Virginia: After speaking with numerous lakeshore owners it was discovered that one of the cabin owners thought a private person had placed the net, removed it and only then learned it belonged to DNR Fisheries. The cabin owner balled up the 250 foot long net and threw it back in the lake because she didn’t know what else to do. The net was later recovered and the fisheries crew has a big job of untangling the net in front of them
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) patrolled the Warroad and Roseau rivers and Lake of the Woods for angling activity. A complaint was investigated regarding a fuel oil barrel dumped in the Roseau River. An angler was encountered with an illegal length walleye and enforcement action was taken.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad) worked boat and water safety, AIS, angling and ATV enforcement. Time was spent working ATV enforcement in the Beltrami Island State Forest, most of the contacts dealing with individuals there stemmed from operating ATVs without headlights engaged. It’s important to use your headlights as there is limited visibility on the roads due to dust and it is possible that without the headlights on, oncoming traffic may not see you. Enforcement action was taken for the following: operating an ATV without headlights, possession of an illegal length walleye, over-limit of walleye, failure to pull the drain plug on a watercraft while transporting, transport fish w/o a patch of skin, possess fish illegally taken in Canada and failure to display valid registration on an ATV.
CO Hannah Cowden (Warroad) checked anglers and boaters on the Warroad River, Lake of the Woods and Upper Red Lake. A calf depredation claim was investigated. An AIS check station was worked, and drug analysis training was attended at the BCA office in Bemidji. A call of an abandoned baby raccoon was also taken.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette) reports increased fishing success on Lake of the Woods. CO Prachar received many calls about injured/nuisance animals including beavers, bear and a great horned owl. Enforcement action was taken on a walleye over-limit, various ATV violations, as well as numerous aquatic invasive species violations.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) reports working angling and boating activity on Upper Red Lake and special regulation lakes, AIS enforcement and ATV activity throughout the week. Time was spent attending the Take-A-Kid Fishing Event promoting boating safety, sportsmanship and conservation. TIP calls were investigated and a good number of night time anglers were reminded that watercraft lighting is required at sunset. A district AIS detail was worked and vehicle maintenance was completed. Enforcement action included angling license violations, boating safety equipment violations and operating ATV’s on the roadway.
Baudette #2 -vacant.
Blackduck #2 – vacant.
Karlstad – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports giving an ATV safety talk to DNR Wildlife staff at the Mentor office. Time was also spent working a complaint area at the Red River SRA and the Mentor WMA. Several anglers and boaters were checked throughout the week. ATV and OHM contacts were also made. A TIP call was worked regarding an illegally taken bobcat, resulting in charges for taking out of season. Several watercraft violations were found this week.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) worked angling, fires, leeching, and a possible wetland violation. Bear concerns continue while a wolf depredation case was completed. Assistance was given to multiple agencies for calls ranging from domestics, suspect with gun, damage to property, trespass etc. A firearms safety field day was attended with the entire class passing and now certified. Thanks again to the volunteer instructors, bus driver, participating parents and local sportsman club supplying lunch.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked area anglers and boaters. He also assisted with a District 1 AIS check station.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) monitored angling activity in the area. CO Vollbrecht worked a detail on Upper Red Lake with CO McGowan. Several over limits were detected. A complaint of people taking over limits of crappies was investigated. Officer patrolled area ATV trails with CO Holt. Computer training was attended.
CO Brian Holt (Bemidji) patrolled ATV trails and checked activity along the Mississippi River State Water Trail. Time was also spent monitoring AIS compliance in the area and participating in an AIS work detail. Enforcement action was taken for ATV safety violations.
CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking fishermen and working shoreline issues. He also followed up on aquatic plant removal and fishing complaints.
CO Angie Warren (Detroit Lakes) worked area trails for ATV activity. Angling and boating activity was worked with anglers reporting varying luck. CO Warren received calls and conducted follow up in regards to anglers catching killing and throwing pan fish back in water. She also received calls of a possible sick fox, illegal boating activity, an illegal boat house, small amounts of dead fish washing ashore, and boat registration issues. CO Warren also concluded an investigation of an illegally taken goose.
WREO Joe Stattelman spent the week focusing efforts on fishing and AIS enforcement. A meeting was attended in Detroit Lakes. An AIS check station was attended near Baudette.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week monitoring angling activity, ATV activity, boat and water safety, and AIS violations. A vehicle trespass was investigated on a WMA near Ada. Several complaints of illegal ATV use by juveniles were addressed from concerned citizens in southern Norman County. The officer encourages motorists to pay attention and look for turtles as they are crossing roadways to nest. Enforcement action was taken for insufficient PFDs.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports angler numbers remain high in the area with success being mixed. PWC operation has increased with the warmer temps and folks are encouraged to know the regulations regarding PWC operation. Reports of nuisance beaver and calls about fawns continue. Enforcement efforts were related to angling, boating, AIS, public access, and spring turkey hunting follow-up.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked boat and water enforcement as well as fishing enforcement throughout the week. AIS enforcement was addressed with boat plugs not being removed the main violation. ATV operators were stopped and violations include: operating un-registered machined, youth without helmet, and failure to transfer ownership of machine. Other violations through the week were fail to have fishing license in possession, no throwable PFD, operate PWC within 150 yards greater than slow no wake, operate unregistered boat, fail to display registration on watercraft, and over limit of crappie. Several bear complaints continue to come in recently with an elderly lady having a bear in her yard destroying bird feeders and plants.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) investigated fish overlimit complaints. One resulted in a fishing group from out of state having over two illegal limits of sunfish in possession. Fortunately, all the fish were alive and were able to swim away after being counted and photographed. Multiple illegal drug cases were made on the water as well as citations issued and drugs/paraphernalia seized. The first annual bow fishing tournament was held in Douglas County with 20 boats participating; everything went very well.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) focused enforcement efforts on anglers, boating safety and AIS compliance. Fishing was good on Lake Minnewaska. Time was spent reviewing and issuing minnow interstate transportation permits. Calls from the public were handled regarding hunting opportunities in the Wheaton area, and nuisance animal complaints.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week included checking fishermen, boaters, and monitoring AIS compliance. Additional time was spent on nuisance and orphaned animal complaints.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked fishermen and ATV’ers. Officer Hunter spoke at a youth Firearms Safety class. CO Hunter assisted the county with an injured animal and with a possible medical.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) responded to a car killed bear with local residents reporting lots of bear sightings. A livestock depredation case was investigated after a cattle owner reported two dead calves. After checking the area it appears that the likely suspects in the calf killings were coyotes. Livestock owners are encouraged to call immediately with livestock losses for the most accurate investigation and resolution.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked anglers and boaters. The walleye bite remains good in the area. An AIS work detail was worked with good compliance. Some work was also completed on an existing deer season case. Complaints were received about anglers fishing in closed areas. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week focusing on angling, ATV, and boating activity. Angling success continued to be poor. CO Broughten investigated a TIP call where an individual was found to be in possession of 40 crappies. CO Broughten completed a commercial minnow and taxidermy inspection. CO Broughten also worked an invasive species detail and gave a presentation to a firearms safety class. Enforcement action included: no angling license in possession, failure to remove drain plug, failure to display boat registration, illegal length walleye, and possess over limit of crappie.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked multiple bear complaints and wetland violations.
CO Colleen Adam (ATV REC) responded to a report of ORV’s “ripping up” a forest road and trail. The vehicles were found partially disabled and one operator was taken into custody for a probation violation. CO Adam assist the county sheriff’s department with a man overboard call. Officer Adam assisted work crew during the third annual Quadna Mud Nationals in Hill City.
Remer – vacant.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports fishing success on Kabetogama Lake has slowed, however it has picked up on Rainy Lake. Several nuisance animal complaints were handled throughout week. Most of the week’s activities revolved around fishing, boat and water safety, and invasive species with enforcement action taken for fail to remove drain plug, over limits, illegal length walleye, transport fish without skin patch, and no current boat registration. A small work detail was also attended at the U.S. Customs, Port of Entry in Int’l Falls.
CO Jim Van Asch (International Falls) worked angling, boating, and ATV activity throughout the area. Many anglers were contacted and found having some luck both with the walleyes and pike on Kabetogama and Rainy Lake. CO Van Asch attended training on Lake Minnetonka with several other COs and officers from neighboring agencies. Enforcement action was taken for over limit of walleye, possession of an illegal length walleye, and transporting fish without a skin patch.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes. Fishing reports have been generally poor. Public access sites continue to be monitored. Forest Roads were checked. Overall activity appears down from previous years.
CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) reported that the mayfly hatch has seemed to slow the fish bite some in the area. The officer worked angling and boating enforcement in area lakes. Enforcement was taken on angling with extra lines, angling without a license, illegal transport of walleye, no fire extinguisher, no PFD, and operating watercraft at night without lights. The officer also helped Bear Head State Park with the eviction of a large group of campers for violation of quiet campground rules.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked angling, boating, invasive species, state park, and OHV enforcement. The officer also worked Lake Vermilion and dealt with a number of animal complaints including nuisance bears, a Facebook posting of a people “holding a deer fawn hostage,” and a report of an injured bear being followed around by a number of kids in the city of Soudan. The officer watched an angler dispose of his Styrofoam crawler container, a shopping bag and a 5 gallon bucket into a lake from a fishing pier (the pier had two garbage cans 10 feet and 30 feet away). The angler/litter bug first denied the deed, but eventually admitted to his poor judgement. Once again, no fishing license violations again surpassed any other violation encountered during the week. Enforcement action was taken on angling without a license, illegal length fish, transport aquatic macrophytes, littering, unlicensed watercraft; fail to display watercraft registration, PWC violations, OHV trespass, and an ATV violation.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) responded to a call from DNR Fisheries about a gill net that had been stolen from Little Sand Lake in Britt. The lake had not been surveyed for almost 30 years because it does not have a public access. After speaking with numerous lakeshore owners it was discovered that one of the cabin owners thought a private person had placed the net, removed it and only then learned it belonged to DNR Fisheries. The cabin owner balled up the 250 foot long net and threw it back in the lake because she didn’t know what else to do. The net was later recovered and the fisheries crew has a big job of untangling the net in front of them. Area lakes and rivers were patrolled. Enforcement action was taken for insufficient PFDs and possessing a Lake Vermilion slot walleye.
Ray – vacant.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely) worked with other area Officers on the Canadian border performing compliance and AIS checks. Overall compliance was good with the majority of violations being AIS related. Violations included: transport fish with no license in possession, possess overlimit, and fail to drain water related equipment.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) spent time in Two Harbors court testifying in a BWCAW snowmobile felony fleeing case. While working in the BWCAW, CO Stage encountered a group that had capsized their canoes right after leaving the landing. The officer observed that they each had fishing poles along and asked if they had gotten their fishing licenses. They said they had not, but that if the fish just happened to end up in their boat… The whole group then laughed for a while. The officer waited for the laughter to die down, then identified himself as a game warden and explained the high cost of fines, how to purchase licenses over the phone, and discussed all the other BWCAW rules that they had not felt necessary to be aware of before heading into the BWCAW wilderness for their first time.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that assistance was given to a watercraft that was taking on water. It was determined that the trailer bracket had worked its way through the hull during transport, causing a sizeable slash. The boat was brought back into shore and with a little bush ingenuity, along with marine caulking, they were then back out on the water.
Later that evening their motor died and luckily the caulking still held. The CO dealt with an abandoned camper and boat during the week. He also donated some blood to the local black fly colony.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt / Ely) testified in court in Two Harbors, took fawn calls and a bear call, worked on a wetland fill violation, worked station lakes, and assisted on a work detail at U.S. Customs in International Falls. Enforcement action included unattended line, possession of fish illegally taken or transported in Canada (to include over limits and no skin patch), no navigation lights after sunset, no type IV PFD, fail to display watercraft registration, transport aquatic macrophytes, transport water, fail to remove boat plug, and no license in possession.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked on a few bear and beaver complaints during the week. A waters complaint was also taken.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) spent time working local accesses for invasive species enforcement this past week. She also assisted in an ATV work detail in the Hill City station over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for various violations including illegal equipment, failure to stop at stop sign, failing to display registration and alcohol.
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and boaters, patrolled for illegal ATV activity, enforced AIS laws for watercraft transportation, and handled nuisance animal complaints. Enforcement action taken for operating ATVs on public roadways.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) checked anglers, boating activity, answered various wildlife calls, and assisted with a district work crew in Hill City. He assisted with an ATV DUI. Violations included ATV on roadway, transport aquatic macrophytes, and fail to drain water related equipment.
CO John Velsvaag (NE Region ATV Officer) worked OHM activity this past week. CO Velsvaag received questions on grant-in-aid trail use and took several complaints of illegal ATV use on bike trails. CO Velsvaag also worked at an ATV work detail around Hill City.
CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) spent the week working fishing and ATV activity. CO Wichmann worked the ATV Mud Nationals in Hill City over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for operating ATV’s on roadway, having snorkel devices and unregistered ATVs.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) responded to several calls of orphaned wildlife. Please leave newborn wildlife in place, the adult is in the area and will be tending to them in time. Worked boating, angling and AIS enforcement. Worked ATV complaints in the Duluth area. Calls returned on law questions regarding special regulations.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked angling, boating, AIS, and OHV enforcement throughout the week. CO Humphrey continues to receive calls and complaints on nuisance and injured/orphaned wildlife. CO Humphrey completed department and division online training. He encountered boating and OHV violations.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended K9 training in the metro and worked boating and OHV activity in the area. Enforcement action was taken for light violations and operating ATVs on the roadway. A number of bear complaints were received over the past week. Most of these issues could have been avoided if people took down bird feeders and locked up their garbage cans. A restoration order was issued on a wetland violation and time was spent visiting with park visitors at Jay Cooke State Park for its 100 year celebration. A tip call of illegal fish being taken in the St. Louis River was received and investigated. The complaint turned out to be unfounded.
CO Randy Hanzal Duluth (Duluth) had several wildlife calls about injured animals or possible abandoned fawns throughout the week. The officer assisted at the scene of a motorcycle accident. Luckily the rider was wearing a helmet which helped to prevent serious injury. The officer was also first on scene of a grass fire. Some quick shovel action by the officer kept the fire away from a large nearby propane tank. Anglers and boaters were also checked for compliance during the week.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) checked anglers on area lakes and rivers; fishing is still decent and anglers are happy. Officer Scott participated in a detail working the Quadna ATV Rally in Hill City over the weekend with a large number of ATVers out enjoying the event.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
Sgt. Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) followed up with several bear complaints within the Duluth city limits. Worked on boat maintenance items on the Lake Superior boat. AIS enforcement was also worked. Ongoing investigation on an illegal dumping complaint.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked on boat training items and checked boaters on Lake Superior. Assistance was given to the USCG with training scenarios in the Grand Marais Harbor. A DNR Forestry meeting was attended, and ATV problem areas worked with multiple contacts made for registration and operation violations. Enforcement action taken for angling and ATV violations.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) patrolled area lakes and area ATV trails. Enforcement contacts were made addressing various violations. Officer Guida worked evening patrol on area lakes addressing operators on their consumption of alcohol and also basic boating laws including displaying navigational lights after sunset.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) monitored recreational boaters and checked anglers. A TIP call of a possible fish overlimit was investigated and assistance was provided for the sheriff’s department on an investigation into a group of mud trucks doing damage in a closed area of the Foothills State Forest. The officer also assisted with an ATV work detail for the Quadna Mud Nationals in Hill City.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked AIS, boating and angling enforcement during the week. A complaint regarding illegal use of state land was also addressed.
CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) worked on fishing enforcement. The bite is slow; the most cooperative fish have been the bass. Violations he found were no license, extra lines and not enough life jackets. He worked with WREO Haberman on AIS violations. Some of the violations observed were plugs in the boat while transporting, as well as water and live fish. Complaints of boaters refusing to allow inspection by AIS inspectors were investigated. Complaints of vehicles on closed trails in the Pillsbury Forest were investigated. Campers in the forest were warned for uncertified campfire wood.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports activity including checking fishing and boating activity on area lakes and the Mississippi River, patrol of the Crow Wing State Forest and complaint areas for OHV activity, handling issues of abandoned / illegal storage of watercraft on public access and a sunken boat lift causing a boating safety hazard, giving presentations on furbearing animals and natural resource conservation to students at the Northland Arboretum Kid’s Camp event, and miscellaneous wildlife issues. Enforcement contacts were made for refusal to allow watercraft inspection at public access, fail to remove drain plug when transporting watercraft, illegal ATV operation and registration issues, and miscellaneous boating equipment and registration violations.
CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) patrolled Crow Wing County lakes for angling and boating activity. CO McGowan also worked a detail on Upper Red Lake where numerous anglers were checked. Enforcement action was taken for walleye over limit, illegal length walleyes, no PFDs on watercraft, illegal boat exhaust, and numerous other boating violations.
CO Amber Peterson (McGregor) worked boating and fishing around the McGregor area, patrolled for AIS violations at several access and assisted the county with a disturbance call. She also worked the Quadra ATV event in the Hill City area where several contacts were made resulting in violations as well as a DWI arrest. CO Peterson also responded to an OHM crash where the operator was intoxicated and had a cancelled driver’s license.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Chris Tetrault (Isle) attended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife celebration for Mille Lacs Lake refuges. The officer also staffed the Wall of Shame trailer at Father Hennepin State Park during the parks open house. Anglers were checked on Mille Lacs Lake and anglers were doing well. Not many fish were kept by anglers but they were having fun by the amount of walleye they were catching. Enforcement action was taken for navigation lights not being on when required, illegal length walleye, and no angling license in possession.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking smaller lakes in his station. Lots of boating recreation and also fishing activity were monitored on those lakes. Fishermen around Mille Lacs Lake were checked and lots of Mille Lacs Lake law related questions were answered. A call of a calf taken by a wolf was investigated and a federal trapper was brought in to take care of the nuisance wolf. The Solana State Forest was patrolled for DNR Forestry, and also ATV, OHM and ORV activity. A call of a possible wetlands violation was fielded and the Officer also worked aquatic invasive species enforcement around the Malmo Station. ATV activity was monitored around the station and area Wildlife Management Areas were patrolled for activity. Enforcement action for the week included various fishing, boating, and ATV activity.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) had a couple complaints from farmers involving cows and their calves being harassed by wolves. In a couple instances, wolves were able to attack and drag away week old calves from the cows. Trappers were brought in to some farms in an attempt to limit livestock losses by removing wolves from the area. Complaints taken included concerned homeowners dealing with wolves hanging around their residence. Time was spent at an ATV safety class and patrolling angling and ATV activity. Nuisance bear calls and reports of bear being hit by cars continued to come in and a couple trespassing complaints were handled.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) spent a short week checking anglers and state forest areas for activity. He received several calls on nuisance bear, nuisance coyotes, and questions about geese taking over shoreline areas. CO Wynn issued a nuisance beaver permit, and also a permit to possess a road killed bear. He finished up the week traveling to Duluth for radio programming.
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) worked area lakes and Mille Lacs Lake. Fishing was fair on Mille Lacs with reports of mainly 12-14 inch walleye being caught. A few large small mouth bass were caught and released while doing checks. Time was spent monitoring heavy ATV traffic around the Hill City area during the Quadna Mountain Mud Nationals. Several conservation officers participated in a work detail making safety checks in and around the event.
WREO Rob Haberman worked AIS enforcement throughout his assigned work area. WREO Haberman also conducted AIS Law Enforcement training for Cass County deputies and Lake Service Provider training in Brainerd. WREO Haberman also helped D4 officers with an AIS crew and a TIP call on an over limit of crappies.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) worked area accesses for AIS violations throughout the week. Angling activity was also monitored. Nice weather made for a busy boating weekend. Enforcement action for the week included angling with an extra line, no angling license, no angling license in possession, insufficient PFD’s, illegal length walleye, fail to remove drain plug, no fire extinguisher and no type 4 throwable.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) worked anglers and boaters on area lakes. The nice weather had many people out enjoying the lakes. AIS enforcement was worked at public accesses. Enforcement action for the week included no trout stamp, transport weeds, transport boat with plug in and boating equipment violations.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) handled a call of someone who had a fawn on their doorstep. It seemed as if the lamb they had in a pen nearby had called the fawn in. The fawn was relocated back to nearby woods where the doe would find it. CO Kuske spoke at the Rice Creek Firearm Safety class and is investigating two Lake Service Providers who are doing work in area lakes and rivers and do not have the current required Lake Service Provider training on stopping Invasive species spread. A youth on an ATV was stopped as they had on no helmet, had no ATV safety training and no driver’s license while operating in the road right of way. The youth was brought home to the parents who were educated on the ATV laws.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked angling, boating, OHV and litter issues. Carp were found littered in public access areas and public bike trails with arrow holes in them. The officer fielded calls concerning over limits of fish and an injured loon on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) handled equipment maintenance. Online training was completed. Anglers were checked and OHV activity monitored. Solid waste complaints are under investigation. A complaint was received regarding non-watercraft users inhibiting ingress/egress at a public access. Possibly orphaned ducklings were shuttled to a wildlife rehabilitator.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) dealt with a growing number of ATV complaints including juvenile passengers on Class 2 vehicles without helmets. One report involved people using ATVs to tear up township roads and driving in wetland areas. Another reported ATVers exceeding the speed limit on city streets and traveling on the state highway. CO Kuske encountered an individual bringing a boat into the access of a non-infested lake. Even though the person had removed the drain plugs from the livewell and the boat, a small amount of infested water remained in the livewell. The person was denied access to the lake and was directed to clean the live well. The owner was more than willing to comply. CO Kuske conducted follow-up from a wolf depredation incident and he met with the new owner of a cattle ranch in the area and discussed the protocols and procedures when dealing with wolves.
St. Cloud – vacant.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Angela Londgren (Cambridge) completed site inspections on public water and aquatic plant violations, spoke at a women’s shooting event in Elk River, and took complaints of an injured eagle. Boaters and anglers were checked, and invasive species compliance was checked at local public accesses.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked fishermen on area lakes and rivers. He took enforcement action on the following violations angling without a fishing license, taking of a walleye while bow fishing and wanton waste. He issued a Resource Protection Order and a Cease and Desist Order for a wetland and public waters violation. He followed up on a number of nuisance and injured animal complaints.
Princeton – vacant.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Brent Grewe (Osseo) spent the week checking anglers and boaters. CO Grewe responded to a couple of nuisance animal calls and prepared for upcoming community events.
CO Traci Hanson (Minnetonka) worked fishermen and AIS enforcement on and around Lake Minnetonka, Parker and Gleason lakes, as well as Lotus, Christmas and Lake Ann. Hanson worked boating activity on Lake Minnetonka, assisting a broken down personal watercraft to shore and assisting the Hennepin County Water Patrol with an overdue boater found safely at a local establishment. Hanson attended noise enforcement training and assisted with national outdoor recreation day at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis.
CO Chelsie Leuthardt (Prior Lake) spent some of the week assisting neighboring officers. She took several calls from citizens and answered questions about wetland laws and trespassing.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) checked anglers in the Mound station and continued to follow up with the zebra mussel violations. He attended an AIS meeting in central office and took care of equipment maintenance. Officer Lee also talked to a firearms safety class in the Hmong community and returned calls on state park regulations.
CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) patrolled the Bloomington Station for angling, boating and AIS activity. He returned calls about bow fishing, boating regulations and an injured wild animal. He attended a meeting about anglers reportedly catching invasive carp and snagging fish on the St. Croix River. He worked at a National Outdoors Day event at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis, staffing a Lasershot system.
Bloomington – vacant.
Mound – vacant.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Scott Arntzen (Forest Lake) spent the week checking anglers, boaters and doing AIS enforcement. CO Arntzen also patrolled area wildlife management areas, investigated a TIP complaint and handled a nuisance animal call. Violations for the week included failure to remove drain plug, transport aquatic vegetation, being in a WMA during closed hours, speeding, and insufficient number of PFDs.
CO Vuthy Pril (ELCOP) checked watercraft for safety equipment, registration and aquatic invasive species. He checked anglers throughout the week and patrolled Dakota County for ATVs and off road vehicles. CO Pril also responded to miscellaneous animal complaints and calls during the week.
CO Tony Salzer (Ham Lake) patrolled Anoka and Ramsey County for angling activity. CO Salzer investigated a possible wetland complaint in Ham Lake but there was no violation. CO Salzer also patrolled Carlos Avery WMA.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) finished up on a deer case in which a Wisconsin resident had purchased a Minnesota resident lifetime deer license. The individual stated he was trying to save money. The lifetime license was voided out with no refund and enforcement action was taken. She worked AIS enforcement at local accesses and worked fishing and boating enforcement on area lakes. CO Kruse handled various TIP calls with one resulting in an over limit of crappies. She handled nuisance animal calls and took calls with questions regarding bow fishing.
CO Joe Kulhanek (Hastings) spent the week checking anglers and boaters on the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. He attended noise enforcement training, responded to TIP calls and gave a presentation at the Farmington Safety Camp on water safety. Enforcement action for the week included not enough PFDs, child under 10 not wearing a PFD, expired boat registration, and angling with an extra line.
CO Brad Johnson (Maplewood) reports that he checked anglers and boaters during the week. Enforcement action was taken for no fishing license and keeping bass on Lake Demontreville. He conducted AIS checks, and patrolled at Afton State Park. CO Johnson assisted CO Mlynar with duplicate bear license investigations.
WREO Adam Block (Metro) continued work on wetland and AIS investigations. Officer Block checked anglers and boaters throughout the metro area finding a few violations. WREO block answered calls involving shoreland questions and water appropriation.
Eagan – vacant.
Metro Officer – vacant.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) focused enforcement efforts towards angling and boating during the week. Anglers are having decent success on local lakes.
CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week checking anglers, working boat safety, and working ATVs. Recreational boating has increased dramatically as weather improved. Enforcement action was taken for registration violations, no helmet, no driver’s license on ATV, and inaccessible PFDs.
CO Doug Lage (Marshall) conducted his weekly radio show on KLOH radio. A Cease and Desist order was issued in the Lake Benton area for a landowner who was digging in a wetland area. An extra line violation was dealt with. A Firearms Safety class was taught in Porter.
Benson – vacant.
Madison – vacant.
Redwood Falls – vacant.
Worthington – vacant.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Thor Nelson (New Ulm) received calls regarding injured and suspected abandoned wildlife. He followed up on complaints of Wildlife Management Area violations. Nelson spent time working boating safety, fishing and off road vehicle enforcement as well.
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) worked a local fishing tournament and educated boaters about AIS laws. He checked anglers and ATV operators. Denz also followed up on commercial activity.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) checked anglers with some having great luck and most people were catching something when they went out. A few more calls were taken about black bears moving through the area during the week. People were advised to keep their garbage inside and take in bird feeders so they are not an easy food source for the bear. Fire enforcement was also worked with people burning garbage. Boating safety was checked during the week as well. Klehr also helped out and worked security at an auction in New Ulm.
CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson) spent time on area lakes working boat and PWC enforcement. A PWC operator was reminded of the 150 foot rule on causing no wake near docks and shore. A gosling found at a local shore fishing area was brought to the Hutchinson Fisheries office with fishing line wrapped around its leg. The line had been there long enough to start to embed into the gosling’s leg. It’s important to always pick your trash so it doesn’t endanger the wildlife in the area. ATV activity was also worked during the week focusing on the area near the Winstock Music Festival.
CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) worked mostly ATV and boating enforcement. ATV activity was mainly around a local country music festival and boating enforcement was worked on all station lakes. Time was also spent doing enforcement on the Luce Line State Trail. A burning complaint was worked and injured animal calls were handled.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) worked fishing and boat and water safety enforcement. He responded to an injured deer complaint and one of a suspected dead trumpeter swan that turned out to be a pelican; however, on the same marsh were two adult swans with six cygnets. Gruhlke also assisted with nuisance beaver issues.
Willmar #1 – vacant.
Windom – vacant.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) checked angling activity throughout the week. Complaints of ATV violations were investigated. The officer checked watercrafts at public accesses for AIS violations. Training was attended in St. Paul.
CO Luke Belgard (Faribault) checked fishermen, boaters, and recreational vehicle operators. The fish bite has slowed a bit, but some anglers are still finding fish on local lakes. Time was spent monitoring public access sites for AIS violations.
CO Chad Davis (Owatonna) checked anglers on area lakes and rivers. AIS and boating activity were also monitored. A commercial inspection was completed and the DNR laser shot was staffed at a local event.
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) spent the week checking fishermen, boaters, and ATV operators. Officer Ihnen also responded to TIP calls and completed follow up investigations from the past trapping season. Public water accesses were monitored for AIS compliance.
WREO Julie Siems continues to follow up on open Wetland Conservation Act violations. Anglers were also checked and were having success.
Albert Lea – vacant.
Mankato #1 – vacant.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports spending the week with fishing, boating, and ATVs. He continues to receive nuisance animal calls including a report of a coyote challenging a dog being walked in a park. Hemker also closed a turkey trespass complaint and helped with a special needs fishing day.
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports working ATV and OHM activity. Compliance was high with only a few violations encountered. Angling has been slow due to the high water on most streams. Fawn reports seem high this year with multiple twins being reported.
CO Phil George (Rochester) checked anglers and watercraft users throughout the week and some enforcement action was taken for watercraft related issues. Officer George took several calls about injured animals and baby animals and attended an angling event in Lanesboro. Complaints of ATVs in the road ditch were received as well.
CO Kevin Prodzinski (Wabasha) reports working another busy week on the big river, as well as continuing work on an open investigation. Also, several invasive species violations were addressed along with assistance provided at a special needs fishing day. Enforcement action involved license, registration, and safety equipment issues this week.
Rochester #2 – vacant.
Training Section
Planning is ongoing for this year’s training activities, including ordering equipment and supplies and reserving training areas at Camp Ripley.
Aviation Section
CO Pilot Bob Geving (New Ulm) conducted forestry sketch mapping project flights and attended to maintenance issues. Geving also worked on training activities during inclement weather.
NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) continued with his flight training in airplanes, and continued training one of the pilots in helicopter. Additional administrative tasks were completed as well.
CO Pilot Chris Lofstuen (Bemidji) reports hosting a CO Prep candidate for three days. Several wolf telemetry missions were flown as was a fisher telemetry mission. Multiple creel surveys were conducted over Lake Vermilion and administrative tasks were addressed.
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports a week of giving flight training to another DNR pilot in fixed wing aircraft. Jensen also flew a DNR Fisheries research crew in and out of a remote wilderness lake in northeast Minnesota. Jensen also continued rookery recon flights in conjunction with the University of Minnesota. For most of the weekend, Jensen flew in support of ATV enforcement efforts near Hill City with some contacts made for illegal ATV operation in the area.
Water Resource Enforcement Officers
WREO reports are now placed within district reports.
Enforcement Education
Please check the DNR WEB SITE at www.mndnr.gov for a current class listing of all DNR Enforcement Education Courses and instructor training sessions
If you missed a fall class and are over 18, check on-line for Adult Home Study or On-Line course information is also located at www.mndnr.gov.
Please check the DNR WEB SITE www.mndnr.gov for a current class listing of all DNR Enforcement Youth Snowmobile Safety Courses and instructor training sessions. Adult Snowmobile Safety Training CDs are available by calling 1-800-366-8917 or 1-888-MINNDNR.
Youth ATV Courses (12 to 15 years old) class postings for around the state are posted on the web site at www.mndnr.gov. Students are reminded that they must complete the CD portion of the course before attending the classroom portion of the course. Youth/Adult ATV Safety Training Course CDs are available by calling 1-800-366-8917 or 1-888-MINNDNR
Reminder—anyone born after December 31st, 1979 cannot purchase a license to hunt in Minnesota without first taking a DNR Safety Training Course and receiving a certificate. In addition many states have even more stringent mandatory Hunter Education requirements. Check before you go!!!
Reminder—Any resident born after December 31st, 1976, who operates a snowmobile in Minnesota, must possess a snowmobile certificate. Two options are available to complete certification. Ages 11 and older can attend the traditional youth course. Those 16 or older can take the at home CD course.
Reminder—Anyone born after July 1st, 1987, who operates an ATV on public lands and waters in Minnesota, must successfully complete the ATV Safety Training CD course. Persons under age 16 must complete the ATV CD Course and riding component before riding on public lands. Youth/Adult ATV Training CDs are available by calling 1-800-366-8917 or 1-888-MINNDNR.