Weekly C. Officer Report

[Lee Borgersen]

   Weekly Conservation Officer Report

District 9 - Brainerd area

Last updated: 2017-03-14


CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) assisted the McGregor fourth graders in making jiggle sticks and learning about ice safety.

 CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) fielded nuisance beaver concerns. The Laser shot system and Mini Wall of Shame were manned at the Aitkin Commerce and Sports Show.

 CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) checked area lakes and confirmed fish shelters were removed. CO Sullivan received a report of pig and deer carcasses being dumped on public property and the case is under investigation. Questions were also answered on lawful access and navigation of a public waterway.

 CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) investigated two trespass complaints and participated in a ?job shadow? program at the Nevis High School. She also assisted the state patrol and sheriff?s department in attempting to locate two horses that got out of their pasture.


District 8 - Duluth area

Last updated: 2017-04-13


CO Caleb Silgjord (Brookston) spent time monitoring ATV and trapping activity in the station. Follow up was conducted on a big game case and contact was made with the county attorney?s office regarding pending charges. Assistance was provided to the Sheriff?s office with a call of a possible vehicle through the ice in the Duluth Harbor. A weekend patrol resulted in a gross misdemeanor arrest for an ATV operator who was found to be twice the legal limit. A ride along opportunity was also provided to an area college student.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) worked area lakes and rivers for ice anglers. Ice conditions are still in fair shape but anglers have not been experiencing much luck. Nuisance and injured animal complaints were handled involving a bear and an eagle. ATV complaints are coming in and a reminder that snowmobile trails are not open to ATV?s, even with lack of snow.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) continued working on a trapping investigation. A snowmobile trespass complaint was completed and follow-up on a waters complaint continues. A meeting for the Duluth city deer hunt was attended. Officer Duncan also checked area lakes for ice houses and possible litter violations. Several fishermen were checked along Lake Superior. Officer Duncan also had two college students ride with him for a day.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked angling activity on area lakes and patrolled in the Fond du Lac state forest. Enforcement contacts for OHV operation and equipment were encountered. Ice anglers were encountered, some with limits of pan fish being observed. Ice conditions varied greatly from lake to lake. Areas of open water were observed due to currents near inlets which some anglers reported surprised them. CO Humphrey also assisted with a work detail in the Tower/Ely area.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with K9 training and also assisted with judging a detector dog trial in Winona. Houses appear to be off area lakes in time. One house was left on the access of an area lake with no information on it. An investigation is under way to try to determine who the house belongs to. With most of the snow gone and ice melting on the lakes, time was spent getting equipment ready for the change in seasons.


District 10 - Mille Lacs area

Last updated: 2017-04-13


CO Chris Tetrault (Isle) checked area lakes to ensure that all permanent fish houses were removed or if any trash was left behind. Anglers were also checked that were hoping to find perch, crappies, and bluegills. Please ensure that you have a new fishing license as the ones from 2016 have been expired for nearly two weeks.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking for fishermen out on area lakes for the late season bite of pan fish and perch. The Officer patrolled areas of the Solana State Forest for ATV traffic and forestry violations. He also assisted with running the Laser shot and TIP wall at the Aitkin Commerce Show. Lots of outdoor law related questions were answered throughout the week and weekend
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CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) investigated a prohibited burning violation. Enforcement action was taken for the violation. She patrolled area lakes checking anglers and patrolled for illegal ATV use on snowmobile trails in the state forests. CO Speldrich also took a report of trespassing and completed a game farm inspection.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) checked on fish house removal and litter. Ice fishermen were checked with some crappie showing up. CO Starr gave the law and ethic presentation to a snowmobile safety class and firearms safety class.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) found very little ice fishing activity during the week and lake ice was very poor and unsafe in many areas. Ice was fairly thin near shorelines and pulling away from shore on many lakes. A few ice anglers used planks to get out to ice that was still in decent condition further away from land. It was good to see that most of those out testing ice conditions were wearing life jackets and had hand spikes with them. Some commercial bear guide inspections were also completed.

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) took calls regarding trapping questions, nuisance animals, and questions about burning. He spent time checking state forests and attended a firearm safety meeting. Ice conditions are not good in the Pine City area even with the recent cold weather. The Chengwatana State Forest remains closed due to wet conditions, and fire danger has been increasing with the dry weather. If you plan on burning any piles larger (3?x3?) than a campfire, be sure to get a burning permit.