WEEKLY DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT

[Lee Borgersen]

              WEEKLY DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT:

 Fishing, Anglers over the limit
CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) reports A TIP call was received of a possible over limit in progress.
By: Minnesota DNR,

 Talk about it Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwest Minnesota for May 21:


District 1 - Baudette area


CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods, the Roseau River and Lake Bronson. Enforcement action was taken for possession of illegal length walleye and for angling without a license. A number of vehicles were found transporting watercraft without first removing the drain plug and ATV violations were addressed.


CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) worked with a neighboring officer on a wetlands violation case. Anglers were checked on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action for the week included boating and angling violations.


CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) assisted DNR Forestry personnel with suppression and evacuation plans for the Northwest Angle in response to large wildfires in Manitoba. Time was spent working open investigations on illegal ATV operation in a wetland and a public waters violation. Anglers and boaters were checked for AIS compliance and several nuisance bear complaints were handled.


CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) responded to a complaint of a nuisance bear in a local community, a TIP call on a fishing violation, a gray wolf depredation, and a complaint of cruelty to animals concerning a squirrel. The Lake of the Woods area was worked with CO Birchem conducting Aquatic Invasive Species checks with good compliance found. A radio interview was conducted on nuisance bear procedures and leaving baby animals in the wild when found. Enforcement action for the week included angle without license, operate ATV with juvenile passenger without helmet, and transport watercraft with drain plug intact.


CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) work several AIS details on Upper Red Lake and Blackduck lake accesses. A boat and water safety project was worked and a wolf depredation was investigated. Anglers were checked on experimental regulation lakes. The walleye bite was fair and the panfish were starting to get active. Assistance was provided to DNR Forestry on wildfire investigations. Enforcement activity for the week included AIS violations, boat & water safety violations, and ATV violations.


CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and boating activity throughout the week. A TIP call was received of a possible over limit in progress. Upon further investigation three anglers were found to be making multiple trips per day. One of the anglers was found at a cabin where numerous bags of fish were located. CO Gorecki seized several over limits of walleye, sunfish, and northern pike from a freezer. After leaving the cabin the other two anglers who were found out taking another limit of fish for the day. These two anglers were warned prior to CO Gorecki’s arrival and dumped seven dead walleye into the water. Charges are pending on the anglers for over limit of walleye, sunfish, and northern pike, angling without a license, wanton waste, and possession of marijuana.


Blackduck #2 - vacant.


Karlstad - vacant.


Warroad #2 - vacant.


District 2 - Bemidji area


CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked boaters and anglers. He addressed the anglers at a club fishing contest about AIS laws. Several fires were investigated, and a Firearms Safety instructor meeting attended. A background investigation of a conservation officer applicant is underway. A variety of wildlife calls were received, including questions about army worms, turtles, beaver, moose, deer, and coyotes.


CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked anglers and boaters. Many water enthusiasts were talked to about AIS laws. Gray assisted with the Bagley FAS Class that had 73 kids and two adults participating.


CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) reports a good walleye bite underway. Anglers and boaters were checked, and reminded of AIS laws. Forest roads were patrolled for ATV activity. Vollbrecht is working on a background investigation of a conservation officer applicant.


CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) reports angling activity slowed a little. The walleye and crappie bite is pretty good. Compliance with the boating safety and AIS laws was good. ATV complaint areas were checked, and forest roads patrolled. Weekend rain was welcomed and helped reduce the fire danger. Nuisance bear and wolf depredation complaints were investigated.


CO Chris Vinton (Perham) spent time at several lake accesses checking boaters and anglers for AIS law compliance. Many anglers and boaters expressed their willingness to do what was necessary to stop the spread of invasive species. Calls of sick/injured deer and eagles were investigated. Vinton assisted a young angler release a swallow that became tangled in his fishing line. The bird was released unharmed. An angler was identified as having a warrant for his arrest. A background investigation of a conservation officer applicant continues.


CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) focused enforcement efforts on angling and AIS law compliance. Anglers are reminded to drain and replace water in portable bait buckets. A TIP call of people taking bass out of season was investigated. Angler pressure remains high on area lakes and rivers. Anglers are having good success on the Red River catching walleyes and catfish. Seefeldt continues to work on a background investigation of a conservation officer applicant.


CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) assisted with Use of Force training at the Conservation Officer Academy. He attended taser training and is working on a conservation officer applicant background investigation. Anglers and boaters were checked and reminded of AIS laws.


CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted with Use of Force training at the Conservation Officer Academy, and attended taser training. Peterson assisted with a “Hooked on Fishing” event in Menahga, where local law enforcement officers and fire fighters took 40, 4th grade students fishing. Enforcement efforts focused on angling, ATV, and AIS law compliance. A conservation officer applicant background investigation is underway.


CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) assisted with a runaway horse at a state park. Several fishing related TIP calls were investigated, and off-highway motorcycles and anglers checked. Boaters and anglers were checked for AIS law compliance.


Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson (Northwest Region) focused efforts on AIS law compliance and education. Anglers and boaters were checked at lake accesses. Hanson spoke to the Stakke Lake Association about AIS laws, boating safety, and recreational vehicle operation.


Crookston - vacant.


Natural resources pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) finished up the sandhill crane survey in northwest Minnesota and flew a moose/calf survey out of Ely.