WEEKLY DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT

[Lee Borgersen]

WEEKLY DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT:

 Ice fishing shows, Snowmobile activity etc.
CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) assisted other conservation officers on an investigation that resulted in an over limit of walleye, sauger and an illegal length walleye. Charges are pending.
By: Minnesota DNR,
 
Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwest Minnesota for Feb. 13:


District 1 - Baudette area


CO Ben Huener (Roseau) monitored angling activity on Lake Bronson and Lake of the Woods. Assistance was provided to CO Milbridge and CO Birchem with enforcement action on an over limit of walleye and sauger. The Lake Bronson Fishing Derby was attended along with over 250 participants. Area coyote hunters were checked. Enforcement action was also taken on an angler using an extra line.


CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) spent the week checking anglers on Lake of the Woods. Fishing is slowing down some on the west side of the lake. An equipment repair issue was handled. CO Milbridge worked with neighboring officers on a possible gross over limit violation. Enforcement action was taken for angling and fish shelter violations.


CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) assisted other conservation officers on an investigation that resulted in an over limit of walleye, sauger and an illegal length walleye. Charges are pending. A wolf howling demonstration was given to local students as well as assisting the Wildlife Division with a wolf presentation at the Red Lake WMA. CO Birchem worked with Forestry on a trespass complaint and the investigation continues.


CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) worked angling activity on the Red Lake and Thief rivers. Snowmobile trails were patrolled for activity with a few sleds out and about. CO Warren monitored coyote hunting activity. Administrative duties were performed and online training completed.


CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) checked area anglers and snowmobile activity. A complaint of double tripping was investigated. Enforcement action for the week included angling violations.


CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and snowmobiling activity throughout the week. Anglers are reporting that fishing has slowed. Several calls were handled throughout the week including wolf management questions. Enforcement action taken for the week included illegal length walleye, angle with extra lines, angle without a license, and possession of drug paraphernalia.




Blackduck #2 - vacant.


Karlstad - vacant.


Warroad #2 - vacant.


District 2 - Bemidji area


CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) reports the little snow the area had is disappearing due to the mild temperatures, and snowmobile activity is very light. Anglers continue to have mixed results. A trespass complaint was handled, and a complaint about an illegal deer was investigated and found to be a dispute between the two parties.


CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked anglers and fish houses. Anglers are reminded to clean-up the space around their fish house and remove trash from the ice.


CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) checked anglers, ATVs, and snowmobiles. A few snowmobiles were on the trails, but the trails are in poor condition and continue to deteriorate. Vollbrecht spoke to a Snowmobile Safety Class about laws, safety, and riding ethics.


CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) investigated complaints of trash left on the ice, and timber wolf depredation. Angler success has slowed. Snowmobile trails are deteriorating and generally in poor condition. Questions about coyote hunting and a possible wolf season were answered.


CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports angling activity is slowing. Ice conditions continue to be a concern. Two trucks that went through the ice on Little Pine Lake last week were removed. A truck fell through the ice on Buchanan Lake. The driver was able to get out of the truck and is fine. Enforcement action was taken for too many lines and failure to have identification on a fish house.


CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) assisted North Dakota game wardens with license fraud investigations. The walleye bite has slowed, but anglers are catching sunfish. Accidentally trapped otter and fisher were turned in by trappers.


CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) checked anglers and fish houses. Questions about coyote hunting were answered. Training and inventory tasks were completed. Stattelman testified in an ATV violation jury trial.


CO Al Peterson (Osage) attended and completed the Coast Guard Marine Patrol Officer Course in Charleston, S.C. The course included marine theft investigation, federal boating laws, boarding inspections, navigation, water survival, and self-defense on a watercraft.


Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson assisted with invasive species and invasive species enforcement training at White Earth. Anglers and ATVs were checked. Questions about invasive species were answered, and requests for speaking engagements scheduled.


Natural Resources Pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) finished the helicopter moose survey after three excellent weather days working in the Grand Marais and Isabella areas in northeast Minnesota.