CO Ben Huener (Roseau) and COC Jayden Frank spent time conducting ATV enforcement in Beltrami Island State Forest and checking anglers on Lake of the Woods. They spent time speaking with an individual about wild rice and fly fishing and attended the Region 2 meeting. Enforcement action was taken for no fishing license in possession, possession of walleyes in the protected slot, overlimit of walleyes, and angling with an extra line.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week monitoring bear-baiting/ATV activity and following up on various complaints.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week focusing on angling activity on Lake of the Woods, and bear-baiting activity on the surrounding public lands. Enforcement action was taken for angling with an extra line. Fontes also assisted with a firearms safety class.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports sustained activity in the area. Time was spent working big-game and angling activity. Prachar followed up on current investigations. Enforcement action was taken for illegal possession of fish from Canada and operating an ATV on a state highway.

CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) checked ATV, angling, and bear-baiting activity during the week. Some bear-baiting groups reported a slow start as natural forage is still abundant in most areas. He took several calls from people with questions about bear-baiting rules and regulations. Enforcement action for the week included an overlimit of fish and fillets in condition not readily available for inspection.

CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports angler success as the walleye bite improves southeast of Thief River Falls along the Red Lake River. Bear baiting continues throughout the district with some site violations noted. Remember, chains or cables are required to ensure barrels do not disappear when hungry bears arrive. An abundance of doves is noted in the area as harvests continue. Stringer wants to remind dove hunters to revisit small-game hunting regulations in preparation for Sept. 1. Enforcement actions for the week included multiple bear bait, ATV, and angler violations.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking bear baits and checking shore anglers. Additional time was spent assisting at the Minnesota State Fair. Violations occurred during the week were angling without a license, registering a bear bait within 150 yards of a campsite, and various bear bait sign violations.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) focused on checking bear baits and anglers this week along with ATV patrol. Time was spent on Cass and Winnibigoshish lakes where multiple violations for sport fishing and boating safety were addressed. Enforcement action was taken for slot-limit violations related to northern pike and walleyes and failure to have navigational lights on watercraft at sunset. A nuisance bear causing damage to a field was also investigated.

CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for angling and recreational vehicle activity. Additional time was spent enforcing wild rice harvest regulations and registering bear-baiting sites. Shaw investigated TIP information and complaints about problem black bears.

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week checking anglers and boaters. Time was also spent working commercial activities. Bear-baiting activity was also monitored.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week checking angling activity, handling nuisance-bear complaints, answering calls from the public, and checking bear-bait stations. Additional time was spent working the info booth and security at the State Fair.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time training with K9 Axel in preparation for the K9 demonstrations at the State Fair. Swedberg also assisted with other State Fair activities and answered questions from the public about bear-hunting regulations.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) continued field training this week with COC Nathan Garza. The week focused on sport fishing and ATV enforcement. Time was also spent responding to complaints related to wild rice. Enforcement action taken consisted of youths without helmets on ATVs, angling without a license, and a warrant arrest.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) continued field training this week with COC Corbus. Time was spent checking anglers, watercraft enforcement and safety, and enforcing bear baiting in preparation for the bear-hunting season. Enforcement action was taken for failing to display registration on a watercraft, failure to remove a drain plug, operating personal watercraft after hours, fishing with extra lines, and a bear bait placed in a waterfowl production area.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on bear-baiting activity. Wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas were patrolled. Angling and boating activity were worked. AIS compliance checks were performed. Area trails were patrolled for ATV and off-road vehicle usage. Warren attended a kids’ hunting and education day in Mahnomen County. Ricing activity was monitored.

CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) reports that due to cooler weather and limited angling activity, most time was spent checking bear baits in the area and following up on multiple shoreline-related issues regarding illegal fill being placed in wetlands. Boyle also attended the 59th annual Basil Irwin pistol match in Iowa, which consisted of a two-day match in which Minnesota conservation officers competed against Iowa DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wardens.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) worked the information booth for the first two days at the State Fair. Calls and questions about bears, bear baits, and licenses were answered. An attack on livestock was also investigated. ATV enforcement was taken for an underage youth operating a Class II ATV. A dead bear that was found on the state highway south of Bagley was investigated. Signs show it may have been poached and left or dumped there. Anyone with information can call the TIP line or the DNR directly.

Bemidji #2 – vacant.