District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) attended an awards and training conference at Camp Ripley. Anglers were checked on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement was taken for possession of marijuana and angling with extra lines.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) monitored angling and snowmobiling activity in the area and attended divisional training. The law and ethics portion of a snowmobile safety class was taught in Oklee.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) reports checking anglers on special-regulation lakes and monitoring snowmobile trail activity throughout the week. Time also was spent assisting the sheriff’s office with a snowmobile trespassing complaint, working on an applicant background investigation, and attending meetings and training at Camp Ripley.
CO Hannah Mishler (Baudette) checked anglers and monitored snowmobiling activity. An injured bobcat was taken to a rehabilitation center.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a training session at Camp Ripley for two days. Time also was spent working the annual winter lake trout opener in Cook County.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) checked anglers on area lakes and patrolled snowmobile trails. Area cross-country ski trails were patrolled. Skiers are reminded to purchase ski passes before enjoying GIA ski trails.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) issued permits to salvage the deer. A background investigation is continuing.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week patrolling for snowmobiling and ice-fishing activity. Time also was spent at the annual training and awards ceremony.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked snowmobiling activity on area lakes and trails. Angling activity was worked.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking anglers and snowmobiling activity. Calls from the public included complaints about ATVer trespass, litter around fish houses, and questions about lake access.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports fishing still dominates the outdoor activities in the area, but angler success has been spotty. Richards hosted a snowmobile safety class in Fergus Falls during the weekend and spent time at Camp Ripley during the week. Enforcement action was taken for angling and shelter violations.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) assisted area DNR Wildlife staff with fur-tagging of bobcats and otters this past week. Some confusion on the date of the registration caused Plautz to tag some critters in the field. Fish house owners are continually being found to be in violation of not marking their fish houses with their name and address, DNR number, or driver’s license number.
CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) reports calls were fielded about an injured eagle and minnow transportation permits.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers and ATV and snowmobile riders. The lakes are flooding and causing problems with people being able to get around.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) saw a decrease in area activity as snow conditions leveled off a bit on the trails and lakes. Enforcement action this past week was taken for angling with extra lines and recreational vehicle registration issues.
District 4 – Walker area
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continues to primarily check anglers. Fishing was slow the past week. Complaints about ATVers in closed areas and deer feeding in the CWD feeding ban zone were investigated, with enforcement action taken for both. Enforcement action also was taken for angling with extra lines, possessing northern pike within the protected slot, and no fish house license.
CO Randy Posner (Staples) worked on fishing enforcement this past week. Ice conditions are poor, as pressure ridges continue to grow and more slushy areas have developed.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports attending the annual training and awards program at Camp Ripley. A youth snowmobile safety class was held where 17 area youth received their snowmobile safety certificates. Thanks to all volunteers throughout the state who help in making this a successful program.
CO John Slatinski (Ray) reports angling and snowmobiling enforcement made up most activity the past week. Accidental animal kills were collected and processed. Assistance was provided at a local youth snowmobile safety course. Violations encountered the past week included illegal exhaust on a snowmobile, snowmobile registration issues, possession of dressed fish fillets on a special-regulation lake, and license violations.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes and snowmobile trails. Lake travel is hampered by slush and water on the ice.
CO Duke Broughten (Cook) worked trout opener with local officers. Area lakes are slushy, limiting travel for anglers and snowmobile riders. Broughten also assisted with a snowmobile crash on the Arrowhead trail.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers and snowmobile riders, registered bobcats and otters, and attended two days of training at Camp Ripley. Trout opener was worked, and Bozovsky checked all six trout lakes in the area. He found angler use was high and violations were low. Bozovsky was the first officer on the scene of a truck rollover where assistance was provided to the State Patrol.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) investigated a TIP call regarding an angler observed fishing on a designated trout lake two days before the trout season opened. The angler was located and was completely oblivious to the fact that it was unlawful to fish on a designated trout lake for any species during the closed trout season.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) received a call about a mature buck that had to be killed. It was lying under a tree in Aurora looking sick or injured.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports there were some tough lake conditions for the regular winter trout opener. Large areas of slush, along with open areas, deterred some anglers, but attendance the first day was down only slightly..
CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked anglers and snowmobilers this past week. Slush conditions have improved a little since last week.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) participated in a work detail with several officers during the opening weekend of the winter trout season. Snowmobilers and anglers were checked.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked trout opener and snowmobiling enforcement. Time also was spent at training, on a Enforcement Division background investigation, and on deer cases.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked a busy trout opener. One angler saw Schottenbauer coming and started fumbling around in his shelter. When Schottenbauer arrived at the shelter, the angler opened his door and shouted, “Yeah, OK, I have live minnows!” Schottenbauer observed a tipped-over coffee can with live minnows still in it and minnows swimming around the angler’s feet. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked the winter trout opener on the Gunflint Trail this past week. Enforcement action was taken for license violations and unattended lines.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) attended training at Camp Ripley, checked anglers, worked a trapping complaint, assisted with fur-tagging, handled a call about a car-killed wolf, and patrolled area snowmobile trails. Enforcement action was taken for operating a snowmobile without a headlight or taillight and operating a snowmobile without snowmobile safety training.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) assisted in locating a firearm at the scene of a homicide.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked a busy week of angling and snowmobile enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, angling while privileges were suspended, possessing drug paraphernalia, and possessing a small amount of marijuana.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) monitored area snowmobiling and angling activities. Snowmobile trails are in good shape but could still use a coat of snow. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, no trout stamp in possession, and several snowmobile violations.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) worked snowmobiling and ice angling activity this week. Enforcement action was taken for registration-related issues. Please make sure you get current stickers on your snowmobiles before heading out.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) worked area lakes and snowmobile trails during the first part of the week and attended Enforcement Division training at Camp Ripley. Duncan also assisted with a work detail in the Grand Marais area, focusing on fishing enforcement due to the opening of the winter trout season. Duncan also assisted the U.S. Border Patrol with a detail along the U.S./Canada border.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended training at Camp Ripley and also continued training with K9 Schody. Assistance was given at a work detail in the metro area on designated trout lakes.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked ice anglers on a very slushy inland trout opener weekend. Snowmobile trails were patrolled, with some bad riding behavior seen, including cutting corners, sliding sideways across the opposite side of a trail, failing to stop for stop signs, and other safety concerns.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) focused on a background investigation and attending training. Sullivan also investigated snowmobile trail violations and ATVers operating in restricted areas. He also checked anglers and snowmobilers.
CO Chelsey Best (Crosslake) spent time enforcing laws for ice fishing and snowmobiling this past week. Enforcement action was taken for license and registration issues.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports working a busy trout opener in the CCSRA. Time also was spent patrolling the SRA, where some illegal snowmobiling activity was found and enforcement action was taken. Area trails were monitored for snowmobiling traffic, but the trails were fairly rough and in need of some new snow. The CO also attended the annual awards and winter training at Camp Ripley. A call about vehicle trespass was fielded, and assistance was given to a local agency with a traffic stop.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports focusing on the winter trout season opener on area mine pit lakes. Anglers were having mixed success on rainbows, browns, and lake trout.
CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) completed field training with a conservation officer candidate. McGowan also attended training at Camp Ripley.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked angling and snowmobile activity. Assistance was given to DNR Wildlife with fur-tagging and the county sheriff’s office with a snowmobile accident.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) worked angler activity along with the sleds and ATVs those fishers were riding. Verkuilen also attended training, consulted with an area business regarding fishing contests, and assisted with the recovery of some found equipment.
CO Ben Karon (Isle) spent time at Camp Ripley for training. Time also was spent on Lake Mille Lacs, checking ice anglers and recreational vehicle users. Complaints about loud party-goers were received. Remember to be respectful of others around you. A call also was taken about an individual cleaning up his area by shoving garbage and his pants down one of his ice holes and pushing it beneath the ice. The person then proceeded to walk around in his underwear. The incident occurred on the north end of Mille Lacs. Make sure to pack out your garbage.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) continued to work ice anglers and found more folks leaving unattended lines. Road disputes on Mille Lacs were heard, with arguments and disagreements over resorts plowing/blocking each other’s roads.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) checked trout anglers during one of the busiest trout openers in recent years. One first-time trout angler attempted to hide a couple of small rainbow trout inside his jacket pocket because he thought he was over the limit. When asked why his pocket was wet and dripping water, he gave up the hidden fish. Fortunately for the angler, but also embarrassment, he didn’t know what the fish limit was and ended up not being in violation of the rules.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) checked a large wood/brush pile that was burning and found that it contained a considerable amount of garbage mixed in with the wood. The pile was not burning properly – just smoldering. The homeowner was cited for burning garbage, told to put out the fire and warned to not let it smolder. Kuske found the pile still smoldering four days later and issued another citation. The homeowner was surprised by how hard it was to put out the fire.
CO Annette Kyllo (Pierz) assisted area officers on Lake Mille Lacs. Common violations seen were angling with extra lines, unattended lines, failure to have identification on a permanent ice shelter, and no license in possession.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) reports time was spent following up on a TIP complaint regarding multiple smallmouth bass being possessed during the catch-and-release season. It was reported that several anglers had caused some stir on social media when they posted a photograph of the many trophy-sized smallmouth bass. The investigation concluded with enforcement action being taken.
CO Frank Rezac (St. Cloud) reports a call about an overlimit of crappies was investigated.
CO Leah Kampa (Annandale) continued to monitor ice-fishing activity throughout the week. Time was spent on a trapping case and a possible wetland violation.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Mike Krauel (Mora) focused enforcement efforts on angling. Krauel also attended Enforcement Division training. Enforcement action for the week was taken for angling with extra lines, illegal-length walleyes, and possession of marijuana.
CO Nathan Benkofske (Milaca) reports working snowmobilers and ice anglers during the past week. Enforcement action was taken for expired registration on snowmobiles and ATVs, fishing without a license, unattended and extra lines, illegal-length fish, no fish house shelter license, and possession of marijuana.
CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) followed up on a deer investigation. Several animal-related complaints were handled, and ice anglers were checked.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Mike Lerchen (Bloomington) reports finishing field training and beginning work in the Bloomington station. Enforcement action for the week included angling with an extra line and expired snowmobile registration.
CO Brent Grewe (Minnetonka) spent the week checking anglers and attending training at Camp Ripley. Grewe also responded to a report about a car-killed bald eagle.
CO Tim Maass (Osseo) continued to work angling and ATVing activity on area lakes. Maass also spent time checking anglers on the trout opener. Time also was spent answering questions about trapping and coyote hunting.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) worked with an individual regarding bobcat registration, and issued a car-kill permit. Lee also answered questions from Washington County regarding motorized vehicle operation on local lakes, and handled a wolf-related complaint.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Scott Arntzen (Forest Lake) investigated a littering complaint and answered questions about ATV riding. He also spent time checking anglers and ice shelters and monitoring recreational vehicle use.
CO Garrett Thomas (Eagan) reports spending time checking ice anglers on a variety of local lakes and patrolling local state wildlife management areas. With the warm weather, CO Thomas noticed a sharp increase in the number of people out on the ice.
CO Luke Gutzwiller (White Bear Lake) concentrated enforcement efforts on angling activity. Assistance was given to neighboring officers with the trout opener.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) checked angling, ATV operation, predator hunting, and snowmobiling activity during the week. Divisional training was attended at Camp Ripley.
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) spent the week working ice-fishing, snowmobiling, and coyote-hunting enforcement. Snowmobile trails have deteriorated with the warm weather and no fresh snow. Ice fishing activity during the weekend was the highest it has been since freeze-up, thanks to the nice weather and improving ice conditions.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Shane Vernier (Willmar) worked area angling and snowmobiling activity. He also followed up on a trapping violation and attended training at Camp Ripley.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) worked angling, spearing, ATVing, and trapping enforcement. CO Klehr also assisted Meeker County deputies with a possible drunk driver operating a vehicle at night on a lake.
CO Dustin Miller (Windom) attending training and the yearly award ceremony at Camp Ripley this past week. Follow up continues on deer investigations from the past seasons.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Tony Flerlage (Spring Valley) attended training at Camp Ripley. Time was spent checking ice anglers on area fishing holes. He took complaints regarding trash left on WMAs and people riding horses on WMAs.
CO Chad Davis (Owatonna) checked small-game hunters, trappers, anglers, and ATV operators during the week. Davis also spent time patrolling state parks and wildlife management areas.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Clint Fitzgerald (Rochester) checked anglers and small-game hunters this past week. There has been a recent trend of trash being left on the ice.
CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Time also was spent checking area fishing activity and assisting with a truck that broke through the ice on Lake Byllesby.
Tyler Ramaker (La Crescent) attended a meeting with conservation officers from Wisconsin, Iowa, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss cooperative enforcement along the Mississippi River. Enforcement action was taken for feeding deer in the CWD zone.
The post Minnesota Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – Jan. 18, 2019 appeared first on Outdoornews.
from Outdoornews http://bit.ly/2SZrwhn
No comments:
Post a Comment