2/1/10 Report (Dist. 12-18)

[Woody]

District 12 - St. Cloud area
Last updated: 2010-02-01



CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked fishermen on area lakes and took enforcement action on a number of violations. He worked snowmobile patrol on area trails and lakes. He followed up on a number of nuisance animal calls. He followed up on a fish wanton waste violation.

CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) had a work crew in Wright County checking anglers on area lakes. Some success was found with panfish anglers but the majority had to contend with a slow bite. A few snowmobilers were out but the trail conditions kept most the sleds parked over the week. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, angling with extra lines and no valid snowmobile registration.

CO David Schottenbauer (Princeton) worked area angling activity. Time was spent at a snowmobile speed run, as well as checking local trails for activity. CO Schottenbauer also responded to a few animal complaints this week

CO Brandon McGaw (Mora) directed his time to patrolling lakes and checking ice fishermen. Some trash is showing up on the lakes. Please take your garbage home with you. The bite has slowed even further with the return of cold weather. Slush is a problem in some spots. Buckets contained panfish and the occasional northern. Trails are in need of fresh snow but some snowmobiles are still seen on the trails.

CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) spoke at a youth snowmobile safety class. Anglers and snowmobilers were checked. Violations were found for no registration and no state trail sticker.

CO Todd Langevin (Center City) reports working the Celebration of Lakes on North Center Lake. The festival included snowmobile/OHM/ATV races, radar run, skating, kids' games and an ice fishing tournament. Even with cold temps and wind, lots of people ventured out for the festivities. Fishing is slow in the area with small crappies and the occasional walleye or northern.

CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) continued working area lakes and snowmobile trails. Anglers are seeing some success and the snowmobile trails are in need of some fresh snow. Enforcement was taken for angling, fish house and snowmobile violations.


District 13 - West Metro area
Last updated: 2010-02-01



CO Thor Nelson (Bloomington) spent time on fishing, snowmobile and ATV enforcement. He also assisted a USFWS Officer in the search for a missing person on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. CO Nelson received a complaint of unattended lines left overnight. Several injured and nuisance animal complaints were also received. CO Nelson and Lt. Carlson captured an injured beaver which was seeking refuge in a backyard trash can in Minneapolis. The beaver was released back into the wild.

CO Steve Walter (Waconia) completed aeration inspections on area lakes. He handled several injured deer and dumped deer carcass complaints. Anglers were checked all week and they were not having much success. The vintage snowmobile event on Lake Waconia was worked with District 13 officers. Violations during the event were unregistered snowmobiles, fail to display snowmobile registration, operate snowmobiles without safety certificates, excessive speed, no ATV registration, failure to display ATV registration, unmarked fish houses and angling with extra lines.
CO Kevin Neitzke (Ft. Snelling) worked with a Minnesota Valley Refuge Officer. He patrolled Dakota, Scott and Carver counties for snowmobile enforcement. He checked fishermen on Minneapolis lakes. CO Neitzke worked a detail with district officers at the antique snowmobile races on Lake Waconia. He also helped set up the Wall of Shame at the Rochester Sportsmen’s Show.

CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) spent the week checking angling, snowmobiling and aeration activity. CO Block responded to injured animal complaints as well as TIP calls. Several calls regarding garbage left on the ice by anglers were also received.

CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) focused on fishing enforcement this past week. He checked fishermen on Lake Minnetonka as well as area lakes. He also participated in a work detail on Lake Waconia for the vintage snowmobile races. CO Kahre approached an ice shelter on an area lake and noticed that an underwater camera was sitting on the ice pointing at a tip up. The fishermen told CO Kahre that he was using the camera to watch the tip up in the dark so he could tell if the flag went up. The only problem was the camera was watching his extra line. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) worked a snowmobile detail with district officers on Lake Waconia during the Vintage Snowmobile Event. Snowmobiling violations included speed, no registration and no safety certificate. She continued to check trout fishermen on Courthouse Lake finding minimal success. She assisted West Hennepin Public Safety with a call involving coyote hunters and trespassing. Aeration inspections were also completed.

CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) attended a meeting in southeast Minnesota with local CO’s, Parks and Trails and Forestry to develop a work plan for this fall’s hunting season. He patrolled for ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the west metro area. Along with district’s CO’s, he worked an annual vintage snowmobile race on Lake Waconia. Enforcement action was taken for fail to display valid snowmobile registration, no ski pass, no angling license in possession and no shelter ID.

CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) worked anglers and a snowmobile detail on Lake Waconia. He attended a meeting in Houston County on trespass and hunting issues. Violations found included fishing with extra line and no fish shelter identification displayed.

CO Todd Kanieski (Osseo) checked anglers and snowmobile activity. He assisted Montana game wardens on an investigation. He also followed up on reports of a sick Trumpeter Swan, a road-kill otter and a coyote complaint.


District 14 - East Metro area
Last updated: 2010-02-01



CO Greg Salo (East Metro) assisted another state with a large big game investigation. Anglers were checked on area lakes and action was mixed. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license and extra line. CO Salo also assisted local conservation officers at winter festivals in Center City and White Bear Lake.

CO Vuthy Pril (ELCOP) patrolled for snowmobiling activity around the metro lakes and trails and checked ice anglers. He assisted a neighboring Conservation Officer with a fishing tournament on White Bear Lake. Officer Pril also attended a meeting in Caledonia where a discussion of complaints of overcrowding, littering, and trespassing was addressed.

CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) monitored ice angling and snowmobilers throughout the week. Many anglers were checked and most were reporting a slow bite. Some snowmobilers were using the trail systems despite poor trail conditions. CO McGowan also assisted at the White Bear Lake fishing tournament. Enforcement action was taken for angle with extra lines, unattended lines, and no shelter license. Several TIP calls were also investigated.

CO Alex Gutierrez (Forest Lake) checked angling activity in his area with panfish being the only bite. The CO worked on a deer hunting case from the Fall of 09. CO Gutierrez while checking angling activity also recovered an unoccupied stolen snowmobile on an area lake.

CO Tony Salzer (Eagan) finished paperwork from the weekend and conducted a taxidermist inspection. Officer Salzer also responded to an injured deer in Lakeville. CO Salzer also checked anglers in Dakota County.

CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked fishing enforcement in Anoka County. Enforcement action was taken for various license violations and angling with extra lines. CO Muyres also investigated a possible illegally taken deer.

CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) did aeration system inspections on lakes in southern Anoka County and northern Ramsey County. She assisted CO Salzer with a taxidermist inspection in Dakota County and handled injured deer calls. CO Kruse worked the Winter Carnival fishing tournament on White Bear Lake with a few neighboring officers and local agencies.

CO Brad Johnson (Maplewood) reports that he checked anglers throughout the week. CO Johnson attended a Shoreview planning commission meeting. He supplied information on falconry regulations and facilities. CO Johnson continued preparation with prosecuting attorneys with trials involving a wetland, and over limit of deer violation.



District 15 - Marshall area
Last updated: 2010-02-01



CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) continued to patrol area snowmobile trails. The officer also checked coyote hunters and trappers. Numerous land owners and sportsmen in the area are investing much time and money distributing corn for the pheasants. The deep snow and recent ice storm have made much of the natural forage inaccessible to the pheasants.

CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) received complaints of coyote hunters shooting from a motor vehicle and trap tampering. Fishing, snowmobiling, trapping, and burning activity were monitored. Infractions for the week: leaving a fish house on public access and burning prohibited materials.

CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports fish house violations were numerous with unregistered house and unattended lines on Del Clark Lake. He attended the Polar Plunge in Canby where numerous people took the plunge. Aeration checks were performed. Area lakes have become somewhat easier to get access to after the heavy snow and high wind conditions of the previous week.

CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) spoke on a radio show. He checked spear fishermen, ice anglers, snowmobilers, and predator hunters. Enforcement action was taken for leaving a fish house on a public access. Officer Picht witnessed a bald eagle take a Canadian goose out of the air on Lac Qui Parle. Even with the harsh winter about 5,000 geese remain in the open water above the dam.

Madison - vacant.

Redwood Falls - vacant.



District 16 - New Ulm area
Last updated: 2010-02-01



CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent the week checking fishermen, atv and snowmobile riders and working coyote hunters. Fishing is still quite slow across the area. Cold weather has slowed the snowmobile riders down as well. Time was also spent getting a deer case coordinated with various county attorney offices. Another case of a fox/coyote hunter shooting to close to buildings was also submitted for formal complaint.

CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) worked angling activity on area lakes. Due to the recent thaw and freeze, shelters are beginning to move out further. Snowmobiling activity continues to be strong. The Fairmont snowmobile safety class was taught on ethics and rules and regulations. Site inspections were performed due to reports of the intentional spreading of manure in three different locations along roads in Cottonwood County. Predator hunting activity was also monitored.

CO Wayne Hatlestad (Litchfield) checked angling and spearing activity. Additional time was spent checking ATV and snowmobile activity. Hatlestad also checked predator hunters.

CO Angela Graham (Hutchinson) patrolled area lakes and snowmobile trails during the week. She assisted with a snowmobile work detail in the Grand Rapids area. Several contacts were made for various registration issues and fishing violations.

CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) reports checking squirrel and rabbit hunters, predator hunters, and anglers. Officer Abraham also worked snowmobilers and gave the law presentation at a New Ulm youth snowmobile safety class.

CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) continued to work areas where complaints have been received on illegal predator hunting activity. He worked snowmobile enforcement over the weekend and noted very few violations. He checked many anglers who continue to express frustration with the slow fishing.

CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) reports the fishing to be quite slow in the area with very few fish being caught. CO Oberg also ran into a lot of ATV activity this past week. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV on a county highway, no registration, no DL, fail to transfer title, no helmet under 18, and no ATV safety. Snowmobile activity also picked up in the area. Enforcement action taken for snowmobile speed and no helmet.

Windom - vacant.



District 17 - Albert Lea area
Last updated: 2010-02-01



CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) checked anglers, ATV and snowmobile riders. Trail conditions are remaining in good condition despite the freezing rain last week, but the fishing remains fair on most area lakes as CO Ihnen encountered several anglers trying hard to put fish on the ice, some trying so hard it resulted in citations and equipment seizures for angling w/ extra lines.

CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) worked area lakes this past week. Angling activity has been slowly improving. A few anglers were found to have limits. Snowmobile trails are in good shape thanks to the grooming efforts of local clubs, although the cold weather has kept travel down to a minimum. An illegal commercial operation is being looked into.

CO Julie Siems (Faribault) reports working angling and snowmobile activity. A snowmobile for law enforcement class and off-highway vehicle for law enforcement classes were instructed as well.

CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) checked snowmobilers and angling activity. Snowmobile trails are being groomed, and are still seeing heavy usage. Area lakes are giving up a few fish, but most anglers are finding poor luck. Worked coyote hunting complaints, inspected aeration systems, checked ordinance compliance on aerated lakes, assisted Nicollet County with a burglar alarm at a residence, and assisted Faribault County with an injured deer which had been shot without permission from law enforcement. “Catch of the Week” was a pair of snowmobilers riding machines whose most recent registration expired June 30, 2003.

CO Bob Geving (Mankato) worked angling, predator hunting, and snowmobiling activities. Geving also conducted a training flight. Enforcement actions included unsigned license, unmarked fish shelter, license not in possession and towing passengers on a sled from an ATV without a proper tow bar.

CO Phil George (Mantorville) taught a law enforcement off-highway vehicle class and spent time at a local vacation show with the TIP booth. He checked snowmobile operators and ice anglers. He assisted Dodge County with a snowmobile detail.

CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) reports completing two taxidermy inspections. Time was also spent checking snowmobile operators, predator hunters, and anglers. Violations encountered included angling with extra lines, unauthorized use of radio equipment, incomplete taxidermy records, and various snowmobile violations.

Spring Valley - vacant.


District 18 - Rochester area
Last updated: 2010-02-01



CO Dan McBroom (Rochester) spent the week on fishing, small game, predator hunting, and big game. The snowmobile trails are in very poor condition and few sleds where out during the week. Fishing on the area reservoirs is still busy with mixed success. Time was spent at the local sport show at the wall of shame. Many questions were answered about hunting and fishing. Many people asked about the large trophy deer that was poached in the Cannon Falls area and all hoped that the person responsible would receive a very large fine and jail time.

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports snowmobiling in area to be poor. The ice fishing is good with many people out. He received a tip complaint of deer being shot. While investigating the complaint he also found five deer carcasses from the deer season. He is doing follow up on both incidents. Hemker also received a tip complaint of a predator hunter shooting out the window. Violations found in the incident include hunt small game without a license, trespass; shoot from a motor vehicle, and wanton waste.

CO Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports working fishing and snowmobile enforcement as well as closing out several cases from the deer season with successful prosecutions and convictions. Area trails are a little rough and could use a little snow. The fishing has been slow but plenty of folks are still trying as ice conditions are very good.

CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports preparing for upcoming FAS classes and snowmobile classes. Time was also spent on multiple trespass investigations. Coyote hunters are still out and having success. Injured deer calls have also been coming in since the freezing rain and cold temps. CO Boyum attended a meeting about state forest campgrounds.

CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked anglers during the week. Heyn also started going over landowner turkey apps. Heyn attended the award presentation for B&W deputy of the year and spoke to a snowmobile safety class.

CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) reports snowmobile trails remain closed. He attended a meeting, which will address the state forest campground issue in Houston County. Assisted Houston County Sheriff’s deputies with a call. Coyote hunters were active this past week. Sauger and crappies were biting well. Enforcement included no identification on fish shelter and use extra line.

CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) reports spending most of the week checking fishing activity. Some time was also spent dealing with a commercial fishing complaint and working on firearm safety class issues. Some time was also spent dealing with a poisoning case.

CO Scott Moran (Wabasha) reports snowmobile trails are still marginal at best and the fishing hasn’t picked up much. Predator hunters are enjoying some of the best conditions possible for hunting.

Rochester #1 - vacant.