Weekly conservation report

[Lee Borgersen]

District 1 - Baudette area
Last updated: 2017-11-27

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) did follow-up on deer season cases and prepared for trapping season by removing several cubby boxes left on public land to pre-empt trapping spots. Anglers and black powder hunters were checked over the weekend.

CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad North) worked big game, angling, and ATV/snowmobile enforcement. Anglers are starting to venture out onto the lake along the south shore (ATV, snowmobile and foot traffic), ice reports are very inconsistent and individuals should use extreme caution. Enforcement action was taken for operate snowmobile without valid registration, illegal dumping of deer carcasses on public lands, untagged/fail to register big game animal, use of bonus permit in unauthorized area, and over-limit of deer

CO Nick Prachar (Baudette West) reports an increase in angling activity in the area. Angling and spearing have been productive on the bays of Lake of the Woods for large northern pike.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) reminds area anglers to be mindful of changing ice conditions in the area when venturing on the frozen rivers for fishing. Conditions can change rapidly with changing temperatures and water current. Muzzleloader hunters and local anglers were checked. Enforcement action was taken for angle without license, store shelter on public access, and ATV registration violations.

CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working ATV, trapping, muzzleloader hunting, and angling activity on special regulation lakes throughout the week. Time was spent working on cases from the deer season, investigating trespassing complaints, issuing car killed deer possession permits, and working on an applicant background investigation.

CO Kyle Quittschreiber (Blackduck North) reports focusing time on angling enforcement. Anglers were checked on Upper Red Lake and assistance was given with several ice rescues. There is still open water and large cracks throughout the lake making for unsafe travel in several locations. A call of trespass and shoot from the roadway was also investigated.

CO Hannah Mishler (Baudette East) focused primarily on ice fishing activity on Upper Red Lake. CO Mishler also responded to a shoot from the road/trespassing complaint. Assistance was also given with multiple ice rescues/ATVs through the ice on Upper Red Lake. For those traveling out on early ice, please remember that no ice is 100% safe and no fish is worth risking your life for.



District 2 - Bemidji area
Last updated: 2017-11-27


CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working on additional follow-up/investigations from this past regular firearms deer season. Time was also spent working the muzzleloader deer season. Various wildlife related complaints were also received.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) followed up on the firearms deer season complaints and took some trapping questions and complaints.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) completed investigations from the firearms deer season. Calls were taken regarding the upcoming muzzleloader season. CO Vollbrecht assisted the county with a medical call and started a background investigation on a CO candidate.

CO Brian Holt (Bemidji #2) followed up on cases from the previous firearms deer season. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity in the area and following up on complaints in WMA?s. CO Holt checked muzzleloader deer hunting in the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest and Itasca State Park.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports working on a background investigation for a potential new conservation officer and also worked on cases as a result of this season?s deer season. Calls were taken about ice conditions and questions about the upcoming muzzleloader season.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) followed up on deer season cases, a possible Wetland Conservation Act violation, and timber trespass on state property.

CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent time checking small game hunters and ice anglers. Four to five inches of ice on small, shallow lakes and ponds were reported. Pan fishing success was low. CO Chihak also worked the muzzleloader deer hunting opener over the weekend.

CO Angie Warren (Detroit Lakes) spent time monitoring ice conditions and angling activity. Area ice continues to vary with some deeper lakes having areas of open water. The public is reminded to use caution when venturing out on the ice. Complaints of inappropriate disposal of deer carcasses and shining were received. Questions were answered about the muzzleloader deer season. CO Warren assisted the local Sheriff?s office and Police department with an individual who fled on foot from a vehicle. Muzzleloader hunter checks were performed.

CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking pheasant and muzzleloader hunters. Fewer muzzleloader hunters were found in the field than past years and those that were hunting saw few deer. Several eager ice anglers are already fishing. The officer would like to remind anglers to use extreme caution as many lakes are opening back up with the warmer weather and many also have open water being kept open by waterfowl. Several pheasant hunters were observed afield without the proper amount of blaze orange and were reminded of the blaze orange requirements during a firearms deer season. Enforcement action was taken for insufficient amount of blaze orange.

District 5 - Eveleth area
Last updated: 2017-11-27


CO John Slatinski (International Falls #2) reports time was spent following up on cases from the firearms deer season. Took calls of accidentally caught animals from trappers. Worked the muzzleloader deer hunting opener which was significantly less active than the regular firearms season. Also fielded concerns from a few trappers in regards to the martin and fisher trapping season.

CO Colleen Adam (Ray) checked on pine marten/fisher trapping activity, muzzleloader deer hunters, and ice fishing/shelter activities. Incidental catches were reported and car kill deer possession tags issued.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area forest roads; recent warm temps have caused some small streams to again re-open as ice remains unsafe. Public access sites were monitored.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked the muzzleloader deer and fisher, marten and bobcat openers, and dealt with complaints of a deer taken after hours and trespass, an illegal shooting complaint, deer carcasses dumped, and a spearing over-limit. The officer assisted with a call of four individuals that were succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. Follow-up was done on a spruce top theft case from the week prior. Enforcement action was taken on shoot deer after hours, no deer license, allow juvenile to violate game laws, trespassing, inadequate blaze orange, and no license in possession.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) checked a few anglers on area lakes. Ice thickness ranges from 3-7 inches. Some dark houses were seen out already. CO Frericks patrolled the Virginia area during the start of the fisher/pine marten & bobcat trapping season.

District 8 - Duluth area
Last updated: 2017-11-27


CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) followed up on trespassing complaints from deer season and dumping complaints. The officer fielded calls about muzzleloader related issues, archery equipment use, classic snowmobile registration, and a call about antler point restrictions.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) followed up on violations and complaints from the firearm deer season and investigated several illegal dumped carcasses throughout the area. Trappers were also checked over the weekend.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) continued with firearms deer season follow-up and preparation for muzzleloader season. Hard water anglers were venturing out on ice during the week.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) spent time working on calls and complaints from the firearms deer season. Trespassing and deer dumping complaints are still being reported in the area. Enforcement action was taken on one individual after he was found hunting grouse without a license. A permit was issued for a car hit bear that had to be euthanized by a trooper.

District 9 - Brainerd area
Last updated: 2017-11-27


CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) finished investigations and filed reports from deer season activity, checked trappers, and monitored early ice fishing activity.

CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) started a background investigation on a conservation officer candidate. Trapping and littering violations are also being investigated. CO Sullivan did observe a few people ice fishing on area lakes despite the warm weather.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd 2) worked on a background investigation and continued big game hunting investigations. CO Guida continued investigating dogs chasing deer after receiving information from archery and firearms deer hunters. Game camera photos captured the dogs moments after deer ran through the area.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked muzzleloader and angling activity. Follow-up on firearms cases and baiting notes for the 2018 season were also compiled.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) reports follow-up was done on a big game case where a deer was shot with a bow across a road and left there after being field dressed. The suspect did not have a license to hunt deer. CO Ladd also spoke at McGregor School to elementary school students about winter safety.
CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled for big game and waterfowl hunters. Early season ice anglers are also starting to fish some early ice spots and are urged to use caution. CO McGowan continued to follow up with cases from the firearms deer season.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Cuyuna SRA) reports working muzzleloader deer hunters over the weekend. Also small game hunters were checked with a few hunters out enjoying the nice weather. A call of an injured deer on the ice was fielded and many outdoor law related questions were answered. Complaints of reckless driving in the SRA and drug activity were taken. Patrol was done throughout the SRA for illegal ATV and vehicle activity. Time was also spent finishing up cases from the firearms deer season.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area
Last updated: 2017-11-27


CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked holiday hunting grouse hunters, last push duck hunters, and muzzleloader deer hunters. Despite ice getting thinner again people were on it, as was a buck with broken legs that needed to be dispatched. CO Verkuilen also monitored shining activity, issued car kill permits, and monitored ATV traffic.

CO Chris Tetrault (Isle) checked people that were out muzzleloader hunting deer and did not find that much success. Parties? small game hunting and trapping were also checked. People began to wander out on area lakes. Please ensure that you have proper safety equipment as ice thickness varies.

CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) followed up on deer season cases. She received nuisance beaver complaints and questions regarding sightings of bear tracks when the callers believed they should be hibernating. CO Speldrich worked muzzleloader hunters and issued permits for car kill deer.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked a very quiet last weekend of deer season with very few people found to be hunting. Follow-up on a few cases and a road kill wolf were taken care of. CO Starr took a call that he has never seen in 25 years of his career, when a large doe deer ran full blast into the side of a large corn chopper while the farmer was traveling down the road. The deer was killed on impact, yet the investigation continues as to a motive. Many theories abound, as the corn chopper was, what else, but a John Deere!!

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) worked on some follow-up investigation activity from the firearms deer season. Several calls also came after the close of firearms deer season involving dumped deer carcasses found on public and private lands. Every deer season, there has consistently been a handful of hunters that unfortunately don?t have a plan to legally dispose of what is left over from their butchered deer. Those hunters that have been caught leaving deer carcasses on public land, or another?s private land, are cited for littering and sometimes trespassing. Many area lakes were completely frozen over but recent warmer weather created very dangerous ice conditions.

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) followed up on deer season complaints this week. He took calls on ATV questions, trespassing questions, and checked WMA?s and river crossings for littering issues. CO Wynn finished the week following up on several dogs chasing deer complaints.