District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2024-03-18
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) assisted in getting an injured great horned owl on a Marvin?s corporate flight down to the Raptor Center. Pike and walleye anglers were also checked on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for multiple angling license violations and two overlimit cases.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. Violations encountered were driving after revocation, angling without a license, no license in possession, and having tip-ups more than 200 feet away.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods, by ATV and snowmobile, and the Rainy River, by boat. Fontes reports that northern pike fishing is in full swing on Lake of the Woods, and walleye fishing is prime on the Rainy River. Fontes happily reports interacting with junior anglers on both waterbodies who were safely equipped with ice picks and life jackets, respectively. Junior conservation officer badge stickers were provided to those kids. Fontes urges people who are venturing out onto Lake of the Woods to use extreme caution if using the public accesses in the area as thin ice is present. Enforcement action was taken for taking fish without a fishing license and operating an unregistered ATV.
CO Jamus Veit (Baudette East) assisted neighboring COs with an active big-game investigation. Time was also spent monitoring angling activity on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for license violations, possession of fillets on the ice, and overlimit of walleye/sauger.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports deteriorating ice conditions on Rainy River, Lake of the Woods and the surrounding tributaries. Time was spent working ice angling activity, boating activity, and ATV activity.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working ATV and OHM enforcement and monitoring ice conditions as the weather continued to be unseasonably warm. Fire enforcement was worked and people are reminded to get a burning permit before starting fires and to use caution as dry conditions continue. Time was also spent working the Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis. Local firearms safety instructors were recognized for 30 and 40 years of volunteering!
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week preparing for an upcoming training event. Bruesewitz presented the laws and ethics portion of firearms safety to a local firearms safety class. Additional time was spent during the week following up on a big-game case.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports monitoring angling activity checking anglers on area lakes and monitoring spring beaver-trapping activity. Regas noted that ice conditions on area lakes have been deteriorating rapidly and most lakes now have areas of open water. Time was spent working a big-game investigation, investigating information of a wolf that had been shot and monitoring boating traffic from the Rainy River for AIS regulation compliance.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-03-18
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers this week. Fishing activity has slowed with the deteriorating ice conditions. ATV operators were also checked and time was further spent assisting other officers with two search warrants in the Beltrami County area.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) patrolled area ATV trails and forest roads. Most ice anglers have put their equipment away for the year, as ice conditions continued to deteriorate. He completed taxidermy inspections and continued an investigation from the deer season.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports that ice-off and fire activity were monitored, as strong winds moved through the area. Additional time was spent preparing for upcoming safety classes.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spoke to the Midnite Riders Snowmobile Club and assisted with a firearms safety field day during the week. Swedberg checked beaver trappers, spoke with area anglers who were trying to find the last walkable ice in the area, and checked on several fires during the week.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) responded to several fires during the week. The high winds over the weekend took care of most of the remaining ice on area lakes. A firearms safety field day was also hosted.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up with ongoing wetland violations and patrolling for ATV violations. Area lakes are now mostly ice-free and anglers are eagerly waiting for some warmer weather to start the open-water season. Time was also spent teaching the law and ethics portion of firearms safety classes throughout the area.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) monitored lake and ice conditions, with most ice starting to pull away from the shore. A complaint of a fish house and trailer abandoned on a lake was received. Upon investigation, the items had been removed. Leeching ponds were checked for abandoned traps from the previous season. Patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicle activity.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) worked the booth at the Northwest Sportshow for a day this week. Assistance was provided on a work detail and trails were patrolled for ATV activity.
Pelican Rapids vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-03-18
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on fire and angling enforcement. Time was also spent training at Camp Ripley.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) monitored fishing activity, spoke to a firearms safety class as well as attended an all-day range and field day firearms safety class. Assistance was provided to a permitted grass fire that got out of control involving multiple fire crews and DNR forestry. The fire was contained without loss or injury. A ride-along was conducted with a high school individual interested in a career in natural resources.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and ATV activity in the area. Public water and wetland violations were encountered and investigated. A few boaters have also been seen on the water. A reminder to have all required safety equipment onboard as well as current registration.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers and ATV riders and prepared for firearms safety classes. Calls related an injured bald eagle and firearms were taken. All lakes in the area now open with the strong winds over the weekend.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) responded to a variety of wounded-animal calls and possession-permit requests. Time was focused on ATV enforcement and littering calls for service. Continued investigations on open cases throughout the week.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers, ATV operators, and spring beaver trappers. Additional time was spent investigating fires and setting up a firearms safety class.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-03-18
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) primarily worked angling and ATV enforcement. A report of a dog caught in a foothold trap was taken, the dog sustained minor injury. An abandoned portable deer stand was seized from the Huntersville State Forest. Online training was also completed.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) attended airboat training school for the majority of the week. Additionally, Cross worked angling activity on the Rainy River. Cross saw decreased angler activity with the cold weather, but reported good success from the anglers who made it out onto the water.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) reports that ice is off of many lakes in the area and reminds people to check the current burning restrictions and conditions before have a fire.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked angling and ATV activity throughout the week. Ice conditions are very poor and some lakes have started to open up. McGowan also continued to work on reports and cases from this winter.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking shore anglers and ATV traffic. Enforcement action consisted of several ATV violations and a smoldering fire violation. He would like to remind people that fire danger remains high and that fire danger and burning restrictions can be found online.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) fielded a fishing related complaint on Round Lake in Itasca County. While investigating the complaint Sura witnessed a Class II ATV go through ice about three-quarters of a mile off shore. He quickly grabbed ice picks, a throw rope and flotation device and ran out onto the ice. Luckily, all individuals made it out of the ATV and onto the ice without any significant injury.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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