Weekly conservation report

[Lee Borgersen]

..... Weekly Conservation Officer's report.

District 2 - Bemidji area
Last updated: 2017-11-06

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending most of this week working deer hunting enforcement. Various calls for service were answered. Deer hunting related complaint sites were checked. Many hunter contacts were made throughout the week.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) investigated bait, trespass, and shoot deer from the road complaints. CO Gray also assisted Beltrami SO with a deer hunter that became a safety concern at a remote deer camp.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) worked a busy opening weekend of firearms deer season. Several complaints were taken regarding target shooting the day before the season. CO Vollbrecht did an interview with a local radio station. Complaints were taken and investigated of individuals hunting over bait. He observed two individuals driving their truck on a small gravel road late one full moon night without headlights. After following them several miles they were observed shining fields with spotlights. The individuals were observed shooting a deer from the truck. The individuals were surprised to see who had been following them after they had drug the deer back to the truck. Charges are pending in the case.

CO Brian Holt (Bemidji #2) focused primarily on big game hunting during the week. CO Holt worked the busy opening weekend of the firearms deer season. The officer investigated several TIP calls and responded to several deer hunting related complaints. Time was also spent following up on cases from the 2016 deer season and assisting local law enforcement with an incident. Enforcement activity included hunting deer over bait, failing to validate site tag, and no license in possession.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports patrolling area WMAs for stands that have been left overnight and trapping activity. Bow hunters were contacted taking advantage of the cooler weather before the rifle season opened. Opening of deer season was cool with snow on the ground making deer more visible. Hunters in the Vergas area shot a couple very large deer only to discover they were escaped deer from a local deer farm. The deer farmer was very gracious and did not fault the hunters in the least. The deer were sampled by wildlife for CWD testing. Enforcement action was taken for untagged deer, failure to validate, shooting from the road, and failing to tend traps.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) checked deer hunters and took enforcement action on several tagging violations and followed up on timber trespass and hunter harassment.

CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working miscellaneous wildlife complaints, small game hunting, migratory waterfowl hunting, and the firearms deer hunting opener. Deer hunters were greeted with a more seasonal opener as rain and snow was the predominate weather pattern over the weekend. Hunting success was mixed. Enforcement action was taken for hunting over bait, transporting a loaded firearm, and various licensing violations.

CO Angie Warren (Detroit Lakes) worked small game and archery hunting activity. Area trails were patrolled for off road vehicle activity. Time was also spent on angling activity. CO Warren worked the opening weekend of firearms deer season with many hunters checked. She received multiple complaints of trespass. The public is reminded to receive permission from landowners and know where property lines are. Multiple requests for possession tags due to car hit deer were received. Possible deer baiting sites and a complaint of shooting across a roadway were investigated.

CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking waterfowl, pheasant, and deer hunting activity in the Pelican Rapids station. Many new ducks entered the area in decent numbers prior to the weekend and several waterfowl hunters checked report good hunting. A majority of the people deer hunting reported seeing better numbers and the officer observed several nice bucks were taken. The officer investigated a report of several individuals ?rallying? ducks, an instance of possible lending/borrowing of deer licenses, assisted a landowner with freeing a large buck from a chain link fence, and assisted with a structure fire. Hunters should also be aware that if you do not own the property, you cannot discharge a firearm within 500? of an occupied dwelling or a corral. Enforcement action was taken for shooting from the roadway, discharging a firearm within 500? of an occupied dwelling, fail to renew ATV registration, and failure to validate site tag.



District 8 - Duluth area
Last updated: 2017-11-06


CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) spent most of the week working archery hunters and preparing for firearms opener. Trespassing complaints, deer dumping complaints, and baiting issues were prominent, along with property line disputes. Highlight of the weekend was checking an 88, soon to be 89, year old hunter.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) spent the first part of the week working complaint areas for the upcoming deer opener. Some of the activities included checking on prior baiting complaints, trespass, and checking illegal tree stands on state property. Archery deer hunting activity was also worked. Opening deer weekend involved checking many hunters and following up on complaints. Some of the violations encountered included hunting over bait, invalid licenses, trespass, and allowing illegal activity of juvenile hunters. Mixed results with hunting groups were reported.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked the firearms deer opener with several contacts resulting in enforcement action being taken. Baiting concerns continued to be a priority as in past years. Hunters were reporting mixed results, however many did report seeing deer while in the field. Violations for hunting with aid of bait, untagged deer, and transportation of big game, failing to validate licenses, lending/borrowing of license, ATV operation, and firearms transport issues were encountered. Some adults were also charged with allowing a juvenile to commit a game and fish violation. A number of phone calls with questions and concerns were taken over the week about various resource related issues.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) had a busy week which included the opening of the firearms deer season. A fair amount of deer hunting success was found in the area with deer numbers appearing to be up in the area. Complaints of trespassing, baiting, wanton waste, and hunting deer out of season were investigated. Enforcement action was taken for operating ATVs during prohibited hours, transporting loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, taking an antlerless deer without a permit, failing to register deer, and ATV registration violations. Several CO?s, and a State Trooper, responded to a call of a hunter shooting at deer off of I-35 near Mahtowa. After arriving on scene, a juvenile was found to have fired three shots from a rifle at deer in the interstate right-of-way. The juvenile?s parent was at the scene and allowed him to do it because he thought it was legal as long as they stepped off of the highway and down into the ditch. Enforcement action was taken for non-emergency stopping on the freeway, allowing unlawful hunting by a juvenile, shooting within the road right-of-way at a big game animal, and insufficient blaze orange. CO Staples also took enforcement action on an AIS boat plug violation during the week.



District 9 - Brainerd area
Last updated: 2017-11-06


CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) worked the busy deer season opener where success was had by many camps. Violations encountered included deer baiting, lend/borrow deer tags, operate ATVs out of allowed hours, untagged deer, fail to validate tags, operate highway licensed vehicles on grant-in-aid snowmobile trails, and several transporting loaded firearms in motor vehicles.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Cuyuna SRA) reports working big game enforcement during the 2017 firearms deer season opener. The officer assisted with calls regarding hunting deer over bait, forestry violations, and a call of a dead deer on a WMA. Calls regarding the mandatory testing for CWD were fielded and many outdoor related law questions were answered. CO Fitzgerald also had a case where an individual ran from officers and was caught and had various narcotics charges and several outstanding warrants. Assistance was given to the MPCA at a hearing in Brainerd and the officer assisted the State Patrol with a call for service. Patrol was also done for ATV activity and also for SRA Park violations. Enforcement action for the week included various big game violations and narcotics violations.

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) reports a busy opening weekend of the firearms deer season. Hunter success seemed to be up in the Pine River area. Enforcement action was taken for hunting over bait, take deer without a license, fail to tag deer license, fail to validate deer license, trespass, and lend/borrow a deer license.

CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) reports hunters had very good success and reported seeing more deer than normal. One hunter chose to hunt in an unoccupied stand on public property while the self-proclaimed owner of the stand stood below and requested the hunter in the stand leave so he could move his stand. CO Sullivan advised and informed the hunt would most likely be unsuccessful. An illegally shot wolf is being investigated. Other violations included untagged big game, transport loaded firearm, operate ATV on closed trail, trespassing, and operate motor vehicle on restricted trail.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) worked numerous big game cases this week, several of which had to do with trespassing or baiting. She made contact with one hunter who had cut down trees on state forest land for shooting lanes only to discover the hunter also had bait out.

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports activity this week focused around the firearms deer opener. Numerous hunters were checked on the opening weekend and hunter success was found to be generally really good everywhere. Numerous calls involving miscellaneous deer season related issues were handled, of which trespass complaints were the most time consuming. Several issues involving violations that happened last year were monitored, and other local CO?s were assisted with a situation involving an individual with warrants, meth, and marijuana who ran from the officers. In another matter, an individual faces gross misdemeanor charges, confiscation of a handgun, and revocation of hunting privileges after blatantly ignoring warnings by the landowner and a police officer not to trespass on posted private land, but then went and did it anyway three times on opening day. Each time the trespasser was caught on trail cameras. The second time he was caught by the conservation officer, escorted off the property, and told strongly that he was going to be charged, to stay off the land and not come back. But after the officer left, the violator went right back on the property a third time. The officer came right back and caught him again. Now the guy has to face some serious consequences for not respecting other people?s property and defying law enforcement, just to go hunting.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) used most of his time working archery and firearms baiting issues. The officer also answered questions on the local radio station.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd 2) worked a busy firearms deer opener with numerous contacts. Numerous mature bucks were harvested in the area during the peak of the rut. Officer Guida worked with landowners fielding complaints of trespassing and illegal harvest of deer. Enforcement action was taken on illegal party hunting and lending/borrow licenses where individuals were not present afield at the time of the taking of deer. Deer were seized and enforcement action was taken. Officer Guida assisted a hunter track his first deer which unfortunately was wounded. Another hunter eventually dispatched the deer and claimed the trophy. The young hunter had a photo opportunity with the deer and was promised some venison.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area
Last updated: 2017-11-06


CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) worked deer season and associated ATV traffic. A lot of local deer were taken opening morning. Hunters hurried out of the woods before the sleet hit and often neglected to validate and attach site tags. Issues were addressed with ATVs used to haul deer still requiring registration displayed and operator training. CO Verkuilen also investigated a dumped carcass, assisted at the CWD station, and monitored bait sites.
 
CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) received hunting over bait TIPs and multiple complaints of target shooting rifles within the 5-day window for firearms deer season. The law reads?.A person may not possess a firearm or ammunition outdoors during the period beginning the fifth day before the open firearms season and ending the second day after the close of the season within an area where deer may be taken by a firearm. There are some exceptions however, ?I?m from Wisconsin? is not one of them. The firearms deer opener was spent handling hunting deer with the aid of bait complaints. Several citations were issued and firearms were seized for the violations. CO Speldrich investigated calls of hunter harassment, trespassing, and mistaking antlerless deer for antlered deer. She also assisted in a shooting from a roadway call where the shooter shot at a deer from Interstate 35.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked on preseason deer season items, which included numerous calls about law questions and trespass situations. Assistance was given to state park staff on illegally parked vehicles and easement issues. A wildlife manager was assisted with removing stands left on a WMA. Opening weekend of deer season brought a few nice deer harvested, with ATV and loaded gun violations found. CO Starr assisted Isanti County with a trespass situation in which coon hunters were threatened with a shot fired and shotgun pointing accusations. The whole situation could have been prevented with better verbal communication efforts.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent the week responding to trespassing and other calls relating to the firearms deer season opener. The deer opener was busy as usual with calls and complaints of trespassing, poaching deer at night, road hunting, and hunting deer over bait. Citations were issued for transporting loaded firearms, littering, illegal operation of ATVs and hunting deer over bait. Several arrests were made for hunting deer over bait that included hunting over piles of corn and hunting over store bought deer feed blocks. After being caught hunting deer over corn and feed blocks, one hunter asked if he could see the rifle that was seized from him one last time. The hunter said goodbye to the firearm and gave it a kiss.

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) spent the week preparing for the deer season and answered numerous questions regarding licenses, trespassing, and CWD. He spent a majority of the deer opener following up on baiting complaints and checking hunters and camps over the weekend. Enforcement contacts included hunting deer over bait, transporting loaded firearms, littering, operating ATV?s during restricted hours, no licenses in possession, and expired ATV registration violations.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) patrolled area state forest and WMA?s over the firearms deer opener. Many deer were harvested even though weather conditions were tough. Most hunters contacted had seen deer with some holding out for a big buck. Duck hunters contacted said most ducks seen were on a mission to head further south. Enforcement action was taken on a variety of big game violations.

[Lee Borgersen]

  Weekly Conservation Officer's report

District 1 - Baudette area
Last updated: 2017-11-13

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) worked a very busy week of deer season. Numerous complaints were received and investigated. Deer shining activity was worked with enforcement action taken.

CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad North) worked big game, small game, snowmobile, and ATV enforcement. The first week of the firearms deer season proved to be a tough one for forest hunters, however, hunters in the agricultural areas seem to be faring well. Enforcement action was taken for transport loaded firearm, fail to register a big game animal within 48 hours, and illegal party hunting lend or borrow violations.

CO Nick Prachar (Baudette West) reports a busy week in the Baudette station. Time was spent working deer hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for taking deer over bait, possess over-limit of deer, lend/borrow licenses, and failure to register deer. CO Prachar also responded to complaints of a snowmobile operating recklessly in the city of Baudette. The operator was arrested for operating a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) continued to monitor deer hunting activity in the area seeing moderate success. Unfortunately multiple hunters found it too cold to sit in a stand and took to their vehicles to road hunt. Enforcement action included multiple shoot from the road at big game, transport loaded firearms in motor vehicle, recreational trespass, untagged big game animal, take deer over bait, fail to register big game, hunt with invalid license, and wanton waste.

CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working deer hunting, trapping, and angling activity on special regulation lakes. Most lakes have iced over this week and ice anglers have started to venture out on a few of the lakes reporting 4-5 inches of ice. Time was spent working decoy details with neighboring officers encountering a high violation rate with enforcement action taken for shooting from the roadway and or shooting from the vehicle. TIP information was investigated and wildlife possession permits were issued for car killed deer. Enforcement action included transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicles and operation of ATV?s during restricted hours.

CO Kyle Quittschreiber (Blackduck North) reports a busy week of firearms deer season. Time was spent focusing on deer hunting activities and checking ice anglers on Upper Red Lake. Ice conditions are not great yet and even foot traffic is not advised. Several local resorts are reporting upwards of 6? of ice. While this is true in spots, there are also several spots where the ice is much thinner. Open water was seen earlier in the week. Please check ice conditions thoroughly before venturing out! Enforcement actions for the week included shoot from the road, trespass, untagged deer, fail to validate deer tag, fail to register deer, transport loaded firearm, shining, and transporting illegally taken big game animal.

CO Hannah Mishler (Baudette East) spent the week focusing on deer hunting activity and responding to deer hunting complaints. Assistance was given with a damage to property complaint and ice anglers were also checked on Upper Red Lake.



District 2 - Bemidji area
Last updated: 2017-11-13


CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending the week working a busy deer season. Many deer and hunters were checked. Hunting trespass complaints and TIP calls were investigated. Hunters reported having good success with finding deer this year. Many deer hunting related violations were encountered.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) with the help of the DNR flight wing, flew the area looking for deer hunters using bait resulting in a citation. Investigated TIP complaints and shooting deer on a refuge. Officer Gray also responded to several nuisance and injured animal complaints.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) checked deer hunters throughout the week. The first ice fishermen of the year were checked. Hunting over bait complaints were taken and several individuals were cited for shooting from the road at a big game animal. A trespass complaint was also investigated.

CO Brian Holt (Bemidji #2) continued working through the busy firearms deer season. Complaints were received regarding wounded deer, trespassing, shooting after hours, hunter harassment, and shooting from the road. Time was spent working a detail with other area officers and checking hunters in Itasca State Park. CO Holt worked part of a day with a park ranger trainee as a ride along. Enforcement activity included taking deer over bait, shooting from a motor vehicle, and shooting from the road.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports a busy deer season with more typical deer season type weather. Duck hunters took advantage of a late push of ducks before many of the smaller lakes iced over. Enforcement action was taken for shooting from the road, site tag validation issues, and stands being left on WMAs. CO Vinton was assisted by several conservation officers in the execution of a search warrant after it was discovered a possible felon had shot a deer without a valid license. A deer and firearms were seized along with drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) checked deer hunters and followed up on numerous complaints. Multiple citations were issued for baiting, untagged deer, unvalidated tags, and lend/borrow license. Assistance was provided to other CO?s on a search warrant and shoot from the road violations. CO Peterson also followed up on one hunter?s complaint that another hunter pointed his rifle at him. After responding to the location and locating the suspect, the suspect twice raised and pointed his rifle at CO Peterson while approaching. The suspect hunter stated he was using his scope to see other hunters better because he left his binoculars in his truck. Formal criminal charges are pending for pointing a gun at another person.

CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week checking deer hunters and migratory waterfowl hunters. Waterfowl hunters were enjoying plenty of action as large groups of mallards and Canada geese continued to move through the area. Deer hunters were mostly disappointed with the number of deer seen, as the firearm season came to an end on Sunday. Many stated they would be hunting the muzzleloader season. Enforcement action was taken for various licensing violations.

CO Angie Warren (Detroit Lakes) worked the firearms deer season activity. Calls of hunter harassment, trespass, shoot from the road, and request for car kill permits were received. Deer hunters reported good to great success. An interview with area media was performed. Area lakes have iced over and the first ice anglers of the season were observed. The public is reminded that ice conditions can vary and to use extra caution when venturing out on the ice.

CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking deer hunting activity in the Pelican Rapids station. The amount of standing corn seemed to hide some of the deer, but most hunters still had a good year and were reporting improved deer numbers. Calls from the public included deer zone questions and trespassing complaints. Enforcement action was taken for trespassing, shooting at a big game animal from a roadway, permitting a juvenile to violate game laws, and transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.



District 8 - Duluth area
Last updated: 2017-11-13


CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) followed up on shooting from roadway complaints and trespassing complaints. Baiting complaints, blaze orange, and shining complaints were also worked during the week. Snowmobile complaints have been ongoing as trails are not legally open until December 1st. The officer assisted two different parties with deer retrieval on posted property and worked complaint areas for use of ATV?s during closed hours.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) spent the week working firearm and the archery deer season. Several complaints were investigated and a few resulted in citations being issued. Some examples of the violations encountered include hunting without a license, hunting over bait, no blaze orange, and failing to validate tags. A few investigations are still ongoing that are requiring more evidence collection. Complaints of trespass were looked into. Calls of wounded deer going onto other people?s property were resolved without issue. Officer Duncan also investigated a possible waters violation during the week.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) reports firearms deer season work continued with several contacts resulting in enforcement action for untagged deer, failing to validate licenses, illegal transportation, transporting loaded firearms, and other license related violations. Baiting issues continued to be addressed. Hunters were reporting better results the second weekend with more deer movement. Lots of does/fawns and young bucks being taken. A number of phone calls with questions and concerns were taken over the week dealing with unethical and un-sportsman like action and behavior from other hunters including neighbors, friends, and relatives.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) continues with another busy week over the firearms deer season. Several calls and complaints of various violations were investigated. Enforcement action was taken for shooting from the road at big game animals, trespass, insufficient blaze orange, hunting deer over bait, and transporting loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. One of the calls investigated was from a witness that saw someone shine and shoot at deer from a motor vehicle well after dark. At the scene of the complaint a dead deer was found. Two hours later, a vehicle fitting the description described by the complainant returned and picked up the deer. They were stopped by officers and three individuals were contacted in the vehicle. Their vehicle, firearm, and light used in this violation was seized as evidence and they got to spend the night in the county jail. They are facing gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor charges for several violations.

District 9 - Brainerd area
Last updated: 2017-11-13


CO Jim Guida (Brainerd 2) worked a busy firearms deer season. Numerous contacts were made and enforcement actions were taken on violations. A trespassing investigation was concluded and the hunters were determined to be lawfully hunting. An injured deer was dispatched and donated to an individual that stated, ?I feel like I just won the lottery!? Officer Guida received a report of a stolen trap from a trapper.

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled Cass/Crow Wing Counties for deer and waterfowl hunting activity. Both waterfowl and deer hunters reported good success. Enforcement action was taken for federal stamp violations, fail to validate deer tag, fail to tag big game animal, shoot from the roadway, take deer without a license, trespass, lend/borrow deer licenses, and burn prohibited materials.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) continued to stay busy with trespass calls and several big game cases including baiting, shining, over-limit, and tagging violations. She also contacted a Class 2 ATV operator who was 9-yrs old and not wearing a helmet operating on a public roadway. The adult passenger thought it was ok since it was a dirt road. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) reports hunters continued chasing the elusive whitetail throughout the week and continued to see and harvest good numbers of deer. New ice forming on area lakes and ponds was problematic for deer and several deer were rescued after falling through ice or being stuck on the glare ice. CO Sullivan observed violations that included possession of untagged big game, shooting from the roadway, trespassing, fail to register big game, and illegal hours of recreational vehicle operation. One subject reported a litter violation. CO Sullivan responded and investigated the report and found the reporting party was illegally baiting deer and trespassing.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked deer hunting and trespass activity. Assistance was given to an adjoining district?s search warrant.

CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) reports working the firearms deer season including answering many questions related to deer hunting legalities, working a deer shining detail with neighboring officers, and handling calls of deer shot off roadways, hunter harassment, untagged deer, license lend/borrow, trespass, and transport of illegal taken deer.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Cuyuna SRA) reports working firearm deer hunters throughout the week and weekend. A few deer were seen taken but with the colder weather fewer hunters were seen out. Calls regarding big game hunting violations were investigated and a few car kill deer permits were issued. Lots of outdoor law related questions were fielded and ATV activity was also monitored. The officer also checked a few areas for late season duck hunters and small game hunters. Enforcement action included various big game violations.



District 4 - Walker area
Last updated: 2017-11-13


CO Chelsey Best (Remer) worked a trapping complaint, an off-hours ATV complaint, a hunter harassment complaint, and two separate cases where deer were shot from the same county road near Remer. Reports were sent to County Attorney?s offices and others are still under investigation.

CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring hunting and trapping activity. Deer hunters reported limited success. CO Broughten investigated several complaints of trespass and deer taken from the roadway. Smaller lakes and ponds in the Longville area are starting to freeze over. CO Broughten also assisted with an investigation of a bullet going through a residence.

CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked waterfowl and deer hunters. Officer Hunter received multiple reports of shooting from the road, over-limit of deer and trespass. Other common reports/violations during the firearm deer season were fail to validate/tag deer, hunter harassment, hunt over bait, and waterfowl hunting complaints.

CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked deer season; some nice bucks were harvested both by hunters and car hit. Contacts were made for trespass, no orange, leaving stands in WMA, untagged, no license in possession, hunter harassment, and shining/shooting at night.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked deer hunters. Harvest success was lower on the second weekend. Ice has formed on small and medium sized lakes. A couple ice anglers were checked and reported three inches of ice. Extreme caution is necessary and travel is not advised on early ice. Large lakes will likely freeze in the next week making it the earliest ice formation in more than a decade. Assistance was provided on a criminal incident in Cass Lake. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV during closed times, fail to validate tag, untagged deer, and allow illegal hunting methods by juvenile.

CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) worked mostly firearms deer hunting issues this week, but did check a few waterfowl hunters also. Most area lakes are frozen over. Violations included hunting on a closed game refuge, shooting after hours, transporting illegally taken big game animals, trespass, and unplugged shotgun used for waterfowl.



District 10 - Mille Lacs area
Last updated: 2017-11-13


CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked deer hunters and investigated associated complaints like suspicious shots, carcass dumping, and trespassing. Waterfowl hunters were also out. Some of them lacking proper licenses and vegetative cover. CO Verkuilen also monitored ATV traffic and assisted a stranded motorist.

CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) investigated calls of shooting deer from motor vehicles, shooting from roadways, trespassing, and illegally taking big game. She worked the Nemadji State Forest over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for operating ATVs during closed hours, operating a motor vehicle with a loaded firearm, under 18 passengers without helmets, and failing to tag deer. CO Speldrich also followed up on baiting complaints, hunter harassment complaints, and issued deer possession tags.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) continued with deer season work and shining prevention. ATVs during closed hours seems to be an issue this year, with enforcement action taken. Trespass and unregistered deer violations were also handled. CO Starr coached a member of a hunting crew who was intoxicated late at night. The older gentleman indicated he was getting up to hunt early in the morning, however, he was advised to ?sleep in? due to his intoxication level. Members of the hunting party agreed.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) saw most of the lakes in the area freeze over toward the end of the week. The smaller, shallower lakes had a couple inches of ice near the shorelines and were just barely froze over further out. Deer hunting activity was much slower after the opening weekend but hunting and trespassing complaints continued to come in at a steady pace. Emergency rescue was provided for a hunter that fell about 18 feet from a deer stand, in a remote hunting area. The hunter was carried out of the woods by first responders and air lifted to a hospital.

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) spent the week checking hunters throughout the area. Most hunters reported seeing a lot of deer but heard very little shooting. CO Wynn followed up on various deer hunting complaints including shining, hunting without licenses, and shooting late. CO Wynn also assisted Pine County with a traffic stop, stolen property recovery, and traffic control during a structure fire.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) handled TIP complaints on a variety of issues ranging from deer over-limits to off hour ATV use. There were still a fair number of deer harvested around the area. Cold weather starting the weekend slowed things up a bit but turned around for the remainder. Enforcement action taken on big game violations.