Weekly conservation report

[Lee Borgersen]

Weekly conservation report.  

District 9 - Brainerd area

CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) received complaints of subjects feeding deer in the North Central deer feeding ban area. The cases are under investigation and pending enforcement action. Area lakes still have large amounts of snow and travel in vehicles is difficult. Sullivan was a guest speaker at the Pequot Lakes firearms safety class. Calvin Wallin is celebrating his 50th year as a firearms safety instructor. Congratulations, Calvin!


CO Jim Guida (Brainerd #2) worked fishing enforcement and nuisance animal/wildlife complaints. A livestock producer reported a calf killed by a gray wolf and it was investigated. A federal trapper was contacted for removal assistance.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked angling and associated ATV/snowmobile activity. Time was also spent working Canadian border waters.

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports checking fishing and snowmobile activity and working a detail with the U.S. Border Patrol along the Canadian border in Cook County.

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled for angling and snowmobile activity throughout the week. Time was also spent investigating a dogs-chasing-deer complaint. McGowan also attended division training.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) reports a busy week with angling activity. One angler decided that two lines were not enough to get his fish. He attempted to reel in the extra line when he observed Ladd approaching. He did not have any more fish in his bucket than any others on the lake. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) checked panfish anglers on area lakes. Some success was seen. The officer also investigated a violation where a lakeshore property owner had filled a portion of his lakeshore almost 300 feet long and out into the lake nearly 100 feet in spots. No permits had been obtained prior to the work. Charges are pending and a possible restoration order is being looked at.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports working area lakes for fishing activity. A few trout and some panfish were seen as late-season fishermen were checked. Patrol was done for ATV and snowmobile activity and many outdoor law-related questions were fielded during the week and weekend. The recreation area was patrolled and area bike trails were checked for trail closure violations. A call of calves being killed by wolves was investigated and the federal trappers were called in to trap the nuisance wolves.

District 4 - Walker area


CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring angling activity. Overall, anglers reported limited success in the Longville area. Broughten also investigated minnow trapping violations and ice shelter violations and assisted with an investigation into a perch overlimit case.

CO Colleen Adam (Park Rapids) reports snowmobile trails are in poor condition. She came across a few people trying to get in their last ride of the season. They could ride on portions of trails in protected areas and across lakes, but otherwise there was lots of bare ground and gravel surfaces. Panfishing is still popular. Enforcement action was taken on several houses out beyond the deadline. Adam cleaned and sorted equipment in preparation for spring.

CO Chelsey Best (Remer) checked fisherman and patrolled spring forest closures. Assistance was also provided involving a structure fire.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked anglers. Fish house removal and associated litter issues were investigated. A prohibited material burning complaint was worked. Enforcement action was taken for an angler who possessed a walleye during the closed season and also for five perch anglers who had a total of 42 over their limit.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area

CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked angler activity. Lakes continue to have lots of ice but also plenty of slush. Area sled trails are mostly bare, although sled and ATV traffic were monitored on the lakes. Despite the lack of open water, local trappers were checked trying for beaver pelts at the peak of their prime.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked panfish action, answered informational calls, and worked a Lake Vermilion detail. Migrating birds continued to increase in numbers. Starr observed a broken dog sled on a lake that some fishermen had gathered for the dump, helping clean up the lake. A short time later, a sober driver was found towing two intoxicated people on the broken sled behind his truck. Though legal, the sled was already broken and could have been dangerous to ride on.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) patrolled area state forests and WMAs for illegal ORV and ATV use. It’s that time of year when things get soft and area forest roads take a beating with unwanted traffic during this time. Most anglers are reporting a sluggish bite. Assistance was given to a neighboring officer on a warrant arrest and also to the sheriff’s office on a residential alarm.

District 12 - Princeton area

CO Mike Krauel (Milaca) spent the week doing equipment maintenance and working on evidence storage. Krauel also had the privilege of giving a law talk at a local turkey clinic. Many of the attendees were participating in a mentored hunt. Thank you to all of the volunteers who are taking youth and first-time hunters out this year.

CO Brandon McGaw (Mora) checked a few ice anglers during the week. Ice conditions remain stable but ice fishing pressure has dwindled. Sunfish and crappie bites are spotty but some folks found fish. While on patrol, McGaw stopped and allowed three hen grouse to cross the road in front of him. The fourth grouse was a male in full strut. Many people were found to be cooking maple sap and reports indicate the sap is running well. Enforcement action was taken on an arson wildfire in the northeast portion of Kanabec County.

CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) checked ATVs and anglers on several lakes. Several animal complaints were handled and follow up was done on a big-game case. Equipment maintenance was completed.

Aviation Section

CO Pilot Christopher Lofstuen (Grand Rapids) reports flights related to fish shelter removal, snowmobile enforcement and training. A meeting was also attended in Brainerd and various aircraft maintenance issues were addressed.

NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) worked on administrative and aircraft items. He took part in forestry fire simulator training, where different scenarios to launch the helicopter to a fire were completed. It was very realistic training, with a roomful of participants in different roles, talking on many different radios. He also attended the quarterly pilot’s meeting, where winter projects were reviewed and safety and maintenance items were discussed. Upcoming spring projects were discussed as well.

CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports finishing a deer collaring project in southeastern Minnesota and attending a quarterly pilot’s meeting.