10/25/09 Report (Dist. 1-5)

[Woody]

District 1 - Baudette area
10/25


CO Ben Huener (Roseau) responded to a hunting trespass call early last week. Areas were looked at for the upcoming firearms deer season. CO Huener worked a detail on Thief Lake with CO Vollbrecht. Minor boating violations were found as well as a redhead over limit.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) spent time working with the Division of Waters checking on protected waters violations on Lake of the Woods. Walleye fishing continues to improve with the best success still being on the main part of Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken on over limits of waterfowl, no PFDs in watercraft, and taking ruffed grouse in closed area.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) monitored trapping activity with the opening of the Northern Zone trapping season. He worked with Lt. Znajda enforcing WMA rules for leaving stands overnight and use of ATV’s on the WMA. Woinarowicz checked local waterfowl hunters and patrolled his work area finding numerous deer bait sites that will be followed up on during the deer firearms season. He conducted equipment maintenance and enforcement action was taken for operate motor vehicle where prohibited in WMA.

CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) monitored small game hunting activity in the Beltrami Island State Forest with hunters commenting on the numerous birds in the area. Area waterfowl numbers appear to be down. WMA’s were patrolled for hunting activity with some deer hunters out scouting for the upcoming rifle season. CO Warren worked areas for shinning activity.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) conducted follow up work on trespass complaints, investigated big game baiting complaints, and assisted the sheriff’s department at the scene of a shooting death. Area waterfowl hunting was monitored and a presentation was given to a local church group on the upcoming deer season. CO Backer continued follow up on hunter harassment complaints. Enforcement action for the week included transporting loaded firearms in motor vehicles.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck) monitored grouse hunting activity and checked on bear bait stations after the end of the season. ATV permits were issued for the upcoming firearm deer season. CO Vollbrecht worked a waterfowl detail with CO Huener on Thief Lake. Violations encountered during the week included an over limit of redheads and watercraft violations.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and hunting activity throughout the week. Fishing on the Rainy River continues to be good with many anglers finding success throughout the river. CO Gorecki spent time testifying at a court case in Beltrami County. A public waters violation was investigated and a presentation was given at a snowmobile conference. CO Gorecki participated on a juvenile diversion panel in Lake of the Woods County. Enforcement action taken during the week included fishing and public waters violations.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.


District 2 - Bemidji area
10/25

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) reports many Canada geese but few ducks in the area. Archery deer hunters are having some success. Complaints of deer shining and operating ATVs in a restricted were investigated. A careless driver was stopped, and a college student took part in a ride-along.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) assisted local law enforcement agencies with issues. Waterfowl, prairie chicken, and archery deer hunters were checked. A Firearm Safety Class was attended and the students talked to about laws, safety, and ethics. A wetland alteration, dumping garbage on a WMA, and refuse at a public access complaints were investigated. Questions regarding wolves, trapping, and deer hunting were answered.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked waterfowl and small game hunters. The officer assisted the sheriff’s department with the removal of a canoe and waterfowl decoys left on a local lake. Questions about the firearm deer season continue.

CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) monitored waterfowl, grouse, and archery deer hunting activity. Duck numbers in the area continue to increase but the number of hunters is low. Grouse hunters are having better success as the leaves drop and visibility increases. Complaints of deer shining, illegal ATV activity, and wolf depredation were investigated.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) continues to investigate deer shining complaints and an ongoing TIP complaint. Anglers are having some success when the weather allows them to get on the lakes. Calls about the firearm deer season access to lakes from a road right-of-way and the gun case law were addressed.

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) investigated complaints of deer baiting, trespass, and untended leech traps. A complaint of a dead deer in a WMA with the head gone was also investigated. An archery deer hunter was located and told the officer he shot it the evening before and lost it. He found it in the morning and believed the meat to be spoiled, and took the head. The hunter was cited for failure to tag the deer. A group of young deer hunters, participating in the Buffalo River State Park Youth Deer Hunt, were addressed about the park hunt rules.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) focused enforcement efforts on deer shining, deer baiting, poaching, and TIP complaints. Duck numbers in the area are constant, with a variety of species. Anglers are having some success. The officer assisted with a firearm safety class for DNR Wildlife personnel in the southwest part of the state. A variety of fall hunting, trapping, angling, and OHV questions were answered.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) investigated litter, deer shining, and deer poaching complaints. One deer was examined for bullet fragments and other evidence. A reporter from MPR rode with the officer on a deer shining detail. Two shining violations were witnessed and enforcement action taken.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) checked waterfowl, pheasant, and deer hunters. The officer assisted DNR Wildlife personnel with a sick moose. Complaints of trespass, an injured loon, and a waterfowl hunting related TIP were investigated.


District 3 - Fergus Falls area
10/25

CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) saw few new ducks arrive to the area but did see more Canada geese. Farmers have had miserable harvest conditions resulting in fewer field hunting opportunities. Richards spoke to a group of youth prior to a special Pheasants Forever pheasant hunt held at the Orwell Refuge. Enforcement efforts were concentrated on waterfowl with different violations addressed.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time working waterfowl hunters, pheasant hunters, and bow hunters. Plautz worked shining complaints and rescued a sick red tailed hawk. Plautz scouted state land for illegal baiting and illegal deer stands left overnight.

CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) concentrated on bow deer, waterfowl and pheasant hunters. He also responded to complaints of beaver, high water legal access and over limits. There was an increase in Canada goose numbers along with numerous swans coming through the last three days. He also received a lot of questions on this year’s firearms deer season.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl and pheasant hunters. Osborne worked shining enforcement. He continued to investigate complaints of trespass, bow hunting violations, and ATV complaints.

CO Mike Shelden (Alexandria) reports, worked this past week on complaints of fish overlimits, injured geese and litter left on public access sites. Additional time was spent checking waterfowl and pheasant hunters. Phone calls have really increased recently regarding the upcoming deer season.

CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) continued to check waterfowl, pheasant, small game, and archery deer hunters. Additional time was spent monitoring fishing activity, patrolling OHV complaint areas, checking WMAs/WPAs for violations, and following up on calls from the public.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Wheaton) reports waterfowl numbers in the area are still low, with many crops still in the field. Enforcement efforts for the week included checking fishermen, pheasant hunters, waterfowl hunters, and deer hunters. CO Baumbarger participated with a work crew in Stevens County, and responded to a trespass complaint. Enforcement action was taken for trespass, hunting waterfowl without a license, and no blaze orange while hunting small game.

CO Tony Anderson (Morris) reports lower pheasant hunter numbers in the Morris area. Hunting parties had no or limited success after a full day hunting. CO Anderson is seeing a few more ducks and geese in the area. CO Anderson received a couple of complaints about people shooting from vehicles and near residences and about persons trespassing on agricultural lands. Hunters are reminded they need permission on all agricultural lands including CRP and WRP land before hunting. CO Anderson fielded calls about pheasant hunting, injured animals and waterfowl season questions.

CO Kurt Nelson (Glenwood) reports bean harvest is slowly progressing but pheasant hunters are reporting very few birds being seen. Few duck hunters are out, but there are a few birds in the area. There is no field hunting to speak of, as access is almost impossible on harvested fields. He also answered several calls on the deer season. He received a call of a young elk roaming the county. It remains to be seen whether it's wild or an escapee.


District 4 - Wadena area
10/25

CO Duke Broughten (Longville) monitored deer and a waterfowl hunting activity. Hunters who adjusted to the poor weather conditions had limited success. Fishing has slowed in the area and most of the public access docks on the smaller lakes have been pulled in. CO Broughten received a tip of an ATV operating in a wetland, the officer responded and found an ATV over half submerged in a wetland. Officer Broughten found the operator and enforcement action was taken. CO Broughten also attended first responder training and assisted a neighboring officer with a shining complaint. Enforcement action was taken on operating an ATV in a wetland, discharging a firearm from roadway at a big game animal, and no throwable PFD.

CO Colleen Adam (OHV Recreation Officer-Park Rapids) worked on equipment and office needs along with checking archery deer and small game hunters. ATV activity continues but mainly geared toward hunting uses. Baiting complaints are coming in from hunters concerned about fair play and fair chase.

CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) reports deer are being taken illegally, by rifle and shotgun. Deer shining activity is on the rise, with evidence being left behind, as well as landowner phone calls. Several questions were answered regarding the upcoming deer season, with the most prevalent question being on the youth deer license. A hunter harassment case was investigated, but was resolved between the hunter and the adjoining landowner before CO Oldakowski could talk to the landowner. The hunter even got his deer stand back that came up missing last year. A concerned landowner called regarding the increase of road hunting pheasants in regard to the new uncased gun law.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continued to check deer, duck, and grouse hunters in the area. Officer Mathy also was interviewed by a local newspaper regarding new hunting laws. Commercial tribal gill netters were also checked on Lake Winnibigoshish. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations.

CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) handled complaints of dogs chasing deer, hunter trespass, ATV violations, theft of trail signs and DNR easement violations. An investigation was started on some big game violations and interviews were conducted on a solid waste dumping case. A shining detail with a deer decoy was worked; duck hunters, small game hunters and archery deer hunters were checked. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations, no state duck stamp and a wetland violation.

CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked hunting and fishing activity in the area. He assisted Cass Co Sheriff’s deputies with lost grouse hunters in Meadowbrook WMA; both were found OK in the rain, they had a GPS unit and Cell Phone but no lights.

CO Gary Sommers (Walker) focused on sport fishing, small game, big game, and waterfowl hunting activity. He also received a call regarding dumping of deer carcasses along a road; assisted the area wildlife manager searching Leech Lake for dead scaup and coot; assisted Leech Lake Tribal CO with a follow-up on an illegal possession of deer case. He received a call for assistance from the Walker Police Department on a deer lying against the building at the dental office and they wanted to know what should be done with the deer. The area wildlife manager happened to be with, so we went into the dental office to get a better look from inside the building so as to not to spook the deer. The deer appeared to be fine so it was left alone. The young kids who happened to be in the dental office thought it was quite fun to watch a deer that close, plus it made for a much more enjoyable trip to the dentist.

CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked archery deer, goose, duck and grouse hunters. Officer Hunter received calls of people shining deer in fields. Officer Hunter investigated baiting complaints.


District 5 - Eveleth area
10/25

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) along with CO Steen spent time on the Rainy River for a boat and water safety detail. Enforcement action was taken for no current angling license, no sounding device, no type IV PFD, and illegal length fish. CO Kittelson continued to check small game hunting activity, shining activity, waterfowl hunting, and trapping activities.

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray/Kabetogama) checked grouse and duck hunters and fishermen. Grouse hunters and fishermen were doing fairly well but ducks are low in occurrence. He also fielded numerous law questions during the week along with issuance of ATV permits for those in medical need. He worked a boating safety project with CO Kittelson on Rainy River where violations for lack of safety equipment and illegal length walleyes were handled.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports working on equipment and storage of equipment. In addition time was spent returning phone calls and completing administrative paperwork.

CO Dan Starr (Tower) monitored whitefish netting activity with some fish being harvested. A reminder to whitefish netters that non-target game fish cannot be kept, even if they are dead. A few grouse are showing up. Numerous calls were addressed, along with a hunting turf dispute. Shining efforts were worked with many deer hitting the fields. Five ducks were sited on a bay of Lake Vermilion, which may improve hunter odds. One duck hunter was quoted as saying, “I have a better chance of shooting an elephant, but still have to try.” Rifle deer hunters; sight your rifle in now to avoid last minute problems.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked the on-going hunting seasons, balsam bough cutters and deer baiting and shining complaints. An extremely intoxicated driver was located and after some near ditch misses, finally hit the ditch and a street sign. He tried to get out, however the vehicle got stuck. The driver also had been involved in a hit and run incident in Hibbing. He was turned over to the State Patrol. A balsam bough cutter illegally cutting boughs was arrested on a $1,000 warrant. An after dark wildlife shooting incident near a rural bar (140 feet from bar) was investigated and the suspect interviewed. Further investigation in this case as well as another, which developed, as a result of the incident, will be completed before charges are made.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) received several baiting complaints. The baits will be checked to see if anyone is hunting over it. Equipment was winterized and stored for the season. A citation was issued to an individual for violation of conditions of a burn permit. Complaints of shining and hunter trespass were taken.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked fishing activity in the Babbitt station and found few fishermen but fishing was very good. A work detail was done with other Officer’s in the Virginia station. Deer have been seen coming out on to the fields more consistently.

I. Falls # 2 - vacant.