10/11/09 Report (Dist. 18)

[Woody]

District 18 - Rochester area
10/11

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports a good migration of waterfowl came into the area. He worked waterfowl and pheasant opener in western MN. Duck hunting was good but pheasant opener appeared to be poor with well under a bird per hunter. Hemker spoke at two different high school wildlife classes about job duties and hunting regulations.

CO Dan McBroom (Rochester) spent the week on small game, archery hunting, waterfowl and misc. wildlife complaints. Goose hunting in the Rochester area is starting to pickup with more birds flying and more crops out. The pheasant opener had perfect weather with cool temperatures. A lot of hunters where out but few birds were seen. A hunter harassment complaint was received and it hopefully has been resolved. Violations included unsigned federal stamp, hunt waterfowl with toxic shot, hunt waterfowl with gun capable of holding more than three shells, and no pheasant stamp.

CO Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports working a very busy fall haunting and fishing weekend. The ducks have ranged from limits to being skunked with everything from canvasback and bufflehead to wood ducks and blue wing teal. Most interesting was five subjects who were contacted while they were snagging with double treble hooks on each line which they would cast into the deep pools after chasing the fish into them by throwing large rocks into the shallow and riffles.

CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) reports working small game, waterfowl, fishing and shining activity this past week and weekend. The fall fishing in the area is picking up and there have been ducks around on a few days. Some waterfowl, fishing and shining violations were detected.

CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked hunters and anglers during the week. Both anglers and duck hunters had good success. Lots of ducks moved into the area and numerous violations were encountered.

CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports checking deer hunters during the early antlerless season. Success was fair to good for most hunters and the cool weather kept hunters in the woods. Small game hunters and pheasant hunters were also checked. Violations encountered were no blaze orange, no pheasant stamp, no small game license and trespassing.

CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) reports the recent cold weather and high winds brought in a good number of new ducks. Hunters averaged 3-6 birds per hunter. It was a mixed bag of waterfowl that had moved into the area. Plenty of pressure once again on the state lands during the two day early antlerless season. He assisted a Houston County deputy with a deer trespass case. Other enforcement included helping with a gross misdemeanor deer shining case. Met with the participants at the first Kicking Bear mentor hunt. Walleye and sauger bite is getting better each week.

CO Scott Moran (Wabasha) reports fishing has picked up. Some nice walleyes and panfish were seen in the creel this past weekend. Waterfowl hunter numbers were very low. Small game hunters and archers seem to be struggling a bit. The weather turning cold has slowed the recreational trail use.

Rochester #1 - vacant.