past week focused on checking anglers, boaters and ATV operators. He also monitored for AIS-law compliance. Additional time was spent checking turkey hunters and teaching an ATV safety class. Calls were handled about injured animals and bowfishing laws.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) set up and instructed an ATV safety class in the area, certifying over 40 students. Plautz worked area fishing, invasive species, and turkey hunting activity. Assistance was given to local law enforcement on a traffic stop and warrant arrest. Plautz spoke to a firearms safety class this past week, and seized two incidentally taken otters from beaver trappers.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) focused the past week?s enforcement efforts on angling and reactional vehicles. She also assisted local law enforcement in locating a suicidal female, and with an ATV complaint. Several minnow-transport permits were issued and enforcement activity for the past week included angling without a license, unregistered ATV, ATV passengers under 18 without a helmet, and providing a false name/date of birth to a peace officer.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) worked angling and recreational vehicle activity throughout the past week. Time was also spent monitoring bowfishing and turkey hunting. Holt followed up on a complaint involving the Wetlands Conservation Act and checked beaver trapping.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. A firearms safety class in Millerville was attended and the laws and ethics talk was given to the students. A wetland-draining complaint was received and investigated.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) worked activity surrounding fishing, boating and ATV operation. In addition, fire and turkey hunting activity was monitored. Preparations are underway for firearms safety classes.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) monitored panfish-fishing activity on station lakes throughout the past week. Things are still rather slow but a few consecutive warm days will activate the fish. One boat with multiple anglers was checked. There were wearable PFDs onboard at all. Turkey hunters were out, and had harvested several birds. A fire smoke plume was spotted from a distance and after locating the landowner, it was learned that the field brush area was being burned off without a permit during burning restrictions. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Emily Leeb (Morris) continued to work primarily fishing, boating, and fire activity. ATV and beaver-trapping activity were monitored, and follow up was completed on open investigations.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2021-05-03
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent much time over the past week on bowfishing and sucker-spearing enforcement. All recreational vehicle owners are reminded to check registration before venturing out. Time was also spent on fire enforcement, litter, public waters violations and speaking at local safety education classes.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked turkey hunting and fishing activity. She also received multiple nuisance-animal calls.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) fielded numerous phone calls and took multiple reports from people. Trap tampering and dumping of illegally taken wild animals were investigated. Cross also educated multiple OHV riders on rules and regulations of legal riding in Minnesota. Questions can be answered by searching Minnesota DNR off-highway vehicle regulations.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) spent time working ATV and sport fishing enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for multiple violations, including expired ATV registration, failure to display valid registration, operating an ATV without headlights and operating in the road right-of-way. Follow up on deer-hunting cases was worked.
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