11/22/09 Report (Dist. 12-17)

[Woody]

  for the delay in posting these.

District 12 - St. Cloud area
11/22

CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) handled complaints of trespass and deer carcasses being dumped. Shining complaint areas were worked. Waterfowl hunters and trappers were checked.

CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) checked small game and waterfowl hunters. Hunters checked were having limited success. Time was also spent in Kanabec County working the final weekend of the firearms deer season. Complaints of dumped deer carcasses continue to be received. Hunters are reminded to dispose of their remains properly. Violations included no license in possession, insufficient blaze orange and fail to display valid registration.

CO David Schottenbauer (Princeton) worked area hunters. Time was spent working shining details, and responding to shining complaints. He attended radio training as well.

CO Brandon McGaw (Mora) checked several hunters during the last week of firearms deer season. Several complained of low deer numbers but most blamed the lack of deer movement on the weather. Some fishermen have not winterized their boats and are still taking to the water. Calls were received on improper disposal of carcasses, litter, ATV use and trespass. Enforcement action was taken on ATV registration, tag validation and blaze orange requirements.

CO Todd Langevin (Center City) reports receiving a call of a man that was stopped by the sheriff’s office, in possession of a deer’s head. The small buck had a site tag on it but the man said it was a car-killed deer and his friend gave it to him to have mounted. After talking to the friend that was believed to have hit the deer with a car, he knew nothing about a deer head. The deer head was seized and CO Langevin is trying to make contact with the owner of the site tag.



District 13 - West Metro area
11/22

CO Kevin Neitzke (Ft. Snelling) checked fishermen on Metro lakes. He worked on an illegal deer hunting complaint with CO Block in Scott County. CO Neitzke gave a talk to a Cub Scout den. He also responded to a call of an injured eagle.

CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) spent the week tying up investigations from the deer season. The CO conducted interviews and followed up on TIP cases. He also provided 800 MHz radio training in the St. Cloud area. He worked the opening day of the southeast deer season.

CO Steve Walter (Waconia) investigated several deer carcasses dumped in ditches and on private property; several were partially butchered with much of the meat wasted. Telephone calls were returned every day on deer regulation questions. A few waterfowl hunters were checked with no success, most hunters never saw a duck.

CO Todd Kanieski (Osseo) worked area waterfowl and deer hunters. Investigations were conducted on baiting cases as well as license and tagging violations. Taking waterfowl well after closed hours and hunting with an unplugged shotgun was also found.

CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) checked duck and other small game hunters around the metro area. He talked at Johnson High School during their career day and checked fishermen. He responded to TIP calls and worked the Southeast 3B deer season opener. Violations encountered were hunting deer in wrong zone, hunting ducks without a small game license in possession, unsigned federal duck stamp, fishing with extra line, fishing without an angling license, and unattended line.

CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) checked anglers and hunters in Metro areas. He worked with CO Kruse at a career fair at Century College. He worked the Minnesota 3B Deer Season Opener in southeast Minnesota with CO Heyn.

CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) focused mainly on small and big game hunting activity. Big game investigations continue resulting in several violations and seized equipment; hunter harassment cases were also addressed. Other types of violations detected involved ATVs and burning laws.

CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) worked the special deer hunt in the Carver Park Reserve. She followed up on several calls regarding trespassing, hunter harassment, illegal trapping, and fish traps. She also checked many fishermen and pheasant hunters in Hennepin County.

CO Thor Nelson focused on deer hunting enforcement. He worked night hunting complaints, an ongoing baiting case and a report of butchered deer carcasses that were dumped at a warehouse in northeast Minneapolis. He also assisted CO Block on a wildlife poisoning investigation animal nuisance complaints and a large prohibited materials fire.


District 14 - East Metro area
11/22

CO Alex Gutierrez (Forest Lake) continues to field TIP calls from the deer firearm season. The CO reports angling activity picking up with the pan fish bite. CO Gutierrez found a deer hunter who thought he was in the 601 Metro Management zone. When the CO informed him that he was actually in the now closed zone of 236 the hunter got pretty upset. He stated a friend of his told him where he was hunting was OK, and the season was still open. Needless to say, the hunter was a little relieved he had not seen a deer nor shot one out of season as he had a feeling the fines would be much heftier.

CO Greg Salo (East Metro) spent much of his time investigating baiting, shooting too close to a residence, and trespassing cases. A wetland violation was also investigated and turned over to the SWCD. Waterfowl hunters were checked and very few ducks were found in the bag. CO Salo also visited with a snowmobile safety class at William O’Brien State Park and performed maintenance on department equipment.

CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked deer hunting enforcement throughout the week. Follow up investigations lead to charges for shooting too close to houses and illegal dumping. CO Muyres continues to receive baiting complaints.

CO Vuthy Pril (ELCOP) checked firearm and archery deer hunters around the metro area fields and wildlife management areas, checked small game hunters, worked waterfowl hunters, worked anglers, and worked at his Cambodian Center office where he answered several questions about fishing laws. He also spoke to three different groups of Johnson High School students about becoming a Conservation Officer. Enforcement actions were taken for fishing without a fishing license, fishing with extra lines, and fishing with unattended lines.

CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) spent time checking deer and duck hunters. Duck hunters are still waiting for a new push of birds as deer hunters are seeing fair success. Enforcement action was taken for no blaze orange, ATV registration, and shooting a turkey out of season. CO McGowan also continues to investigate baiting and trespass issues.

CO Brad Johnson (Maplewood) reports that he investigated a wetlands violation in Baytown. CO Johnson did an interview and ride-along with a reporter from The City Pages. CO Johnson continued to check hunters throughout the week.

CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) handled various TIP calls and worked ATV and WMA enforcement in Anoka County. She attended a career fair at Century College with CO Le and checked bow hunters throughout the week. CO Kruse assisted CO Keniston with a deer case and handled nuisance animal calls.

CO Tony Salzer (Eagan) patrolled Dakota County for waterfowl and big game activity. CO Salzer patrolled for trapping activity and checked big game hunters in Dakota County. CO Salzer also patrolled Anoka County for hunting activity.


District 15 - Marshall area
11/22

CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) is investigating several cases of poaching large bucks during the deer season. Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call the Turn In Poachers hotline at 800-652-9093. Several cases of dumping deer have been investigated and citations issued. Please do not dispose your garbage at public landings.

CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports that with the good weather this past weekend, pheasant hunters were numerous. An investigation of illegal take of big game is underway in Lac Qui Parle County. Enforcement action was taken on license not in possession, driving on WMA’s.

CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) spent the week conducting follow-up investigations from the firearms deer season dealing with trespassing, baiting, shining, and illegal taking violations. Reports of injured deer from the firearms deer season continue to come in. Pheasant hunters are starting to have better luck with a lot of the corn harvest completed. Very few ducks are around but goose hunters are having some success.

CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) spent the week following up on complaints from the firearms deer season. Several complaints in reference to illegal trapping were taken. This officer also assisted South Dakota authorities with a hazardous chemical spill caused by a vehicle hitting a semi-trailer carrying anhydrous ammonia. Canada Geese are showing up in the area with many fields having birds on them.

CO Neil Henriksen (Benson) reports enforcement time was sent checking fishermen, hunters and OHV operators. The waterfowl hunting remained poor this past week. Pheasant hunters are finding more birds as the corn is harvested. Walleye fishing was good again this past week. Time was also spent setting up firearm and snowmobile safety classes.

CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week checking hunters and conducting investigations. Several investigations from the slug season resulted in charges filed. Goose numbers seem to be up. Pheasant hunting is still difficult with corn still standing in several fields. Enforcement action was taken for shoot after hours, transport loaded firearms, shoot from vehicle, shoot from roadway, no HIP, trespass, and license/stamp/registration violations.

CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) continued to investigate reports of deer being illegally taken during the firearms deer season. Some of these reports have resulted in enforcement action being taken. Pheasant hunting in the area continues to improve as the corn harvest progresses.

Madison - vacant.

Redwood Falls - vacant.


District 16 - New Ulm area
11/22

CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent the week following up on deer hunting complaints and ongoing case investigations. Time was also spent checking pheasant, waterfowl and archery hunters. Fishing continues to be good for crappie on area lakes.

CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) finished up investigations from the firearms deer season. Complaints were followed up on. Small game and waterfowl hunting activity continues to be strong. Angling activity is fair. WMA and WPA areas were patrolled.

CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) spent the week following up on calls from the deer season. Officer Oberg also checked trappers and small game hunters. Time was also spent training officers on a new radio system.

CO Wayne Hatlestad (Litchfield) checked archery deer hunting activity and followed-up on cases from the firearms deer season. Additional time was spent checking trapping, pheasant, and waterfowl hunting activity. CO Hatlestad also attended required training and spoke to a snowmobile safety class in Litchfield.

CO Angela Graham (Hutchinson) checked small game hunters, anglers, ATVs, and trappers. Officer Graham also worked the deer season in northern Minnesota with other officers. Complaints on trespassing, violating WPA/WMA rules, and hunting without blaze orange were followed up on.

CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) continues to work on firearms deer season issues, pheasant, trapping and angling seasons, and has received calls concerning injured deer, camping on a public access, and decoys being left overnight. Questions concerning muzzleloader deer season are popping up also. Officer Gruhlke notes that field hunting for geese and a few ducks has increased in the area, probably over 80 percent of the corn is now out of the field in this county.

CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) continued follow up on cases from the deer season and checked anglers, trappers, waterfowl and archery hunters. He spoke at a local darkhouse fishing association meeting, a youth snowmobile safety class and provided training to the local sheriff’s dept about ATV laws.

CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) reports working archery deer hunters, pheasant hunters, goose hunters, and walleye anglers. CO Abraham is also investigating a couple of animal carcass dumping incidents.

Windom - vacant.


District 17 - Albert Lea area11/22

CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) spent the week following up on cases from firearms deer season. Waterfowl and pheasant hunting remains slow. CO Howe attended court with CO Ihnen, where the defendant was convicted on all four charges. CO Howe also spoke on laws and ethics to a youth snowmobile class and issued car-kill deer tags.

CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) worked on completing investigations from last week’s deer season. Shining complaints around the area continue to come in. Assistance was given to an individual who requested help in recovering a deer from private property. The officer also worked trapping, goose hunting, pheasant hunting and spent some time on area waters checking for fishing activity.

CO Phil George (Mantorville) worked shining complaint areas and checked B season deer hunters. Took a call of a baited stand and several trespassing complaints. Took enforcement action on 3 different people for transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle.

CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) reports spending time following up on deer hunting related complaints from the firearms deer season. Archery deer hunters, pheasant hunters, and anglers were also checked. Time was also spent assisting the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Department with a capsized duck boat on a local lake. A call regarding a great horned owl that attempted to carry away a Chihuahua was received.

CO Julie Siems (Faribault) reports working mostly hunting enforcement. Assistance was given at a local youth firearms range day. Investigations were conducted on a public waters complaint, hunting while intoxicated, and hunting over bait. Violations include unregistered deer and hunt deer without a license.

CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) followed up on investigations and inquiries from the public regarding the deer season. Several issues of trespassing and related calls were handled. Officer Ihnen also testified in court resulting in the conviction of an individual for multiple controlled substance violations.

Spring Valley - vacant.