12/06/09 Report (Dist.12-18)

[Woody]

District 12 - St. Cloud area
12/6

CO David Schottenbauer (Princeton) worked area hunters in the area. Several hunters were checked without blaze orange on. When CO Schottenbauer issued summons to the violators, many of them knew they were supposed to have it, but didn’t think that blaze orange was needed for the muzzleloader deer season. One was so upset that he argued that hunters were supposed to know their target before they shoot. CO Schottenbauer said that’s right, but when there is another hunter behind that target in camouflage unseen, the bullet doesn’t care if the shooter knows the target.

CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked deer hunters and issued summonses for taking or attempting to take big game without a valid license, hunting deer without wearing blaze orange. He did a law talk at a DNR snowmobile safety education class. He also followed up on a number of deer baiting violations.

CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) spoke at a youth snowmobile safety class. Calls of trespass and a trapping complaint were handled. Violations were found for shoot from a motor vehicle, no blaze orange, and waterfowl hunting after hours.

CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) worked pheasant hunters and muzzleloader deer hunters the past week. Some pheasant hunters needed to be reminded of the blaze orange requirements during the open muzzleloader deer season. Trapping activity was monitored and the law portion of a snowmobile safety class was presented to a group of students.

CO Brandon McGaw (Mora) checked small game hunters as well as muzzleloader hunters during the week. Several continue to comment on the lack of deer movement and not seeing deer during shooting hours. Area lakes have crusted over but no safe ice yet. A dog fell through the ice on a local lake and unfortunately was not rescued in time. Some untagged snares have also been located and seized after receiving a complaint from a concerned neighbor. Enforcement action was taken on no angling license and ATV registration.

CO Todd Langevin (Center City) reports ice fishermen have already begun to fish area lakes. Although most lakes still have open water, some bays have up to 3 inches of ice. Anglers are reminded that walking on thin ice can be extremely dangerous and use every safety tool available. Late season bow and muzzleloader hunters are not seeing lots of luck but there are plenty still trying to harvest a last chance deer.

CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) gave presentations to youth snowmobile classes in Rockford and in Maple Lake. Reller also followed up on several complaints of litter from deer hunters throwing deer carcasses into road ditches. The duck hunters ended the season on a low point with very few ducks in the area.

District 13 - West Metro area
12/6

CO Steve Walter (Waconia) attended a District 13 meeting. He worked the muzzleloader deer season, checked pheasant hunters, goose hunters and responded to hunter trespassing complaints. Violations included no blaze orange clothing during open deer season, possession of toxic lead shot, unsigned federal waterfowl stamp and trespassing on agricultural land while deer hunting.

CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) patrolled the metro area for deer hunters and ducks hunters. He attended a quarterly district meeting and an annual vehicle inspection. He took enforcement action for invalid deer license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

CO Thor Nelson spent the week enforcing waterfowl, small game and deer hunting laws. He continued to investigate deer baiting reports and investigated a nuisance beaver complaint. CO Nelson also attended a district meeting.

CO Todd Kanieski (Osseo) reports a cougar was sighted by a local police officer in the City of Champlin. The officer was able to video record the cat for a few seconds as it headed towards the banks of the Mississippi River and out of sight. No other cougar sightings have been reported in the area. Kanieski worked deer and waterfowl hunting complaints. He also spoke at youth snowmobile safety classes in Corcoran and Medina.

CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) finished up several investigations over the past week. He conducted a few interviews and took enforcement action on several cases. He monitored the ice conditions on area lakes. With the cold weather the ice is starting to form on about every lake. CO Kahre also worked an information booth at a local sports show. While the CO was at the booth, a man walked up to him and asked him if this was going to be in his weekly report. CO Kahre decided to oblige him and put it in his report.

CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) spent most of the week following up on cases involving the deer season. Calls responded to included, poaching complaints, injured animals, wanton waste and trespass complaints. CO Block also spent time assisting with the Division’s internship program.

CO Kevin Neitzke (Ft. Snelling) checked muzzleloader deer hunters in Dakota County. He patrolled Ft. Snelling State Park. CO Neitzke worked with CO Walter. They patrolled Scott and Carver counties for deer, pheasant and goose hunters.

CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) attended a district meeting and worked at the Lao Family office answering questions from the public on the small game hunting season. Officer Lee worked anglers and hunters in the metro area. Violations encountered were fishing without angling license and no blaze orange during muzzleloader season.

CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) attended a district meeting. She also followed up on a litter case involving deer carcasses being dumped at a public access. She completed investigations from the shotgun season. Several muzzleloader hunters were also checked.


District 14 - East Metro area
12/6

CO Alex Gutierrez (Forest Lake) investigated a public water complaint where some vegetation had been cut, resulting in no violation. CO Gutierrez performed some equipment maintenance which included getting several boats ready for winter storage and checking on ATV and snowmobile preparation for the season. The CO also checked on illegal after hour use of the Carlos Avery WMA. A young couple was located in a parking area. When asked what they were doing they stated they were looking at the stars.

CO Greg Salo (East metro) attended a snowmobile safety class at the St. Francis Middle School. The group asked great questions and were a pleasure to be around. He also checked waterfowl hunters and followed up on paperwork that stacked up during the deer season.

CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) checked deer and goose hunters throughout the week. The duck season ended on a slow note for many hunters but some hunters are still finding success hunting geese. Muzzleloader hunters are finding some success as the cold weather continues. Enforcement action was taken for hunting small game without a license, no blaze orange while deer hunting, stamp violations, toxic shot, and unplugged gun.

CO Vuthy Pril (ELCOP) checked goose hunters, archery and muzzleloader hunters around the metro area fields and wildlife management areas, and worked at his Cambodian Center office. State trails and parks were also patrolled. He also responded to miscellaneous animal calls and complaints.

CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked the end of muzzleloader season in Anoka County. CO Muyres followed up on deer cases from the past firearm deer season. CO Muyres also worked ATV enforcement in Anoka County.

CO Tony Salzer (Eagan) patrolled Dakota County for waterfowl and big game activity. CO Salzer also patrolled for trapping activity and checked big game hunters in Dakota County. CO Salzer with CO McGowan encountered a group of waterfowl hunters that had placed their decoys out too early and had issues with plugs and licenses. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Brad Johnson (Maplewood) completed investigations on illegal deer dumping and a non-resident fishing license case. Enforcement action was taken in both cases. CO Johnson received calls regarding deer baiting in Afton and dead game birds left in an alley in St. Paul.

CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) handled a wild turkey complaint and checked muzzleloader hunters. She handled numerous calls of dumped deer carcasses, did equipment maintenance and checked on a couple TIP calls in Anoka County. CO Kruse finished up on a deer case, handled a call in which an individual was storing equipment on a WMA and she worked ATV enforcement.



District 15 - Marshall area
12/6

CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) reports the majority of the week was spent checking muzzleloader and pheasant hunters. Investigations continue dealing with illegal deer hunting activity. Snowmobile enforcement was also worked with the recent snowfall. Cold weather has caused most of the lakes in the area to start to ice over. The law and ethics portion of snowmobile safety classes were taught in Marshall and Redwood Falls.

CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) assisted CO Picht during the pheasant opener at the Lac qui Parle game refuge. Pheasant hunting is getting better by the day, with the corn harvest in full swing. A complaint of shooting from the roadway and the possible illegal taking of deer was investigated. The most common infraction for the week was the insufficient wearing of blaze orange by small game hunters during the muzzleloader season. If unsure about the blaze orange requirement, review page 28 of the Minnesota hunting regulations handbook.

CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports several large bucks have been taken in the area. Muzzleloader hunters are finding more deer. He assisted another Conservation Officer with an investigation of a buck deer that had been taken illegally in a different area of the Minnesota. Several arrests were made for trespassing. A trespassing case is under investigation.

CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week checking hunters and conducting investigations. Muzzleloader season continued to be busy with a high number of hunters and a fair success rate. Pheasant hunters were out in full force despite bitter temperatures. Snowmobile Safety was taught in Slayton. Enforcement action was taken for hunting in a state park, transport loaded firearms, trespass, insufficient blaze orange, and license/stamp/registration violations.

CO Neil Henriksen (Benson) reports enforcement time was sent checking hunters, trappers and OHV operators. The waterfowl season was the poorest this officer has seen during his 20 plus career in Swift County. Pheasant hunters are few in number but are finding more birds as the corn harvest continues. Muzzleloader deer hunters are harvesting only a few deer. The first snowmobiles of the season were out. Lake ice is not yet safe for foot travel.

CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) continued investigations from the firearm deer season as well as the muzzleloader season. One investigation led to a deer being seized and a citation issued for unlawful hunting. In spite of the dangerously thin ice conditions, a few ice fishermen were observed over the weekend.

Madison - vacant.

Redwood Falls - vacant.

District 16 - New Ulm area
12/6

CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent time during the week checking pheasant, duck, goose, and deer hunters. Lots of time was spent typing up big game formal complaints from deer season. Time was also spent doing interviews on cases. Fishing continues to be good for those willing to brave the elements.

CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) continued working the muzzleloader deer-hunting season. Small game and waterfowl hunting continues to be strong. Angling activity has decreased to minimal especially due to some lakes showing ice. The first snowfall of the season arrived with the first snowmobilers resulting in the first trespassing complaint. The operator assumed they could operate anywhere and was approached by one of the owners who identified themselves as an off-duty police officer. The operator then sped off while the officer was in front of the machine that resulted in him falling over the machine to avoid being run over. The operator was located hours later at his residence.

CO Wayne Hatlestad (Litchfield) checked archery and muzzleloader deer hunting activity. Additional time was spent conducting follow-up from the firearms deer season. Hatlestad also checked pheasant and waterfowl hunting activity. Trapping activity was also checked.

CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) primarily worked on investigations from the deer season. He also checked muzzleloader hunters and pheasant hunters. He spoke at a snowmobile safety class about the rules/regulation of operating a snowmobile.

CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) reports working the end of the most dismal duck season and certainly the worst he’s seen. He worked open water anglers until first ice on the 4th. He checked pheasant hunters and muzzleloader deer hunters. Investigations continue on deer hunting violations.

CO Angela Graham (Hutchinson) checked anglers, trappers, small game, archery, and muzzleloader hunters throughout the week. Calls and reports were taken on: black bear sighting, carcass dumping, litter, fires, and car-killed deer. Officer Graham also spoke at a youth snowmobile safety class.

CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) checked deer and pheasant hunters. Trapping enforcement was also worked in the area. He also spent time verifying a cougar sighting in Sibley County.

CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) completed his weekly radio program on KKOJ/KRAQ, discussing topics concerning muzzleloader, trapping and late goose seasons. Gruhlke noted an increase in the number of pheasant hunters in the area over the weekend, many of which had success. Approximately two inches of snow fell in the county late in the week. Some ice fishing has begun too; the freeze up has occurred rather rapidly over the last couple of days. Gruhlke also attended the Jackson Sheriff’s Reserve gun show over the weekend, answering several questions concerning various topics. Enforcement action was taken for no pheasant stamp validation, insufficient blaze orange (during muzzleloader season) and vehicle trespass on WPA.

Windom - vacant.

District 17 - Albert Lea area
12/6

CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) checked muzzleloader and archery deer hunters. Deer hunters reported seeing few deer. Pheasant hunters and anglers were also checked. Several TIP calls were investigated.

CO Bob Geving (Mankato) worked small game and deer muzzleloader activities. Most hunter contacts reported an unsuccessful harvest. Geving also conducted an aviation wetlands photo mission in Redwood County.

CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) patrolled his station checking deer, waterfowl, and pheasant hunters. Officer Ihnen also spent time following up on a case where a great horned owl was caught in a leg-hold trap.

CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) worked waterfowl, big game, and small game activity. He addressed a trapping complaint and a neighbor dispute. He also attended training on the new CD-based Snowmobile Safety curriculum.

CO Julie Siems (Faribault) reports working the end of the waterfowl season and muzzleloader hunters. Complaints are coming in regarding dogs chasing deer and trespassing. Violations included burning prohibited materials, unregistered deer and wanton waste of a deer.

CO Phil George (Mantorville) checked trappers and followed up on trapping complaints. He took complaints of dogs chasing deer, hunter harassment, and stolen traps. He also taught the laws and ethics portion of a snowmobile safety class.

CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) continues to follow up on complaints from the deer season. Muzzleloader and archery hunters continue to be checked. Pheasant hunting has slowed in the area.

Spring Valley - vacant.


District 18 - Rochester area
12/6

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports the ice is beginning to form in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. The duck season ended with poor hunting. It was the first season Hemker remembers never having to break any ice during the entire season. He continues to follow up on deer hunting investigations. One hunter he checked said he was not hunting but walking his property with a muzzleloader to watch for trespassers and shoot injured deer.

CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) worked on follow up to some deer cases and checked fishing activity. The close to the waterfowl season went off without a bang, literally. Some anglers are doing well on the river.

CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked waterfowl and deer hunters during the week. The close of duck season was a bust for many. A number of geese in the Rochester area led to good success for some hunters.

CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports checking muzzleloader hunters throughout the area. Hunting has been fair as more and more cornfields have been harvested. Complaints of not being able to use a scope are becoming more and more common. A shining complaint area was worked and resulted in two subjects found to be shining past the two hour limit. A few trappers are still out. One subject is being investigated for untagged traps and failure to tend traps.

CO Scott Moran (Wabasha) reports cold weather, with more coming, has anglers looking for first ice. Muzzleloader deer hunters seem to be taking it slow. Open water angling has been very quiet.

CO Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports working a busy week of muzzleloader deer hunting, goose hunting, as well as the last of the duck season. Additionally, some pheasant hunters checked reported limited success. Enforcement action involved mainly waterfowl issues.

CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) reports main channel and areas with flow are still open on the big river. Backwaters are all frozen. No one attempting to ice fish. Muzzleloaders are still trying to bag a few more deer. He spoke at a snowmobile safety training class in LaCrescent. Followed up on a baiting complaint.

Rochester #1 - vacant.