District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2023-11-27
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working duck-hunting and trapping activity this past week. Time was spent following up on cases from the deer season and into the muzzleloader deer season. Regas also spent time fielding calls and questions regarding an assortment of topics including regulation updates on Upper Red Lake winter walleye limits.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the beginning of the week by wrapping up the third weekend of the firearms deer season. Fontes and CO Huener worked a case in which enforcement action was taken for permitting a minor to violate a big-game law.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) continued field training with COC Sean Cannon. Black powder hunting activity was monitored, equipment was winterized and stored for the winter, and case follow up continues for a couple cases that originated during the rifle season.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) followed up on cases from deer season and prepped for early ice activity. Reports have been coming in of ice on Upper Red Lake. Don?t listen to Facebook reports of safe ice, always check yourself before venturing out. Remember no early ice is 100% safe.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week following up with various complaints and assisted local agencies.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls-West) answered numerous questions concerning the use of bonus deer permits during the muzzleloader season, area hunters are reminded that a muzzle loader license is required to utilize the Bonus Permit during the muzzleloading season. Follow up investigations on cases from the deer season were also conducted.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2023-11-27
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working on hunting related complaint investigations. Deer hunters and small game hunters were checked. Various wildlife related complaints were received.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) received several complaints regarding dumped deer and waterfowl carcasses around the area. These unfortunate instances reflect poorly on hunters and are not tolerated. Officer Goodman asks everyone to properly dispose of their waste and report those who dump theirs in ditches and public accesses. Additional time was spent monitoring the end of northern waterfowl season and beginning of muzzleloader deer season. The recent cold snap also brought out the first ice anglers of the season.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week following up on cases from the deer season. CO Swedberg also completed other reports from cases he assisted the county with and prepared for an upcoming court case.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week working on deer cases. Calls from the public included reports of dead deer, suspicious activity, and carcass dumping of waterfowl.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for ATV, small game, and waterfowl hunting activity. Violations this week included no HIP certification while waterfowl hunting and a duck hunter operating a duck boat without a life jacket.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2023-11-27
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) responded to hunter harassment complaints, several injured animal complaints were received, and she worked late season waterfowl hunters. Opening weekend of muzzleloading deer season was worked with most hunters reporting poor success. Ice is forming nicely on the smaller lakes, but caution should be used for anxious anglers attempting to venture out on thin ice.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) checked pheasant and deer hunting activity as well as worked active investigations. Questions regarding deer hunting and property dispute issues were received and fielded. He observed a few hunters getting out for the muzzleloader season with mild success.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl, pheasant and muzzleloader hunters. Follow up investigations from the deer season continue and new complaints have been received regarding potential illegal hunting practices. Snowmobile safety class preparation has begun in the Evansville area.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) continued field training with COC Scholz. Waterfowl hunters were checked as duck season draws to a close. A case involving tagging issues from deer season was wrapped up. Officers patrolled in Big Stone and Stevens counties for pheasant hunters. Violations encountered included hunting without pheasant stamps and transporting loaded firearms. Officers also assisted in releasing an incidentally caught wolf in a trap.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) encountered a slow muzzleloader opener with low harvest reports. Checked pheasant hunters and the last of the duck hunters as the season comes to an end. CO Znajda handled dog chasing deer complaints, injured animal complaints, with various enforcement action taken throughout the week.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) spent time completing tasks for the district and helping partners on various case related items. Questions were also answered regarding the upcoming muzzleloader season. Injured and nuisance animal calls were also handled.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking trappers, waterfowl, and pheasant hunters. Additional time was spent following up on complaints from firearms deer season and answering questions about the upcoming muzzleloader season.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2023-11-27
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled for waterfowl and big game hunting activity in Cass and Hubbard counties. CO McGowan continues to train a new conservation officer from the last academy. Waterfowl season has come to an end. Numerous violations were encountered over the week.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) Reports a cold and blustery start to the muzzleloader season. He attended K9 training at Camp Ripley and conducted equipment maintenance and prepped watercraft for winter. He reports seeing some early anglers out on the ice and would like to warn people to ensure their safety and the safety of others by being aware of changing ice conditions with heavy winds shifting the ice.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) found opening weekend of the Muzzleloader Deer season to be very uneventful. A couple ice fishermen were encountered who took their chances on a potential polar plunge to start the ice fishing season. A few of the area lakes froze over around Thanksgiving Day, but open water was still seen on some at the end of the weekend. Travel at your own risk.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) worked a rather quiet weekend with some small game hunters and muzzleloader and archery deer hunters checked. Large lakes are on the verge of freezing and some small lakes have ice. Extra caution is always advised as ice thickness varies and ice sheets freeze at different times. An injured eagle complaint was taken and work continues on gun deer season cases.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) received information and began investigation on a fishing violation. A potential deer hunting violation was also followed up on. One individual was cited for littering at a hunter walking trail parking area.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checking hunting and trapping activity. She responded to an accidental fisher caught, and a damaged ice house that was left in the roadway.
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