District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2023-03-27
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) taught waterfowl identification and enforcement techniques to new officers at the Duck School in Whitewater State Park. Anglers were checked on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement contacts for the week include possess illegal dead bait while tip-up fishing, angle without license, and allow dogs to chase deer.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) attended duck school at Whitewater State Park.
CO Coby Fontes (Baudette East) spent the week with his fellow academy partners at Duck School in southeast Minnesota.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) monitored the removal of ice shelters after the removal deadline and investigated a possible gray wolf depredation case. Area snowmobile trails were patrolled and follow up was conducted on open big game cases.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2023-03-27
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports taking various deer related complaints this week. Time was also spent checking anglers, ATV operators, and snowmobile operators. Some bear cases from the 2022 hunting season were followed up on.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) monitored angling activity on area lakes and patrolled snowmobile trails. Time was spent removing fish houses from the lakes.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports angling activity has picked up as the temperatures warm and the snow on area lakes is settling. Vinton is receiving calls, nearly daily, about weak and dying deer. Several deer needed to be dispatched that were too weak or a traffic hazard. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a current license, unmarked shelters and leaving a shelter unattended after the removal deadline. Vinton also attended a local firearm safety class.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) patrolled area snowmobile trails and lakes, attended a career fair at MSTATE in Moorhead, and attended training related to cold water rescues and hypothermia this week. Snowmobilers continue to enjoy area trails, as the trails are still in excellent condition going into the last week of the season. Many riders were seen and several were stopped for trespassing, registration, and speed violations. CO Swedberg also checked area lakes for fishing activity, but slushy conditions have made it hard on many fishermen to get far out on the lake without a snowmobile or other tracked equipment. At the career fair, CO Swedberg was able to speak with many students about what it takes to be a conservation officer and different aspects of our hiring process; in all, about 50 students were present for the career fair.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling activity. Public accesses were patrolled for litter and/or ice houses being left. The public is reminded that they cannot leave personal property at public accesses overnight. Area snowmobile trails were patrolled for activity with trails continuing to be hardpacked and rough. A call of snowmobiles riding in wildlife protection areas was received.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring angling and snowmobile activity. Angling activity is low, as access is limited to tracked vehicles. Some lakes have a significant amount of slush in areas. Snowmobilers were enjoying the warm late season riding and great trails. Conditions should be good for at least one more week of riding. Snowmobilers are reminded that grant-in-aid trails close April 1st, but state trails will remain open. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile registration violations.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) attended duck school in Southern MN. Training was conducted on waterfowl identification and waterfowl hunting laws, in preparation for fall waterfowl season.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) attended training, worked ongoing cases, and assisted with a search warrant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2023-03-27
CO Andrew Goodman (Fergus Falls) patrolled area snowmobile trails with an uptick of rides observed as the season nears its end. Angling activity has been limited by slush and slow bites. A few open holes have been observed on spring fed lakes indicating ice to be highly unpredictable. Additional time was spent monitoring coyote hunting activity and conducting equipment maintenance.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time this week assisting area wildlife officials with a nuisance elk in the area. Time was spent checking a few ice anglers and snowmobilers. This officer attended a firearms safety class teaching the students on laws and ethics.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking angling and snowmobile activity in the area. Time was also spent investigating big game violations from the deer season.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, snowmobiles, and ATVs. A collaboration project with fisheries was started for this spring and summer. Violations encountered included no license in possession, no angling license and fail to display registration numbers and letters.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) continued this week monitoring panfishing activity in certain accessible areas on certain lakes around Alex. Success was observed with many anglers although everybody is wondering when spring will arrive and deteriorate conditions. Citations were issued to a few anglers who?s snowmobiles and ATVs had expired registrations. Many dead deer are being found along roadways and deep in properties as the snow melts and reveals their carcasses.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent the week at duck school with the rest of her academy class down at Whitewater State Park. Snowmobiling and angling activity is slowing down in the Osakis station but is still present.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the week focused on recreational vehicle enforcement. She also attended training at Camp Ripley, assisted local agencies, and issued minnow permits.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking fishermen, ATV, and snowmobile operators. Additional time was spent following up on injured animal complaints and pending cases from deer season.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2023-03-27
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports attending training in Saint Paul.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked angling and snowmobile activity. She seized an overlimit of crappies. Enforcement action was taken on multiple expired snowmobile registration, fail to display registration, and no license in possession.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked anglers, snowmobile trails, and checked for compliance with fish house removal deadlines. Two fish houses remained on the ice after the deadline and arrangements were being made to remove them. The snowmobile trails were still in good shape, but some spots were starting to get bare where the sun shines. Anglers continue to report the catching was slow. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass Co lakes and snowmobile trails for activity. Lake conditions are in poor shape with heavy snow and slush in spots, which has reduced the amount of angling pressure. Snowmobile trails remain in good shape. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled area snowmobile trails where enforcement action was taken for illegal exhaust and allowing unlawful youth operations. Sura assisted at waterfowl training held in southeast MN for the newest CO?s.
ATV rec officer vacant.
