11/09/09 Report (Dist. 1-4)

[Woody]

District 1 - Baudette area
11/8


CO Ben Huener (Roseau) prepared for the rifle season checking baited stands and enforcing shining laws. Opening weekend saw warm temperatures and a few deer being harvested. Enforcement action was taken on several baited stands for which citations were issued and firearms were seized in all cases. Officer Huener also took enforcement action on individuals operating ATVs on a WMA, transporting loaded firearms, trespass, and failing to tag deer.

CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) investigated deer baiting complaints and worked the deer season opener. Mild weather kept hunters in the woods longer than most years. Enforcement action taken for hunting in a baited area, trespass, and other big game violations.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) checked hunters throughout the Lake of the Woods area. Success was mixed. Numerous hunting deer in baiting areas were investigated as well as trespass complaints. Enforcement action for the week included hunting deer over bait, transporting loaded firearms, untagged deer, no ATV registration, and failure to validate license.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) conducted radio interviews with two local radio stations regarding new regulations for the firearms deer season. He spoke to area youth at the Governor’s Deer Opener activity day regarding hunter ethics and the use of the TIP program. Area firearm deer hunters enjoyed mild weather seeing mixed success across the area. Trespass complaints were low but hunting deer over bait was at epidemic proportions. Other enforcement action included shoot from road and big game, transport loaded firearm, possess small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia, minor consumption, failure to register big game, fail validate site tag, and fail to wear blaze orange while big game hunting.

CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) staffed the TIP display at the Governor’s Deer Opener festivities in Thief River Falls. Many questions were answered in regards to the firearms season. Area WMAs were patrolled for illegal activity. Areas were checked for ATV activity. CO Warren worked the opening weekend of deer season with hunters commenting on the warm temperatures and mixed results. Enforcement action included seizures of three hunting rifles and citations for hunting deer over baited areas. Other enforcement included shooting from a roadway, loaded firearms, transporting deer without licensee, and untagged deer. Investigations are ongoing into other possible illegal baits, trespass, and shooting from a roadway.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) investigated hunting deer over baited areas, deer taken out of season, and a complaint of a shot wolf. CO Backer saw some nice bucks taken on the opening of deer season. Unfortunately the largest buck was taken over bait. Enforcement action for the week included taking deer over bait, untagged deer, no archery deer license, and no firearms deer license.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck) worked a busy opening weekend of the firearms deer season. Several hunters were out enjoying the warm weather, but very few deer were seen. CO Vollbrecht received a complaint of a grouse shot on the road within 500 feet of an occupied building. The complaint is still being investigated. A vehicle was stopped earlier in the week for shining. The rifle and spotlight were seized. Charges are pending. A car-kill deer permit was issued and other shining complaints were taken.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) worked a security detail, worked a boating safety detail on the Rainy River, and checked firearms deer hunters. A deer shining complaint was investigated as well as deer baiting complaints. Enforcement action for the week included numerous big game violations and angling violations.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.


District 2 - Bemidji area
11/8

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) reports a slow start to the firearm deer season. Hunters report seeing fewer deer, and the registration numbers reflect it. Mild weather allowed hunters to stay on the stand for most of the day. One hunter shot, what he thought was a piebald deer. It turned out to be an escaped exotic deer. The Board of Animal Health was notified. Calls for service include trespass, deer tagging issues, and no blaze orange. An interview with a regional newspaper about the deer season was done.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) reports fewer hunters afield and fewer deer taken. The nice weather allowed farmers to continue to harvest crops rather than hunt. Complaints of hunting deer over bait, camping on a WPA, shooting from the road, trespass, and deer hit by vehicles were investigated. The officer assisted with a DWI, and participated in a radio talk show about the deer season.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) responded to a number of deer baiting complaints and more continue to come in. Enforcement action was taken. The officer spoke to a second grade class about a game warden’s job.

CO Mike Hruza (Bemidji) responded to complaints of hunting deer over bait and hunting in a closed area. Hunters are reminded that the Bemidji Refuge is closed to firearm deer hunting. It was a fairly quiet start to the firearm deer season with few deer observed in the bag.

CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) observed mixed results during the start of the firearm deer season. Many hunters mentioned seeing fewer deer this year. Complaints of deer baiting, deer shining and trespass were investigated. Several deer were seized during the Itasca State Park hunt that did not comply with the antler point restriction. Dryer conditions allowed for some ATV trails to be reopened. Young ATV drivers or riders (under 18) are reminded of the need to wear a helmet.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) assisted with the felon in possession of a firearm and subsequent search warrant. Complaints of deer shining, deer baiting, and trespass were investigated.

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) reports an average start to the firearm deer season. Wet conditions and lots of standing corn made locating deer tougher. Hunters seemed to spend more time in stands and reported seeing good numbers of deer. Complaints of trespass, shooting from the road, shooting from a motor vehicle, and hunting deer over bait were investigated. The officer assisted other officers with the execution of a search warrant.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) responded to complaints of hunting deer over bait, deer shining, hunting in a closed area, and ongoing TIP Calls. A person who had all hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges revoked for past violations, and is a convicted felon, was found with a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and evidence of hunting deer. The suspect remains in jail and a search warrant executed related to the case. Violations detected: fail to validate site tag, borrow/lend deer license, trespass, camp in a closed area, deer shining, transport loaded firearm, and take deer in wrong area.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) and CO Stattelman apprehended a person that shot a deer Friday evening before the start of the firearm deer season. The person stated it was the biggest buck he ever saw and couldn’t resist. Four hunting deer over bait complaints were investigated and citations issued and firearms seized in all four incidents. One hunter had two dump truck loads of sugar beets near his stand. The officer assisted with the execution of a search warrant.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) thought there were fewer hunters out than previous years. Complaints of hunting deer over bait and shooting from the road were investigated. Waterfowl hunting was monitored. Some ducks are in the area but hunting pressure is very light.

District 3 - Fergus Falls area
11/8

CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) checked deer hunters over the firearms opener. Most hunters reported they were not seeing deer and heard very few shots fired. The warm temperatures along with an abundance of standing corn may have contributed to the poor harvest. Richards assisted with a search warrant served and participated in a deer shining detail. Enforcement action taken during the past week included violations of baiting deer, commercial bait, trapping, ATV, and burning prohibited material. Richards also checked traps and took a report of someone stealing traps.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) handled several trespass complaints, neighborly quarrels, baiting complaints and hunting questions. Plautz worked a very busy deer opener with some hunters out having good success. Plautz also worked night shining activity and monitored state lands for illegal stands. Enforcement actions included; hunting deer over bait, fail to validate deer tag, fail to tag deer, lend/borrow license, transport loaded firearm, trespass, and fail to have license in possession.

CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) reports primary enforcement efforts included working waterfowl, trapping, pheasant and deer hunting activity. Currently there are very few ducks in the local area but the geese are providing waterfowlers in the area with plenty of opportunities. Deer season brought out fewer hunters than in the past with hunters success also down.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked deer hunters for opening weekend of deer season. Success rate seemed to be down from past years. Osborne took enforcement action for transport loaded firearms, trespassing, hunt without licenses, hunt in wrong zone, transport deer without licensee being accompanying, shine wild animals while in possession of a firearm, and failure to validate deer tag.

CO Mike Shelden (Alexandria) concentrated on waterfowl, trapping and deer hunting activity. Very few ducks are reported in the Alexandria area at this time. Deer hunting success was down in the local area with average numbers out in the field. An overlimit of deer case was made on one individual over the weekend.

CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) reports preparing for and working a busy firearms deer opener, with the deer take poor in agricultural areas and average in wooded areas. Complaints were investigated regarding hunting over bait, trespass, shoot from vehicle, and shining during closed hours, and enforcement contacts were made for no valid deer license, lend/borrow deer license, untagged deer, unregistered deer, transport loaded firearm, and hunting over bait. Additional time was spent checking trappers, waterfowl and small game hunters, and fishing activity.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Wheaton) reports standing corn fields really hampered deer hunter success on the opener. Time was spent checking baiting complaints, pheasant and waterfowl hunters. CO Baumbarger also fielded many calls on the deer season and the uncased gun law. Hunters are reminded that guns must be completely unloaded when transported in, or on a motor vehicle. CO Baumbarger participated with a shining work crew in Big Stone, and Otter Tail Co. Enforcement action was taken for hunting without a license in possession, shooting deer from the road, failing to validate site tags, and transporting loaded guns.

CO Tony Anderson (Morris) reports deer season opening weekend saw lots of hunters and few deer. CO Anderson was assisted by Kurt Nelson (Glenwood) with a complaint of an intoxicated hunter near Morris. One hunter was taken into custody for gross misdemeanor Hunting While Intoxicated. Waterfowl numbers continue to slowly increase but are still well below normal. CO Anderson assisted CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) deer hunter checks in the Grant and Ottertail county area this past weekend. Hunter morale was low for the second day of the season. Most hunters said they had not fired a shot. CO Anderson assisted with a deer shining work crew in Big Stone County and another in Ottertail County. CO Anderson received and investigated complaints about shooting from vehicles at deer and chasing waterfowl with a boat. CO Anderson fielded calls about firearms case law, dumped deer carcasses and youth deer season/license questions.

CO Kurt Nelson (Glenwood) reports a busy week with the approaching deer season. Several questions on licensing and the case law were handled. The deer opener was average as far as hunter numbers, but slow in the harvest area. Lower deer populations and the corn harvest being way behind limited success. Several complaints of road hunters were handled and he and CO Anderson arrested an intoxicated hunter in a WPA.


District 4 - Wadena area
11/8

CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) handled car-killed deer, timber trespass complaints, and deer baiting. The firearms deer opener brought few complaints, except from hunters asking where the deer were. Parthun took a complaint regarding a man with a compressed air horn. The man was in the woods sounding the horn and harassing hunters. Parthun also assisted with a victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg. The victim was stable when he left the woods by ambulance. Enforcement actions included failing to validate deer tag, burning without a permit, antler restriction violation in Itasca Park, and operating an ATV during restricted hours.

CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) found that many deer camps during the opener saw few if any deer. CO Oldakowski received several complaints of hunting over bait. Investigation led to enforcement action being taken on most of them, while others remain under investigation. One hunter was cited for shooting from the roadway, after he showed the officer that he was standing about 3 feet from the edge of the road surface while he attempted to harvest a deer. Two hunter harassment cases are still under investigation, as well as a deer registration fraud case. Officer Oldakowski also assisted neighboring officers with the service of a search warrant and donated an accidentally caught fisher to the Minnesota Trappers Association.

CO Gary Sommers (Walker) focused on big game hunting activity, checking a number of areas for deer bait, dealt with injured deer as result of car-deer collisions, and assisted the USFS with locating illegal deer stands and areas of illegal cross country travel. He received a call regarding a dead eagle, which was picked up, and received a call for guidance on how to handle deer stands that were illegally placed on posted private property. Officer Sommers also received a report of a deer being shot out of season; it was the second one reported in 5 days, and handled a TIP call. CO Sommers received a complaint that a hunter had shot and wounded a 10-point buck on Saturday, which he was able to locate on Sunday. The hunter left the deer to retrieve tools to process the animal. While he was gone, someone had removed the head and antlers from the deer. The issue remains under investigation.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked deer hunters during the past week. He completed a public waters investigation on Leech Lake. Unusually warm weather brought some challenges to hunters in the area where success was spotty. Enforcement action was taken for failing to validate a deer site tag and operating and ATV during prohibited time during the firearms deer season.

CO Larry Francis (Remer) prepared for deer season and monitored deer hunting activity, although some work was also done on waterfowl hunting. Officer Francis handled calls regarding road-killed deer, hunter harassment, litter, permanent stands, shooting from the roadway, trespass, and illegal ATV operation. If individuals have a question regarding the use of permanent stands on federal or county land they should be sure to contact the appropriate enforcement authority. Enforcement action was taken for: no license in possession, felon in possession of a firearm, failing to validate big game tag, transporting a loaded firearm, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

CO Duke Broughten (Longville) observed several deer hunters taking advantage of the nice weather; however, hunters appeared to have mixed success. CO Broughten also investigated several trespass complaints and completed a taxidermist inspection. CO Broughten would like to remind individuals using deer stands and ATVs to check the regulations that are specific to the land they are hunting. Enforcement action was taken on operating an ATV on the roadway, no license in possession, hunting big game without a license, dredging public waters without a permit, operating an ATV in a WMA, and trespass.

CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked deer hunting opening weekend activity. He also gave presentations to the Staples Rotary Club and three Game and Fish Classes at the Staples High School. Enforcement contacts were made for transporting loaded firearms, taking an antlerless deer without a permit, no small game license, and hunting over bait.

CO Colleen Adam (OHV Recreation Officer Park Rapids) worked baiting and shining complaints prior to firearms deer opener. Hunters hit the woods in the lottery areas with a bit more caution, as “brown is down” is no longer an option. Violations centered around illegal and unethical party hunting practices, shooting from a motor vehicle from the roadway, transporting an untagged deer, failing to validate tags, and hunting over baited areas.