District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2023-10-09
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week enforcing ATV and small-game regulations and following up on various cases. Enforcement action was taken for expired ATV registration and transporting a loaded firearm.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working small-game, archery deer, waterfowl-hunting and angling activity throughout this past week. Time was spent monitoring area recreational vehicle trails for activity, assisting CO Hutchins with a detail patrolling the Red River and working a shining detail with CO Vollbrecht monitoring shining complaint areas. Regas encountered a vehicle from which he observed people shooting at deer with the aid of artificial lights. The vehicle was stopped and the driver and front passenger are facing charges for shining for deer while in possession of a firearm, takin g deer out of season, taking deer with the aid of artificial light, transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, taking deer with non-expanding ammunition, trespassing on agricultural land, driving after revocation and open bottle in a motor vehicle. Violations encountered this past week also included an overlimit of wood ducks, no PFDs and angling license violations.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked grouse hunters and archery deer-hunting activity around the Beltrami Island State Forest, Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, Lost River State Forest, and Roseau River WMA. He also investigated a trespass case in Kittson County that involved ?No Trespassing? signs being moved.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls- West) investigated a TIP complaint of a possible walleye overlimit, monitored area waterfowl activity, and investigated area shining complaints. Enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm in motor vehicle and motor vehicle insurance violations.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking small-game hunters and monitoring ATV traffic.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2023-10-09
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working waterfowl enforcement throughout the week. Time was further spent checking archery deer hunters and bear hunters. Anglers were checked on rivers in the area.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored angling and waterfowl-hunting activity on area lakes. Time was spent patrolling area ATV trails and forest roads. The grouse take continues to improve as visibility increases in the forests. A restoration order was issued for a public waters violation.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) continued to work waterfowl-hunting and fall angling activity. Migrating ducks carried by this week?s cold front and soaking rains produced a mix of species for hunters. Goodman issued public water restoration orders, responded to TIP calls and spoke at a Dark House Association meeting.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) continued training with COC Just Frisch this week. They primarily worked migratory waterfowl hunters and small-game hunters. The officers also followed up on cases from the previous deer season. Enforcement action for the week included migratory waterfowl hunters not having the correct licenses, unplugged shotguns, and ATV violations related to juveniles.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) checked small-game and waterfowl hunters and worked ongoing cases. Peterson also responded to calls about an illegal structure in the state forest and littering.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking waterfowl hunters and archery hunters. Waterfowl hunters are still having good success and archery hunters reported more deer moving with the cooler weather. Time was also spent following up with ongoing wetland violations.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for angling, small-game, and waterfowl-hunting activity. Fox also recovered an injured eagle in Beltrami County and delivered it to a Raptor Center-affiliated rehabber. Violations this week included an unplugged shotgun, no federal duck stamp, and no state duck stamp.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2023-10-09
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) continues to field train COC Liz Carlson. Time was spent checking for waterfowl hunters in the Central Zone during the closed season. The officers responded to a TIP call regarding illegal waterfowl hunting. Time was also spent checking shore anglers and waterfowl and archery hunters. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, hunting in a closed season, hunting without a license, and operating an ATV without headlights.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports spending most of his enforcement effort on waterfowl activity. Enforcement action was taken for taking waterfowl in the closed season and no life jackets onboard watercraft. He also spent time checking anglers and completing annual training.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl hunters, boaters and anglers. ATV safety class organization was completed and administrative work was conducted. A possible wetlands violation in Douglas County is being investigated.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) investigated a compliant of waterfowl hunting during the closed season. The out-of-state hunter was contacted in the blind and surprised to hear of the week-long season closure in the Central Zone. He also had failed to purchase a state waterfowl stamp. Enforcement action was taken and Lawler also seized a couple of ducks. Fall anglers were monitored on area lakes. They were having moderate success for seemingly all species, despite the strong winds all week long.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) worked big-game, small-game, waterfowl, and angling activity throughout her week. Angling reports have been some of the best of the past few weeks, while duck reports were a bit sluggish. Lots of waterfowl hunters were out, with only a few birds taken here and there. A variety of violations were encountered throughout the week, including transporting loaded firearms and possession of lead shot while waterfowl hunting. Additional enforcement action was taken for burning prohibited materials and abandoned property on WMAs.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the past week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. Wetland violation complaints were investigated and calls from people with questions regarding upcoming hunting seasons were answered. Wood also assisted with an ATV safety class.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working deer and waterfowl enforcement. Enforcement action was taken regarding a hunter-harassment incident.
CO Dan Baumbarger (Glenwood) continued field training COC Levi Brown. During the week, permits were issued for car-killed deer. Nearing the weekend, they responded to a TIP call regarding a group of people hunting migratory waterfowl when the season was closed. After investigation, citations and warnings were issued for hunting out of season. Over the weekend, waterfowl hunters were checked on Lake Osakis and anglers on and around Lake Minnewaska were checked. Enforcement action was taken for various violations.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2023-10-09
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) reports fall is in full swing, with many archery hunters, waterfowl hunters, and grouse hunters out. Cross saw good success over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for hunting and ATV violations.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) finished Step 2 of field training with COC Manteufel. The week focused on ATV patrols, water safety, sport fishing, and waterfowl enforcement. They followed up on information regarding possible public waters violations and issued a permit for a car-killed bear.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) wrapped up field training a new conservation officer. The officers patrolled Cass County for angling, hunting, boating and ATV activity. Numerous angling, boating, and hunting violations were addressed.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked anglers and bird hunters. Grouse hunters are starting to see more birds. Mathy responded to an injured-eagle complaint and worked on Bear Committee-related items. Enforcement action was taken for duck-hunting violations.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) worked angling and waterfowl activity in the Remer area. An angler was cited for fishing without a license.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and hunting activity. She assisted with a medical. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking seasonal hunting activity in the area. He reports utilizing K9 Jet to assist other officers with a waterfowl investigation. K9 Jet was also utilized on a big-game investigation. Seifermann and K9 Jet also were part of Wadena County?s Conservation Day, where nearly 200 fifth- and sixth-graders graders were able to watch a demonstration by K9 Jet, interact with him and learn about the DNR?s K9 program.
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