District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2023-11-13
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) started the final phase of field training with COC Sean Cannon. They spent time checking deer hunters, seeing mixed success. The hunters who were spending more time in the woods were seeing greater success rates. They also spent time investigating several complaints of individuals shooting from the road or their vehicles. Several violations were addressed with enforcement action being taken, including transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and deer-tagging issues.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working deer-hunting and trapping activity throughout the past week. Regas noted hunter success was low with reports of very few deer seen by hunters. Time was spent investigating TIP reports of hunting deer with bait, reports of shining deer and handling reports of hunter harassment between hunters competing for public lands. Violations encountered and addressed this past week included failure to validate a site tag and transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls-West) continued to monitor firearms deer hunting activity. Violations encountered this week included use of artificial lights to locate game while possessing a firearm, taking big game from the public road right-of-way, taking game from a motor vehicle, taking deer over bait, transporting a loaded firearm, and multiple recreational trespass violations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports slow hunting success through the middle of the firearms deer season. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms, illegal deer stands on public land, and shooting from a roadway.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area deer hunters and following up on complaints. Violations encountered were leaving a stand in a wildlife management area, driving after revocation, failure to register, and theft of services.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) reports that a variety of TIPs and calls kept him busy, including numerous instances involving illegally dumped animals or animal parts, hunter confrontations, as well as an injured bald eagle. Fontes enforced deer, waterfowl, and angling regulations throughout the week, and he reports that he checked his first ice angler of the season on Nov. 10.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2023-11-13
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending the majority of this week working the firearms deer season. Various hunting and trespassing related complaints were received. Time was also spent investigating wildlife-related complaints. Several deer-hunting related violations were encountered.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) began the final phase of field training with COC Nick Bruesewitz. Time was spent working the second week of the firearms deer season, with hunters seeing some success. Waterfowl hunters were also checked later in the week. The warm weather has caused most of the lakes to stay open. Enforcement action was taken on individuals operating unauthorized vehicles on ATV trails, transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle, and taking big game without a license.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) continued to work deer- and waterfowl-hunting activity throughout the week. Warmer weather and wind opened up some water, extending opportunity for hunters to get after diver ducks and geese. Deer-hunting activity appeared to remain below average but a number of hunters were reporting success. Enforcement action was taken for various deer-hunting related violations including baiting and no license.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking deer hunters around the area. While overall deer numbers seem down, there were still many successful hunters around Detroit Lakes. Swedberg handled many calls regarding trespassing, shooting from the road or a motor vehicle, and other deer violations. Many cases remain ongoing and Swedberg will spend the next couple of weeks working on those.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) worked the final weekend of the 200 Series firearms deer-hunting season. Hunting activity appeared to be down. Reports of trespassing and hunting over bait continue to be the most common complaints. Time was also spent issuing deer-possession permits.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) reports the deer season closed with fewer hunters than in previous years and also fewer deer harvested. Waterfowl numbers are excellent in the area and many hunters switched from deer hunting to duck or goose hunting during the last weekend of the 200 Series season. Limits of geese and diver ducks were observed in hunters? bags. Calls from the public included reports of trespassing and requests for car-killed deer and bear permits. Enforcement action was taken for trespassing, taking an antlerless deer in a lottery area without a permit, and various off-highway motorcycle violations.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for activity related to deer hunting. Hunter activity had declined significantly compared to opening weekend with many hunters citing poor hunting weather. Violations this week included hunting over bait, ATV registration issues, and failure to validate a deer tag.
Bagley vacant.
Osage vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2023-11-13
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the busy firearms deer season week taking several phone calls and responding to complaints, with the main ones being about trespassing and shooting from the road/ vehicle. As a hunter it is your responsibility to ensure a safe and ethical hunt. It is also your responsibility to teach the next generation the proper way to do things so they can also become safe, successful and ethical hunters.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent much of the week checking deer hunters, as well as a couple pheasant hunters and duck hunters. Deer hunters reported a slower-than-usual deer season with some success through the area. Calls regarding hunter harassment topped the list of complaints, along with property line disputes and trespass. Violations detected were untagged deer, no blaze orange, illegal ATV operation, and hunting in a state park.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking pheasant and deer hunters throughout the week. TIP complaints were received, and investigations were conducted. Injured-wildlife calls were also fielded.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked deer, waterfowl and small-game hunters. Waterfowl-hunting success has increased this past week. Deer-hunting success is down compared with other years. Lack of blaze orange clothing was the frequent violation Osborne encountered.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) began the final phase of field training with COC Scholz. Many hunters were checked throughout the week, though most reported little success. Hunting violations found included transporting loaded firearms, shooting from a roadway, and trespassing. The officers also investigated a complaint of open burning of garbage, which remains a problem year after year.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) encountered a very busy deer firearms deer season throughout her station. Many deer were taken and there were lots of happy hunters. With heavy activity comes a variety of violations, including untagged deer, non-validated tags, failure to register, juveniles hunting alone, etc. Znajda assisted Douglas County with an accidental firearm discharge, resulting in a gunshot wound. Various enforcement action was taken.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports answering various deer-related questions and calls throughout the week and weekend. Possession permits were also issued.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking deer and pheasant hunters. Additional time was spent following up on off-highway motorcycle complaints and checking waterfowl hunters. The common complaint during the firearms deer season was the lack of deer hunters were seeing.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2023-11-13
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) handled a variety of deer-hunting related calls and trespass complaints. Many hunters reported seeing fewer deer over the week and second weekend of the season. Enforcement action was taken for various violations including illegal dumping, failure to register deer, taking antlerless deer without a permit, and off-highway vehicle violations.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled for waterfowl- and big-game-hunting activity in Cass and Hubbard counties. Waterfowl and deer hunters are reporting mixed success. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked deer-hunting activity. She investigated multiple ongoing hunting complaints.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports continuing to see hunters having success during the firearms deer season. A large, coordinated search in Morrison County for a lost/missing hunter had a positive outcome, and K9 Jet was utilized in the search efforts. Some enforcement action for the week consisted of trespass, insufficient blaze orange, hunting over bait, unlawful party hunting, removing/destroying property from a wildlife management area, place fill in a public waters and driving after revocation.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) reports checking far fewer hunters afield for second weekend. A trespass/shoot from roadway complaint was investigated. Enforcement action was taken for failing to register deer as required and expired ATV registration.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continued checking gun-deer-related hunting activity. While some hunters were seen with a successful deer harvest, many report not seeing many deer. Mathy also assisted with a call of a lost hunter. Enforcement action was taken for deer hunting and ATV violations.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked a busy week of the firearms deer season in the Park Rapids and Lake George stations. Numerous calls for service and questions were answered. Cross assisted in a search for a lost hunter in northern Hubbard County. Enforcement action was taken for numerous big-game-deer-hunting violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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