District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2024-01-22
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and monitored area snowmobiling activity. The fur registration was worked with DNR Wildlife in Roseau. Angling on the big lake has been good and bad, with lots of perch being caught on the west side of the lake. Enforcement action taken for using extra lines and a fish-packing license violation.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers. Violations encountered were no license in possession, angling with extra lines, garbage on the ice, and an overlimit of walleyes/sauger (12 over).
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week monitoring angling activity in the area. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession, use of an extra line, and for leaving garbage on the ice outside of a shelter.
CO Jamus Veit (Baudette East) spent the week checking anglers on Upper Red Lake and following up on various complaints. Anglers reported having mixed results throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for extra line violations, shelter on ice without license, and taking fish without license.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working ice fishing and trapping as well as assisting other agencies. Time was also spent attending several community events to give informational talks. A snowmobile class law talk was given in Thief River Falls. Enforcement action was taken on a big-game case from last season.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week following up on big-game violations from the previous deer season. Time was also spent speaking at local clubs and organizations regarding new regulations. Enforcement action was taken for allowing youth to violate fish and game laws.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working trapping, angling, and spearing activity this past week. Regas noted ice conditions have improved in the area and a variety of fish caught with many anglers reporting a slow bite but enjoying getting out to fish. Time was spent monitoring activity on recreational vehicle trails and assisting the Blackduck snowmobile club put on the youth snowmobile safety class and giving the laws and regulations presentation. Violations encountered and addressed included no shelter tags and litter on the ice.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-01-22
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers on area lakes. Time was further spent working predator-hunting activity and working on big-game-violation cases.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored angling activity on area lakes. He observed perch and walleyes being caught on some of the lakes. Individuals are taking recreational vehicles on most area lakes, but travel with larger vehicles is limited. Snowmobile activity is greatly limited to area lakes and no area snowmobile trails have been groomed due to the lack of snow. He assisted the local snowmobile club with a snowmobile safety class.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) continued to monitor angling activity on area lakes. Variable ice conditions continue to be the hot topic, despite low temperatures. The lack of snow has prevented grooming of snowmobile trails, making them hard to impossible to navigate.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking anglers in the Detroit Lakes area. Many anglers have moved their houses onto the lakes and most lakes have 12 inches of ice in most areas. Swedberg also assisted an area snowmobile club with their snowmobile safety class. Around 20 students went through the class.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) saw an increase in fishing activity during the week as ice thicknesses increased. However, the bite was reported to be slow. Numerous fishing related violations were addressed. A fur registration station was attended in Park Rapids, with many trappers and hunters reporting a slower year due to late snow. Snowmobile trails in the area have seen little activity due to shortage of snow.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) continued working on a background investigation for the 2024 CO Academy.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling and spearing activity. ATV checks were performed, with most anglers opting for them over snowmobiles. Area WMAs and WPAs were monitored. Warren spoke about laws and ethics at a snowmobile safety class.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) completed additional snowmobile training and reached out to area schools to provide job and career information. Follow up on deer-license investigations was conducted, with education provided and some enforcement action taken. Angling checks were also conducted. Ice thickness on the area?s small lakes has greatly improved, with larger fish houses now seen on the ice. But, remember to still be safe and cautious. Signs of more snowmobile activity have appeared in the region. Please be safe and ride responsibly.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for angling and snowmobile activity. Violations this week included ATV-registration issues.
Pelican Rapids vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-01-22
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling activity, follow up from the deer season, and her background investigation. She also met with the Fergus Falls Dark House and Angling Association to go over the new litter law and general rules and regulations.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) completed some equipment maintenance, took calls about injured animals, and checked ice anglers. A background investigation continues to be conducted on a potential new employee. Colder weather has improved ice conditions, bringing more anglers out on the lakes.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports enforcement effort was mainly focused on angling and snowmobile/ATV activity this past week. Fishing success has been decent on area lakes and ice thickness still varies. He strongly encourages anglers to use caution when venturing out on the ice, especially with bigger vehicles. Time was also spent with a snowmobile safety class in Ashby and ongoing investigations.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, fish houses and ATV and snowmobile operators. Anglers are reminded that shelter licenses must be displayed on the exterior of the shelter and identification consisting of your DNR number, driver?s license number or full name and address need to be displayed on the exterior of the fish house. Please consult the 2023-24 fishing regulations or your local conservation officer for further information.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) reports heavy ice fishing pressure for the first time all season. Ice thickness is still variable and should be checked regularly, but many people ventured out. Several anglers were issued citations for not having a license, while others for being overlimit on walleyes. Several unattended lines were detected in shelters, and the anglers were issued citations. A firearms safety class was completed as well.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) conducted checks on snowmobilers, anglers, and ice shelters. She is starting to see more anglers as the ice thickens, but she cautions as no ice is safe ice. Strong winds over the weekend kept some indoors. She assisted neighboring partners to work a local ice fishing tournament, where a variety of violations were encountered.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working on background investigations for the Division. Various questions were fielded throughout the week as well.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers and ATV and snowmobile operators. Ice conditions around the area are starting to improve with some smaller hard-sided houses and ATVs showing up on area lakes. Anglers are cautioned to check ice thickness regularly as conditions vary greatly.
Wheaton vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-01-22
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling primarily throughout the week. Fur registration was attended and Cross saw a high success rate for many trappers in the area. With ice conditions improving, Cross saw a lot more traffic on area lakes over the past week. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) assisted the Grand Rapids Wildlife office with furbearer registration, and continued work on trapping activities in the area. Leech Lake was patrolled for angling activity. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, possessing an illegal-length northern pike, unattended lines, and littering (leaving cigarette butts on the ice).
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) attended the trapping registration station. Enforcement action was taken on a pelt-registration violation, fail to display shelter tag, no ID info on a fish house, and no license in possession.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) conducted aeration inspections while monitoring ice conditions and angling activity. Angler success has been variable, but a few folks have found the panfish and northern pike. Ice anglers were checked on Upper Red Lake, enforcement action was taken for several people fishing with extra lines. A report of an incidentally caught fisher was handled. Saewert also assisted with fur registration in Wadena.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass County Lakes for angling activity. Numerous anglers were checked on Leech Lake and most reported a very slow bite. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continued to primarily work on a background investigation of a conservation officer applicant. Some time was spent checking anglers. The extreme cold has helped make some ice but the fishing was relatively slow. More anglers were seen getting out but activity is far less than previous years at this time due largely to the ice conditions. Enforcement action was taken for angling, ATV, and snowmobile violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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