District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2021-08-02
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and ATV riders around Warroad. Anglers had mixed results fishing for walleyes, and the operator of a boat was cited for having no life jackets in his boat for himself and his two children. Another boater was cited for not having children under the age of 10 wear their life jackets during particularly dangerous conditions on Lake of the Woods. Warnings were issued to the parents of juvenile ATV operators for allowing the illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile.
CO Aaron Larson (Baudette West) worked primarily angling and ATV enforcement. Larson spent time checking anglers on the west side of Lake of the Woods. Anglers seemed to have success catching good eater-size fish, along with many small ones as well. Violations included failure to have PFDs while boating, operating an ATV on a highway, failure to have ATV registration and failure to transfer ATV title.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) handled a complaint of a nuisance bear getting into a chicken coop, worked an AIS detail on Upper Red Lake and checked anglers on Upper Red Lake and Lake of the Woods.
CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) reports spending most of his time on ATV and angling enforcement this past week. Local anglers around Lake Bronson report very little fishing success and low water levels are making it difficult to get larger boats on the lake. Enforcement action was taken for youth on ATVs without helmets. Brown reminds all riders to have all required safety equipment when operating ATVs.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) worked a detail on Lake of the Woods with CO Huener and patrolled area ATV trails. Enforcement action for the week included no fire extinguisher on a watercraft, insufficient PFDs on watercraft, watercraft passenger under age 10 without a required PFD, allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, juvenile passenger without a helmet, ATV passenger restriction and no ATV safety training.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2021-08-02
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and watercraft operators. Time was also spent inspecting several aquatic plant management- and wetland-related complaints.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored boating and angling activity on area lakes. Several nuisance-bear complaints were handled.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports assisting with CO Prep interviews all week in St. Paul.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time patrolling for AIS violations and recreational vehicles this week. Swedberg also spent time working on previous cases and following up on TIP calls. Several calls of injured wildlife were taken. Assistance was also given to Becker County with multiple calls and concerns about water usage permits.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) worked complaints of aquatic plant violations and handled a nuisance-bear report at a campground. Peterson also assisted with a search warrant.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent patrolling wildlife management areas, scientific natural areas and state forest lands.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling and boating activity. Information was provided about nuisance-bear activity. Calls of a possible wolf depredation and illegal fire activity were received and investigated. A call of eagles caught together by fishing line was investigated.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week working boat and water safety, angling, AIS, ATV, and aquatic plant management activity. Calls from the public included reports of excessive aquatic vegetation removal, ATV-related complaints, and nuisance-beaver problems. Assistance was given to Becker County on a pair of ATV riders who committed numerous violations, including damage to property and trespassing on railroad property. Enforcement action was taken for aquatic plant violations and operating a watercraft while pulling a skier without an observer or mirror.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2021-08-02
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) followed up on aquatic vegetation-related complaints, fishing-related complaints and ATV-related complaints. Plautz attended the annual Minnesota Trappers Association convention and answered several questions and concerns.
CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) spent time patrolling area lakes and rivers for recreational activities. Goodman responded to calls for service regarding injured wildlife, a traffic accident and AIS violation. Enforcement action included expired watercraft registration and unsafe ATV operation.
CO Shane Osbourne (Evansville) checked anglers and boaters. A wetland restoration order case is being worked with the local hydrologist. A fishing overlimit-complaint was received and investigated. A reminder to anglers to check the regulations for special regulation lakes.
CO Hannah Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week in St. Paul assisting with the CO Prep interviews. Minnow permits were also issued.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) focused on boating safety and angling activity during the previous week. Time was also spent checking recreational vehicles and monitoring AIS compliance. Holt worked a detail with other officers in the BWCA. Enforcement activity involved boating safety and registration violations.
CO Dan Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers and boaters and monitoring AIS law compliance. Additional time was spent checking ATV operators and patrolling a complaint area for illegal off-highway motorcycle operation.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2021-08-02
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for primarily ATV Activity. Baum assisted other officers with an investigation and fishing and boating activity on the Blueberry Lake and Shell River. Baum found reduced activity with smoke and haze conditions accompanied by high temperatures. Baum took some time this week preparing for the upcoming hunting seasons. He also assisted local agencies with a variety of calls.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) handled a variety of complaints during the week. Several calls were fielded from people with questions about upcoming hunting seasons.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked off-highway vehicle enforcement, boating, and angling. Follow up was conducted on reported ongoing violations. Cross also participated in a Boundary Waters Canoe Area work detail checking anglers, campers, and canoers. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, youth ATV, watercraft, angling, and PFD violations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily worked boating, angling, and recreational vehicle activity. Time was also spent working on an open public-water-alteration case and a deer-season case. Mathy also continued work on Bear Committee-related items. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) spent time patrolling the lakes in the Remer area. Multiple violations were found, including failure to have life jackets, taking fish without a license and angling with an extra line. Multiple angers were also found fishing without their angling license in personal possession. Kunst reminds all anglers to ensure licenses are in possession while angling.
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