DNR conservation officer reports

[Lee Borgersen]

   DNR conservation officer reports for Sept. 18

 Sep 18, 2017
 
District 9 - Brainerd area

CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) monitored AIS issues as service providers start removal of docks and lifts for the year, checked bear hunters and ATVers, and talked with ricers who continue the annual harvest. Calls of a car hit injured deer and a report of a whitetail fawn that had been taken out of the wild and kept all summer were addressed. Early goose and youth waterfowl seasons received some attention.


CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled Cass and Crow Wing Counties for angling and ATV activity. CO McGowan also followed-up on numerous aquatic plant violations. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating, angling, and ATV violations.


CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked boaters, ATV's, and fishermen. CO Hunter checked on a possible hydro-jet violation and on a complaint of motor vehicles driving in a non-motorized area.


CO Jim Guida (Brainerd 2) worked migratory waterfowl and all-terrain vehicle enforcement this week. One report received from a concerned citizen indicated a large group of ATVs were observed blocking off a township road while one ATV accelerated in a circle blocking motor vehicle traffic and causing excessive damage to the road bed. Officer Guida also worked the Youth Waterfowl Day which allowed youth age 15 and under the opportunity to take waterfowl before the general waterfowl opener. Some reports of illegal deer baiting and prohibited feeding have been investigated.


CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) continues to receive complaints on hydro-jets being illegally used in public waters. CO Sullivan arrested one subject who fled on an ATV. The subject was charged with fleeing, DWI, possession of controlled substance, as well as other ATV violations.


CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) worked bear hunting activity, ATVs, and wild ricing. She also worked some deer baiting complaints.


CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reports that he worked on fishing enforcement this past week. The anglers are out and the fall bite is picking up. Youth Waterfowl Day went well with good numbers of hunters out and also a fair amount of ducks. Most common duck in the bag was wood duck and the mallard was a close second. He worked AIS enforcement. Violations he observed were water in ballast tanks and plugs in live wells. Nuisance bear complaints in Baxter and Pillager are still coming in and continue to be a significant issue.


Cuyuna SRA — vacant.

District 4 - Walker area

CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) continued to work bear baiting and hunting issues, checked anglers on special regulation lakes, and helped some local boy scouts earn their hiking merit badge. Case evidence was processed. Enforcement action included bear baiting and ATV violations.


CO Chelsey Best (Remer) spent the week focused on rice harvesting, waterfowl activity, and bear hunting. A TIP call was investigated for early duck hunting. Enforcement action was taken for no ATV safety, un-validated site tag, and untagged bear.


CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) investigated ATV trespass on agricultural land, another case of ATVs in a WMA, and placing a minnow trap in a WMA. Youth duck hunt went well with a number of young harvesting their first ducks.


Walker — vacant.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports working ATV and bear hunting activity throughout the week and weekend. Some anglers were checked and a few pleasure boaters were also out. Assistance was given to a neighboring officer on an illegal bear baiting complaint and time was spent patrolling for AIS violations. Follow up was done on a wolf depredation call and multiple law related questions were fielded. Assistance was also given to a local agency for a call for service.


CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) investigated a littering complaint where a large amount of household garbage was dumped on private property. She also spent time checking bear hunters and bear baits. CO Speldrich also assisted with a search warrant at a local residence.


CO Dan Starr (Onamia) checked on bear hunters and WMA activities. A swamped boat was found and marked for navigational safety. The owners were able to hire a recovery company to retrieve the fiberglass boat that did not do well with rocks on the shoreline. A road kill bear permit was issued, along with several calls of bear damaging corn. Goose season was monitored, with enforcement action taken for no state waterfowl stamp and no federal stamp.


CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) found quite a few anglers out searching for fish during the nice stretch of fall weather. Lake surface temperatures were in the 60s and quite a few individuals had luck catching decent sized crappies. Bear hunting activity was in full swing and patrol efforts resulted in finding some illegal bear baits along with ATVs being operated in restricted areas of state forest lands.


CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) worked on bear hunting activity and ATV complaints during the week. He followed up on a burning complaint and spent time answering numerous questions regarding nuisance beavers. CO Wynn spent additional time answering questions about the upcoming small game and deer seasons.


CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) checked youth waterfowl hunters who, for the most part, had success with ring neck, mallard and wood ducks harvested. Area state forests were patrolled with illegal off trail ATV use seen and unlawful permanent stands being built on state land in preparation for deer season. Time was spent on an agriculture trespass investigation where the reporting party pointed out ATV traffic in a soybean field. He also went on to complain about a party running totally naked through the woods wearing only a belt with a side arm attached during last year's firearm deer season.