11/1/09 Report (Dist 18)

[Woody]

District 18 - Rochester area
11/1

CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked mainly hunters during the week. Waterfowl and bow hunters were having some success. Heyn also assisted Olmsted County with a stolen vehicle.

CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) reports checking anglers and various types of hunting activity last week. The deer activity is picking up as expected and the there has been a lull in the fall fishing success. Many questions have been coming in on the 3A season.

CO Dan McBroom (Rochester) spent the week on waterfowl, small game, big game, and fishing. The first part of the week brought more rain for the southeast delaying the harvest and very few new fields where opened up for goose hunting. The end of the week brought better weather and the harvest has started again. More geese were seen in the bag and more in the air. Violations included failure to retrieve downed waterfowl, unplugged gun, failure to sign federal waterfowl stamp, failure to validate deer tag, and failure to obtain burning permit. Hunters are reminded that when you shoot at game it is your responsibility to watch and see if you have hit the game you have shot at and make a reasonable attempt to retrieve the game.

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports people are deer hunting or getting ready to deer hunt almost everywhere in the area. Duck numbers are good with many limits checked. He investigated a manure spill with Winona County. Hemker also had student a ride-a-long.

CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) reports duck numbers were good for two days after the high winds. Many limits were checked in the bag. Ringnecks were the number one duck, but very few mallards were seen. Swans continue to migrate into the area. He took care of a complaint of illegal burning and investigated a trespass complaint. Enforcement for the week included burning prohibited materials, no navigational lights after sunset, and undersize walleye.

Co Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports working a busy week of hunting enforcement with many archery hunters out and gun hunters preparing for the weekend. A boat water safety detail was also worked on the Rainy River and LOW resulting in several over-limit cases. Another TIP complaint investigation also resulted in enforcement action.

CO Scott Moran (Wabasha) reports a busy weekend to top off a quiet week. The recreational trail season closed on Saturday. Bow hunters were out getting their time in the last week before the firearm season and the firearm hunters were out last minute scouting and putting up stands. Duck hunting has been sparse but one group of younger hunters did well on mallards while some experienced hunters in the same area got skunked. Geese are starting to work the few corn fields that have been picked.

CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports answering numerous questions from confused deer hunters about the upcoming deer season and the new regulations for the second weekend. CO Boyum checked small game hunters and archery hunters. Complaints of ATV use on state forest lands were received.

Rochester #1 - vacant.