District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) and COC Jacqueline Hughes checked anglers and waterfowl hunters on Lake of the Woods and at the Northwest Angle. They also checked Thief Lake for duck-hunting activity. Grouse hunters were checked in various locations around the Roseau station.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad) worked ATV, big- and small-game, angling, boat and water, and waterfowl enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for transporting fish fillets without the required patch of skin.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) completed an investigation from the bear season resulting in enforcement action for failure to register a bear bait, no sign on a bear bait, taking a bear in the wrong zone, and taking a bear without a valid license. The CO also investigated a complaint about a turkey being shot by a person without a license, which resulted in the seizure of a turkey fan and enforcement action for taking a turkey without a valid license.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) reports time was spent checking anglers, patrolling area ATV trails, and patrolling a shining complaint area.
CO Hannah Mishler (Baudette) spent time checking small-game hunters and ATVers in the area. Follow up was done on illegal activity in a state wildlife management area, and various phone calls were fielded regarding the upcoming rifle deer season.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) and COC Fitzgerald report the weather conditions in the region were not ideal this past week, but some hunters tried to harvest the remaining waterfowl that have not migrated south. Enforcement action for the week included dealing with a treestand left in a WMA and failure to validate a site tag.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) responded to a TIP regarding individuals hunting in the Bemidji game refuge. Time was spent investigating illegal structures on state forest land and complaints about individuals hunting over bait.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports working TIP calls of possible baited stands and checked area WMAs for small-game hunters.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) received several complaints about trespass and neighbor disputes.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working small-game, waterfowl, and deer-hunting enforcement. Time also was spent investigating baiting and trespass complaints.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) reports that complaints about ATV usage in a WMA, baiting, and rifle shots after dark were received.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) checked on possible baited locations, followed up on complaints including trespass, and issued car-killed deer permits. Plautz picked up a car-killed fisher and checked small-game hunters, trappers, and archery hunters. Plautz also finalized a case in which a bowhunter using a crossbow was hunting over bait. The hunter told Plautz he was 60 years old, but the math indicated he was 59. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) focused on monitoring fishing and small-game hunting activity in Douglas and Hubbard counties. An ATV patrol was conducted with CO Holt during which a number of grouse and deer hunters were checked. Compliance was very good with the exception of one individual who was cited for riding in a truck while holding a loaded shotgun. Lawler continued an investigation in partnership with the Montana DNR by conducting several interviews.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) reports a complaint was received regarding waterfowl hunting after hours on a lake south of Osakis.
District 4 – Walker area
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) and COC Shane Zavodnik report a busy week of preparation for the deer season. Calls regarding deer and bears getting hit on the roadway have increased, with some people issued possession tags but reminded they needed to take the entire animal.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports outdoor activities have slowed as the weather has not cooperated – unless you were waterfowl hunting. Complaints about animals are still coming in, mainly beaver issues. Most people were out getting ready for the upcoming firearms deer season. People are reminded to keep safety at the foremost of their minds for this weekend.
CO John Slatinski (Ray) reports ATV use in the area remains one of the more prominent activities with deer hunters entering the woods to get ready for the upcoming firearms season while small-game hunting at the same time. Calls related to concerns about animals causing damage were once again fielded. Now that the trapping season has opened for more species, it may help to become friendly with the neighborhood trapper and ask for his or her assistance to help control problem furbearers. Slatinski and Voyageurs National Park rangers checked whitefish netters who reported their catch numbers were down, but they still were enjoying their annual trip.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports small-game and ATVing activities continue as grouse hunting remains poor. Illegal trail cutting and illegal deer stands have been reported, and coordination with DNR Forestry on the matter was completed.
CO Duke Broughten (Cook) found many bough harvesters still hard at work. He also followed up on a trespassing complaint and investigated a timber trespass.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked ongoing hunting seasons, a special archery season in an area within a state park, the opening of water mammal trapping, and ATVers. Bozovsky investigated a case involving a deer taken out of season. The deer was shot in a backyard with a rifle. The CO seized the deer and rifle used and now the shooter faces gross misdemeanor charges. A trespass-on-state-property case was concluded with an interview of the suspect who was caught on camera. A wolf incident was investigated, a deer stuck in the fence was removed, and a trap-tampering complaint was reported.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) and COC Jake Swedberg investigated reports of baited deer stands. These stands and the bait in front of them were photographed and documented. The owners can look forward to meeting the officers on opening morning. Two separate wetland cases were investigated. In one case, a landowner was making plans to build a house in a Type 7 tamarack swamp. First, they had to haul in 900 yards of fill. The COs and county officials advised it might not be such a good idea to try that.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked trapping throughout the week and received a complaint about possible early trap setting. Deer are on the move and more car/deer accidents are occurring, which in turn brings the bald eagles to feed on the carcasses, resulting in them being hit by passing cars.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely) and CO Velsvaag investigated a TIP call in which a bowhunter had, after wounding a deer with an arrow, returned and shot the deer several times with a handgun. They interviewed the suspect, who admitted shooting the deer with a firearm.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked whitefish-netting activity, small-game hunters, remote, designated trout lakes, and dealt with a waters complaint.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) answered numerous questions about nuisance beavers as well as the state park deer hunts in Cook County, particularly in regard to the use of bonus tags.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) and COC Lerchen report charging out a spruce top theft case on state tax-forfeit land. One individual was apprehended for hunting deer over bait within the city limits of Ely, which is an area closed to hunting. The individual was set up within sight of houses and decided to sweeten the pot with an illegal bait block.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked small-game hunters and ATV riders. He also checked a few brave anglers on the rough and cold waters of Lake Superior.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked big-game baiting investigations and trapping activity this past week. Hunters are reminded that all deer feed must be completely removed 10 days prior to hunting.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and hunters, responded to multiple calls about eagles killed by cars, investigated a livestock depredation complaint, and patrolled for timber theft related to boughs and spruce tops.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) checked anglers, worked ATVing activity, and checked small-game hunting activity, waterfowl hunters, and worked AIS enforcement.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked hunters, worked baiting complaints, and attended meetings at Camp Ripley. The angler success in the area was good this past week.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports many individuals were encountered while completing last-minute preparations for the firearms deer season.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) reports commercial pine bough cutting was monitored and enforcement action was taken for failing to carry written permission from the landowner while harvesting.
CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth) spent the week field training COC Tony Flerlage. Time was spent working with ATV riders as well as duck and grouse hunters. Calls were received concerning beavers, bears, and birds. The officers transported an eagle to get rehabbed after possible lead poisoning.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the majority of the week working small-game and archery deer enforcement. Night deer-shining complaint areas also were worked. Several complaints of possible deer-hunting violations were received and will require attention during the upcoming firearms deer season.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) spent extra time checking areas where decorative forest items were being harvested.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked nights in prior shining complaint areas in and around the Duluth area. Olson also checked small-game hunters and trappers north of Duluth during the week.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked shore anglers and duck hunters. Deer hunters are in the woods preparing for the upcoming season.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Tim Collette (Brainerd) followed up on calls about baited deer stands, lakeshore shoreline work without permits, and hunter harassment. Areas of shining complaints were worked, and anglers and small-game and waterfowl hunters were checked.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) reports a trespass complaint was addressed, and assistance was given at the Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
CO Chelsey Best (Crosslake) took enforcement action for ATV violations, investigated dogs chasing deer and issued wildlife permits. Best has also spent many hours during the past few weeks investigating and cleaning up littering/dumping cases.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) checked waterfowl, grouse, turkey, and deer hunters, fall fishing activity, and responded to issues of trespass, bear/crop depredation, a bear caught in a coyote trap, reports of night poaching/shining/shooting, reckless ATV damage to agricultural land and crops, illegal feeding of wildlife and deer baiting, and pre-emption of hunting locations on public lands.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports a wildlife permit was issued and follow-up was done on a case of a cow taken by a wolf.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked fall hunting activities and WMA issues and checked fall anglers. An illegal fire was investigated, and enforcement action was taken. Starr also assisted local law enforcement with a vehicle crash that was caused by a felon fleeing the police.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) dealt with an increase in trespassing calls as landowners started finding some hunters scouting and placing deer stands on private property without permission. Several bear-hunting cases were finished up, including one that involved hunter harassment. Bear hunters have always been competitive about getting the best public hunting spots, but recently it has escalated to the point of disrupting another person’s hunt. Trail cameras were messed with, stands were pushed over, and, in one of the more unfortunate harassing actions, one person left a freshly made pile of human waste for a hunter to find when walking out to the stand.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) assisted the Pine County Sheriff’s Office in locating a farmer involved in a traffic accident.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) issued permits for road-killed bobcats and otters and handled calls about rattlesnakes, a duck hunter shooting after sunset, a pheasant hunter illegally hunting on the Soo Line ATV trail, and adults illegally driving their Class I ATV with two adults and two youths with no helmets.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) reports a TIP complaint regarding illegal motor vehicle operation in a federal waterfowl production area was handled and the subjects were educated on WPA restrictions.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) spent time checking hunters, boaters and anglers. The Camp Ripley archery hunt was worked. Thesing also assisted in the rescue of a stranded pontoon operator on an Avon-area lake.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Phil Mohs (Center City) focused on duck- and deer-hunting activity. A TIP call was received about a buck that was possibly poached and dumped near Stacy. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIP line.
CO Angela Londgren (Cambridge) investigated a trespass complaint in which a hunter was found hunting near several hundred acres of a cornfield, but bought a 50-pound bag of corn that he placed next to his blind. The hunter also had a flashlight mounted to his compound bow, which he explained was so he could find his way in and out to his blind.
CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) and COC Ashley Whiteoak checked duck hunters, pheasant hunters, and archery hunters. They conducted a falconry inspection, and Whiteoak gave her first snowmobile safety education presentation to a class in St. Michael. Both of the officers also responded to a duck hunter who reported that shots had been fired in his direction.
CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) patrolled for small-game and archery hunters. Additional efforts were spent patrolling state lands and checking anglers. Enforcement action was taken for hunting small game without a license, failing to submit a federal duck stamp for inspection, and dumping trees in the Mississippi River.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia) has spent the majority of the past week on big-game cases. Assistance was given to the Chaska Police Department when a concerned citizen noted vehicles at a public access had been there for more than 24 hours. The hunters were contacted and found to be camping while archery hunting. The hunters expressed gratitude for people paying attention to such things.
CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) worked with COC Blong Lor, checking anglers on the Minnesota River and hunters and trappers in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area.
CO Brent Grewe (Minnetonka) assisted a local police department in searching for a missing juvenile.
CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) reports a local police department gave him information about an individual that was found target-shooting at a boat landing. Enforcement/ education action was taken on public landing trespass and leaving deer stands overnight on public property.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Luke Gutzwiller (White Bear Lake) reports enforcement action was taken for using a motorized decoy in a WMA and allowing a youth to violate fish and game laws.
CO Chris Tetrault (Maplewood) spoke with two outdoor classes at Cretin-Durham Hall High School about the career of a conservation officer.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Andrew Dirks (Worthington) and COC Annette Kyllo report a busy week checking anglers and pheasant, waterfowl, and archery deer hunters. They have noticed increased deer movement as farmers continue to harvest crops.
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) reports assistance was given with a youth firearms deer hunt at Camden State Park during the weekend.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Shane Vernier (Willmar) and COC Taylor Hochstein spent time checking anglers and waterfowl and pheasant hunters. Time also was spent working the central Minnesota chronic wasting disease-related feeding ban.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) spent time in the DNR helicopter, checking a location where a holding pond washed out and pushed sand into the St. Croix River. Klehr also floated a river in Meeker County to check for illegal early trapping activity. Other time was spent following up on trespassing complaints and violations.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) attended the annual Kilen Woods State Park youth deer hunt. Six kids participated. He also reports that the corn harvest is progressing quite well.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) reports checking hunting, angling, and trapping activity. Trapping activity appears slower than in recent years.
CO Chad Davis (Owatonna) checked big-game, small-game and migratory waterfowl hunters. Davis also checked anglers, boaters, and ATV operators, and worked ongoing investigations.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) worked the trapping opener and took several complaints about trespassing.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Phil George (Rochester) worked the week checking small-game, waterfowl, and deer hunters. A possible waters violation was looked into as well. Enforcement action was taken for taking squirrels in a state park, angling for trout in a closed area, untagged traps, and no trapping license.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) worked with COC Tyler Ramaker. They checked deer hunting, trapping, fishing, and duck hunting. One deer-related complaint was resolved when it was learned that the blood found in a driveway was from a coyote trapper, not a deer poacher. The officers also attended a law enforcement career day at a local university.
The post Minnesota Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – Nov. 2, 2018 appeared first on Outdoornews.
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