District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2022-02-07
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) assisted with removing a dead deer from under a Warroad resident?s front porch. The cause of death is unknown but suspected to be from an injury after being struck by a vehicle. Anglers and snowmobile riders were checked on Lake of the Woods and in the Warroad area. Violations included speeding with a snowmobile, expired snowmobile registration, operating a non-snowmobile on a snowmobile trail and possession of
marijuana. Fishing on Lake of the Woods has been slow.
CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) spent time monitoring area snowmobile trails throughout the week. Trail conditions are good, but some of the lake trails have become quite rough. Enforcement action was taken in regards to an individual with a 2-year-old passenger who was not wearing a helmet. Sura also investigated a call regarding a wolf depredation. A dozen more youth operators will now be able to hit the trails as they have recently passed their snowmobile safety course. The help from our great volunteer safety instructors is greatly appreciated!
CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) reports working angling, snowmobile riders, and big-game cases from the 2021 season. With the recent warmer weather, more snowmobile riders have been observed using the trails. Enforcement action this week included failure to register a harvested bear, failure to register a harvested deer and allowing a minor to violate a game and fish law.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) updated a fishing presentation for area fifth-graders, conducted follow-up investigations on deer-licensing violations, and monitored area angling and snowmobiling activity.
CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) monitored angling and snowmobile activity this week in the area and on Lake of the Woods. Time was spent talking to folks during the Thief River Falls Jaycees? fishing derby on the Red Lake River as well. Elwell also talked with Argyle Rod and Gun Club members about various hunting, fishing and recreational vehicle topics. This week?s violations encountered included angling without a license, non-portable shelter license violations, and no helmets on youths under 18 years of age.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports patrolling area snowmobile trails and working on an applicant pre-employment background investigation.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports an increase in snowmobile activity. Time was spent working snowmobile and angling activity. Enforcement action was taken for leaving lines unattended through the ice, no license in possession, and possession of controlled substances.
Warroad #1 vacant.
Warroad #2 vacant.
Baudette #1 vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2022-02-07
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and snowmobile operators throughout the week. Various wildlife-related complaints were received. Violations related to the 2021 deer-hunting season were investigated.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored angling and snowmobile activity in the area. Time was spent patrolling vacant area stations. A detail was worked on Upper Red Lake with CO McGowan and work continued on a background investigation.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week patrolling area snowmobile trails and lakes. It was a busy week checking snowmobile riders, as trails are in good condition and the weather was good. Swedberg worked a snowmobile detail over the weekend during a local club ride where there were upwards of 500 snowmobile riders present. There were several registration, muffler, and operation violations during the ride. Officers also assisted with one crash and a DWI arrest during the event.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) monitored fishing activity and worked on a background investigation.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing, coyote-hunting and snowmobile enforcement. Time was also spent responding to miscellaneous wildlife-related calls.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) worked a detail with COs Swedberg and Goodman during a vintage snowmobile run. Despite blizzard conditions and wind chills during the morning, the event still drew approximately 500 riders. Unfortunately, a significant number of violations were observed during the event, with the most common violation being improper display of registration. Riders are reminded that a Minnesota registered snowmobile must display the numbers as well as the registration sticker on the hood. A snowmobile crash was also investigated, where the rider crashed into a tree and left the scene. Fortunately the rider was found safe the following day and admitted that alcohol may have contributed to the crash. The crash demonstrates the importance of wearing a good helmet while operating a snowmobile.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2022-02-07
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) continues to work on a background investigation. Plautz fielded calls regarding fish carcasses dumped in a nearby swamp, and dead turkeys and pheasants dumped in a road ditch. She also assisted a neighboring officer with a snowmobile safety class. Snowmobile activity was patrolled and area lakes and fish houses were checked. Equipment maintenance was performed on her patrol vehicle.
CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) worked a snowmobiling event with COs Swedberg and Landmark that brought out hundreds of riders. The most common violations encountered included no trail pass, failure to transfer ownership and riding on the roadway. A snowmobile crash investigation is ongoing and another rider was arrested for DUI. Additional time was spent on angling enforcement and teaching a youth snowmobile safety class with Lt. Richards.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, snowmobile and ATV riders, and fish houses. Osborne attended a snowmobile safety class in Evansville where he gave the law and ethics talk. CO Plautz and Douglas County Sheriff?s Recreational Deputy Notch assisted in administering the riding portion. Thank you to the volunteer snowmobile instructors from Evansville Sports and Lawn who held the class.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked ice anglers throughout the week, despite frigid weather. Pressure on area lakes seems to be a little lighter with each passing week as winter enters its second half. Time was also spent maintaining station equipment and taking injured-animal calls. The deer-feeding ban is in effect for Douglas County, so anyone who is trying to help the deer by placing feed out is actually in violation.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers, coyote hunters, and snowmobile operators. Additional time was spent on station-equipment maintenance, and following up on a commercial aquaculture complaint.
Osakis vacant.
Fergus Falls vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2022-02-07
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass and Crow Wing counties for snowmobile activity. McGowan also spent time checking anglers on Leech and Upper Red lakes. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Calie Kunst (Remer) continued to check anglers and snowmobile riders throughout the week. Kunst took enforcement actions on numerous violations, including angling with extra lines, operating ATVs on grant-in-aid snowmobile trails, and expired ATV and snowmobile registrations.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) received reports from the area snowmobile clubs of trespassing. Users are reminded to stay on the trails or they will lose the access that the snowmobile clubs have worked hard to gain. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations, including no snowmobile registration, fishing without a license, unattended lines, and failure to display shelter licenses.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily worked on a background investigation. Some time was spent checking anglers on Lake Winnibigoshish. Not many fish were seen or reported being caught. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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