District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2023-12-26
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. Ice conditions are still spotty. Violations for the week included possessing an overlimit of walleyes/saugers, angling with extra lines, angling without a license, and operating an ATV with expired 2017 registration.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up with various complaints. Violations encountered were angling without a license and no license in possession.
CO Jamus Veit (Baudette East) spent time checking anglers on Upper Red Lake and Lake of the Woods. Anglers are having a lot of success catching limits on Lake of the Woods. Veit assisted the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office and Kelliher Fire Department with an ice rescue on Upper Red Lake. With the warmer weather and rain, Veit wants to urge anglers to use caution when venturing out onto the ice. Enforcement action was taken for an extra-line violation, allowing a minor to violate game and fish laws, and taking a walleye overlimit.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time checking ice anglers and working cases from this past firearms deer season. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession. Those going out on the ice are reminded to be cautious of ice conditions.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) worked trapping and angling enforcement this week. Time was spent working Upper Red Lake, where anglers saw success. Grouse hunters were checked enjoying the warmer weather before the season closes.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2023-12-26
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) continues to work on deer-hunting related cases. Time was also spent checking ice anglers. Public land-related complaints were also addressed.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored angling activity on area lakes. He responded to an ice rescue situation on Upper Red Lake. Vollbrecht also checked traps and patrolled areas for ATV activity.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) assisted with fur registration in Park Rapids and worked fishing activity. Ice conditions are questionable in the area given the rain over the Christmas holiday. Enforcement action was taken for various fishing violations as well as litter on the ice and camping at a public access.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling activity, with a few fish houses starting to appear. People are reminded to monitor the ice conditions as they are changing rapidly, with reports of fish houses and ATVs going through the ice throughout the state. Wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas were monitored for activity.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week working on a background investigation, following up with trapping violations, and checking ice anglers. Anglers really need to pay attention and use caution as ice conditions vary, with the most recently frozen water having an inch of ice or less. Enforcement action was taken for furbearer-registration violations.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) answered questions on deer licenses and bag limits and property left on public lands. He also responded to a report of dumped deer carcasses on a forest trail. Assistance to other agencies was given on emergency calls. Angling checks were conducted throughout the week and enforcement action was taken on unregistered ATVs and illegal-length northern pike. Ice still ranged from 6 to 8 inches on most lakes, but a lot of melting has occurred with the rains and higher temperatures, so please be safe and use caution.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for ice angling activity. In many areas, the warm weather is degrading the thickness of the ice. Violations this week included litter on the ice and no fishing license in possession.
Moorhead vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2023-12-26
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) continues to work on a background investigation for a potential new employee. Through the week, ice anglers and trappers were monitored. She also attended a fur-registration day with Wildlife staff. Injured-animal calls and complaints of dogs running at large were also received.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor pheasant, goose and deer hunting. He also attended the fur registration in Fergus Falls and saw a good numbers of furs being registered. Ongoing cases from the firearms deer season were also worked. Ice conditions are still very poor on area waters.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, fish houses and ATV riders. Ice conditions across the area vary greatly and anglers should venture out with caution. Ice-access and trespass-related questions were received and addressed.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) monitored a little bit of ice fishing traffic this week. Every angler checked was walking out and extreme caution should be taken on every lake around Alexandria. Investigations into deer-hunting complaints and late-season goose hunters were also investigated.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) reports seeing more anglers out during the week. They were having moderate success, but the number of anglers and fish dropped over the weekend with the weather and holiday. Thin ice in areas is still holding some anglers back, which makes for a few more pheasant hunters. Several deer-possession permits were issued and injured-animal calls were handled.
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) continued to work on follow up from the deer season, as well as small-game-hunting enforcement. She?s spent time working on her background investigation as well. People continue to venture out onto the ice and end up going through. The weather has been unusually warm for this time of year and ice conditions need to be taken into consideration before going out.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working on multiple background investigations for the Division. Various wildlife-related complaints were also received and handled.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers and pheasant and deer hunters. Additional time was spent conducting follow-up investigations from the deer season. He also attended a fur-registration day in Glenwood. Baumbarger took part in a shop with a cop event with students from the Minnewaska area school.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2023-12-26
CO Corey Sura (Remer) focused efforts on trapping activity in the area, following up on a couple of investigations. Individuals were given direction on placing legal sets on public lands. Furbearer registration was attended in Grand Rapids, with far better turnout and success in comparison to last season. With the recent bizarre weather conditions, Sura asks ice anglers to use extreme caution if venturing out on the lakes to fish.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent time checking anglers on area lakes. The ice conditions continue to diminish with warm weather. Saewert assisted the Otter Tail County Sheriff?s Office with an ATV that went through the ice. A media interview with a local newspaper was completed. Saewert and two other COs attended the fur-registration station in Wadena. There is another fur registration on Jan. 16.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) reminds anglers to use caution while on the ice. Recent warm weather and rain have deteriorated ice around the area.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports working on a background investigation. He also suggests anglers plan ahead and make safe choices over the upcoming holiday weekend. Recent rain, wind and warm weather have severely diminished ice conditions on local lakes.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily worked on a background investigation of a conservation officer applicant. Anglers were also checked. The continued warm and wet weather has not helped the ice. Mathy responded to a report of an ATV that went through the ice on Lake Winnibigoshish. Fortunately, the driver was able to get out quickly and was not injured.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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