Highlights:
Staples: A cub was rescued by a local cowboy after mom was killed on the highway. The cowboy roped the cub out of a tree and the little fellow named “Fred” was brought to the Garrison Vet Clinic.
Hibbing:The officer came along a 4-year-old and her grandmother fishing; however, they were not going to catch anything on the bait being used. The officer scrounged up a couple night crawlers from under a log and helped the young girl catch the first fish of her lifetime, followed by a couple others. When asked to see a fishing license, an angler who was 16 said she was 15. When asked what her date of birth was, her brain wasn’t fast enough to do the math and she was 16, requiring a license. The angler then said she had an angling license, but didn’t have it with her and that her dad always told her to never go fishing without it. After all that, when the officer looked it up, she actually had a fishing license.
CONSERVATION OFFICER WEEKLY REPORT
06-22-2015
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) monitored area ATV activity and responded to local animal calls for nuisance bears and raccoons. Anglers were checked on the Roseau River and Lake of the Woods. An arrest was made for an intoxicated boater at the Northwest Angle. Enforcement action was also taken for angling without a license.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad) worked boat and water safety, AIS, angling and ATV enforcement. CO Benjamin worked with CO Huener checking boaters at the Northwest Angle for safety equipment compliance. During one of the checks it was discovered that the operator of the boat appeared to be intoxicated; the individual failed standard field sobriety tests and was arrested for boating while intoxicated. Other enforcement action for the week included operating an ATV without headlights, failure to display valid registration on an ATV, operating a watercraft after sunset without navigation lights.
CO Hannah Cowden (Warroad) had a busy week in the Lake of the Woods area. Anglers and boaters were checked, with angling success increasing from previous weeks. Some groups appeared to be having too much “luck” with catching fish and multiple over limit citations were issued. ATV patrol was also conducted, where multiple people were found to be in violation of helmet laws. Assistance was given to a stranded boater with engine troubles and the boat was towed safety to shore to be fixed. A complaint of an individual parking and leaving their boat at a public access dock and blocking the access for other boats was handled. A complaint of a “suspicious” individual camping and living in the woods was also handled with assistance from other area officers. Enforcement action taken for: illegal length walleye, over limit of walleye, no angling license in possession, possession of filleted fish on water, fail to display ATV registration, operating ATV with passenger under 18 not wearing helmet, operating ATV on road without valid driver license, and no valid state park pass.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette) reports that angling success on Lake of the Woods has improved. ATV activity was worked. CO Prachar worked on Lake of the Woods with CO Cowden and CO Woinarowicz. Enforcement activity of the week included ATV safety violations, boating safety violations, and illegal length walleye.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) investigated a gray wolf depredation, attended a district meeting, and responded to numerous nuisance bear and “orphaned” animal calls. The public is encouraged to leave baby animals in the wild and limit the food sources in their yards accessible to bears to lessen the possibility of human/bear interaction. CO Woinarowicz also worked on Lake of the Woods with COs Cowden and Prachar. Enforcement action for the week included boating safety equipment violations, possess illegal length walleye, ATV registration violations, and allow juvenile passenger on ATV without helmet.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) reports working AIS enforcement, angling and boating activity on special regulation lakes throughout the week. Time was spent preparing a baiting case from this past deer seasons for court, attending district training /meeting, investigating a TIP call of possible over-limit of panfish and a litter complaint.
Baudette #2 -vacant.
Blackduck #2 – vacant.
Karlstad – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and watercraft operators on area lakes and rivers. Time was also spent checking ATV operators and working AIS enforcement at public water access sites. Work was also started on another wetland violation site. Violations included various licensing and watercraft related violations.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked anglers and boaters. He also took care of injured turtle and looked for a tangled loon but was unable to locate.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) monitored angling activity in the area. Traffic on area lakes continues to increase with the warmer weather. CO Vollbrecht monitored ATV activity on area trails and roads. Nuisance bear complaints and injured eagle calls were taken. Boats were checked for AIS compliance and CO Vollbrecht spoke with a group regarding boat and water safety. An affidavit was completed and delivered to the county attorney. Officer assisted Beltrami County with a call of an individual making threats with a knife.
CO Brian Holt (Bemidji) worked on nuisance bear calls and injured deer calls. The officer spent time patrolling ATV trails and checking angling activity on area lakes. Officer Holt also worked with a DNR intern and checked activity in Itasca State Park. Angling license violations were encountered.
CO Angie Warren (Detroit Lakes) worked angling activity on area waters. Boaters were checked for safety equipment and AIS compliance. CO Warren received calls of abandoned animals, boat registration questions, and possible deer poaching activity. Area trails were monitored for ATV activity. Follow up was conducted on a complaint of illegal removal of aquatic vegetation and an illegal boathouse.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week monitoring angling, ATV, boat and water safety, and AIS activity in the Moorhead station. A report of an injured owl near a roadway was received and upon investigation it was discovered to be a juvenile barred owl that had fallen from a nest. Phone calls from the public included nuisance rabbits in the garden, abandoned ducklings, a nuisance wolf in Norman County, and a public waters complaint on Lake 15. With the weather finally cooperating many people were using their new paddleboards. The officer would like to remind the public that paddleboards 10 feet or longer are considered watercraft and need registration and lifejackets. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license in possession, no type IV throwable cushion, no lifejacket on board a paddleboard, and operating a paddleboard without registration.
WREO Joe Stattelman spent the week focusing efforts on AIS enforcement. Time was also spent making contact with AIS inspectors at public access sites. Fishing activity was monitored. AIS training was provided in Baudette for Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s deputies. A meeting was attended with SWCD regarding AIS and WCA issues. Several Restoration Orders, RPNs and CDOs were issued and files opened and closed regarding APM, WCA and PW cases. Time was spent attending a District 1 meeting and AIS activity discussed.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports primarily working fishermen, boaters and AIS enforcement. Questions were answered related to FAS classes and special beaver permits were mailed. Anglers were reporting mixed success on various species. Violations addressed were related to boat safety, angling, AIS, and WMA regulations.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time working fishing, boating, and AIS throughout the week. Plautz spoke to a local group of Amish students, certifying nine in a firearms safety class. Violations included over limit of crappie, no fishing license in possession, and insufficient number of PFDs.
CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) checked fishermen, boaters and AIS enforcement. A FAS instructor clinic was set up and calls continue to come in regarding orphaned animals. Please leave the animals alone.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) answered several calls during the week ranging from a snapping turtle with a hook in its tongue to abandoned fish baskets tied to a fishing pier. Osborne worked on an appreciation dinner for volunteer safety instructors in the Evansville station. ATV violations were the reoccurring theme for the week with registration and youth operation violations topping the list.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) focused patrol efforts on fishing and boating enforcement on station lakes. Vacation season is in full swing with lots of contacts made. Fishing without a license and PFD violations seemed to be the most common violation encountered. Tubing activity increased on the Long Prairie River with enforcement action taken for littering empty beer cans. Lawler also spoke to a church group of senior citizens.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) focused enforcement efforts on TIP calls, anglers and AIS enforcement. Anderson investigated a couple of Pope County TIP calls. One was about litter left on a public access and another about a possible over limit of fish. Time was spent at public access sites and enforcement action taken for several boats observed leaving with weeds on the trailers. A meeting was held with the USFWS regarding minnows being taken in a prohibited area. A meeting was attended for the enforcement payables committee, minnow transportation permits were issued and calls were handled about fishing questions.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports checking fishermen and boaters. Calls were fielded about lake ownership and fishermen harassment. Additional time was spent issuing beaver removal permits and deer possession tags.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked fishermen and ATVs. Officer Hunter received a call of a fawn that was next to a deer that had been hit by a car and a call of a dead baby loon. CO Hunter followed up on a complaint of dead swans.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) remained busy with anglers and boating activity. AIS and ATV trails were also worked. Calls were received about a nuisance porcupine, dogs chasing deer, and angling violations. Enforcement action was taken for over limit of walleye, over limit of perch, angling without a license, towing a water skier without an observer, riding on the bow of a boat, and no PFDs on a watercraft.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week focusing on angling, ATV, and boating activity. Angling success continued to be poor. CO Broughten followed up on calls concerning placing fill in public waters, nuisance beaver, and ATV complaints. CO Broughten also gave a presentation to the Forkhorn 1 firearms safety class at Deep Portage.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked multiple bear complaints. A cub was rescued by a local cowboy after mom was killed on the highway. The cowboy roped the cub out of a tree and the little fellow named “Fred” was brought to the Garrison Vet Clinic.
CO Colleen Adam (ATV REC) attended a meeting/training session and completed reports for the county attorney. Enforcement was taken on ORVs and ATVs on a snowmobile trail. She responded to reports of a drowning.
Remer – vacant.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Jim Van Asch (International Falls) monitored angling and boating activities on Kabetogama and Rainy Lake. The walleye bite on the big lakes has been on the slow side, with boats having one or two fish in most cases. CO Van Asch assisted neighboring officers in Grand Rapids for boating safety class for several youths on Pokegama Lake. Time was also spent on nuisance animal complaints in the area. Enforcement action was taken for failure to remove drain plug, no Type IV PFD, and possession of an illegal length walleye.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) monitored angling and boating with generally poor reports on fishing success. ATV activities were monitored, with little activity noted. Public access sites were checked and forest roads monitored.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked angling, boating, invasive species and state park enforcement. The officer came along a 4-year-old and her grandmother fishing; however, they were not going to catch anything on the bait being used. The officer scrounged up a couple night crawlers from under a log and helped the young girl catch the first fish of her lifetime, followed by a couple others. When asked to see a fishing license, an angler who was 16 said she was 15. When asked what her date of birth was, her brain wasn’t fast enough to do the math and she was 16, requiring a license. The angler then said she had an angling license, but didn’t have it with her and that her dad always told her to never go fishing without it. After all that, when the officer looked it up, she actually had a fishing license. Enforcement action was taken on no angling license in possession, operate PWC at greater than no wake speed within 150 feet of shore, operate PWC during closed hours, insufficient PFDs, no navigation lights, operate ATV in public waters, fail to remove boat drain plug, operate ATV on public highway, and a traffic light violation.
Cook – vacant.
Ray – vacant.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports angling activity had stepped up with good reports from several groups. ATV activity was high with the recent warmer weather and a good compliance rate was found. Violations included: angle without license in possession, and fail to remove drain plug.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended a training and planning meeting for Use of Force instructors at Camp Ripley. On the return trip from a meeting in Sandstone, the officer located an unpermitted burn. Despite being able to obtain and activate a permit less than one-half mile from his location or right on site from his smart phone, the property owner failed to do so before lighting a rather sizable pile of stumps and brush. CO Manning also taught an introduction to guns class for women and assisted Cook County Sheriff’s Office with a call about a suicidal man.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked mainly fishing and boating enforcement on station lakes. A fish over limit case was detected that is currently under investigation. Other enforcement action for the week included angle with an extra line and insufficient PFDs. Several injured and nuisance animal calls were received and dealt with, and taxidermy inspections were completed with CO Williams.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) spent much of the week on the road. CO Schottenbauer training at Camp Ripley, picked up a boat in Grand Rapids, and had some required radio work done.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) helped with a boat and water safety class in the district, dealt with several nuisance or injured wildlife concerns, enforced AIS laws, patrolled for illegal ATV operation and checked anglers and boaters. Enforcement action was taken for failure to remove boat plugs.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) checked anglers, boating activity, and answered various wildlife calls. He patrolled area lakes and campgrounds. Violations included no proof of insurance, PWA law violations, and ATV equipment.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, helped with a hands on boat and water safety class, responded to nuisance animal complaints and monitored OHV activity. The area walleye action was on the up side. Overall, compliance was good.
CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) worked aquatic invasive species enforcement this past week. She also attended a division meeting and helped with a boat and water safety class. Enforcement action was taken for AIS activity.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked angling activity during the past week with the local bite starting to heat up. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license in possession and for no navigational lights on a watercraft after sunset. CO Sutherland also helped give a watercraft safety class to area youth.
CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATVs, state parks and campgrounds. He also taught a boating safety class during the week.
CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) spent the week working boating and fishing activity. Wichmann received a bear complaint which was resolved by eliminating the food source.
CO John Velsvaag (NE Region ATV Officer) checked ATV complaint areas and received calls about upcoming ATV safety classes. CO Velsvaag also helped out with a youth boating safety class in Grand Rapids.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) talked with a group of 60 plus young kids at an outdoor fishing summer camp about the job of a CO, laws and enforcement techniques. Several days were spent on area lakes working fishing and boating enforcement. ATV complaint areas were also monitored during the week. Officer Duncan assisted with wolf complaints, issued a beaver permits, completed radio updates and assisted another DNR division with a possible enforcement concern.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked angling, boating, AIS, and OHV enforcement throughout the week. CO Humphrey received calls and complaints on nuisance and injured/orphaned wildlife. Anglers were reporting mixed results with pan fish making up majority of catches. CO Humphrey completed department and division online training. He encountered angling license, boating equipment, and OHV operation violations.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with dog testing and certification in the Cloquet area this past week. Time was also spent checking boating and off-highway vehicle activity in the area. Enforcement action was taken for registration and light violations. Follow up cases on wetland violations and wolf depredation calls were finished. K9 Schody was brought in to the vet to get an annual check-up and to also check on an injury to the leg. A complaint of a minnow trap that was placed in a trout stream was investigated. The trap was found to be untagged and seized for evidence. Follow up on a delinquent commercial aquaculture license was follow up on.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) worked on boat maintenance items, followed up on bear complaints and checked anglers on Lake Superior and in the Duluth/Superior harbor. He also worked on an ongoing investigation of a burning complaint.
CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior. Follow up work was completed on commercial violations and inland trout anglers were checked. Info was received on multiple violations occurring on an Aquatic Management Area, and locations will be documented in the coming weeks. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) worked angling, boating, AIS, litter, and commercial enforcement throughout the week. He attended the Lake Superior management plan meeting. He investigated a possible wetland conservation act violation. He also had a CO Prep Candidate ride with him during enforcement work. Enforcement action was taken for angling, public access and litter violations.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) checked recreational boaters, anglers and ATVers. The officer also helped interview a person reported to be refusing boat inspections at public landings, and patrolled the vacant station at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) received a conviction notice on a BWI arrest from last summer. The operator was convicted of careless boating, completed mandatory chemical abuse training, unsupervised probation, and paid a large fine. Officer Guida fielded complaints regarding nuisance bears eating bird feed and an injured loon entangled in fishing line. Enforcement action was taken on a couple of individuals who were trespassing while picking agates. The individuals were escorted off the property and the agates were given to the landowner.
CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) worked on fishing enforcement this past week. The anglers are out and the walleye bite has slowed. The sunfish, bass and northern have been active and the most cooperative for angler. Some of the violations he observed were no license and unattended lines. Boating enforcement also received sometime this past week. No lights after sunset, PWCs operate within 150 feet of shore and loud boats violations were detected. He also worked on aquatic invasive species prevention on Gull Lake. Plugs in boats, water in live wells and aquatic vegetation on trailers were found. ATV operating on improved roads ways and no helmet under age 18.
CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) worked Cass and Crow Wing counties for angling and boating activity throughout the week. Anglers are reporting a slower bite on the Whitefish Chain. Enforcement action was taken for angling and recreational vehicle violations.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports follow up work on AIS, lakeshore development, and water hazard violation issues. He also reports returning a stolen canoe to its owner, investigating an abandoned sunken boat on an area lake, responding to complaints of non-compliance from watercraft inspectors, and patrol of lakes for boating and fishing activity. Also working ATV complaint areas and the Crow Wing State Forest for OHV activity, and the Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area. Enforcement contacts were made for miscellaneous boating equipment and registration violations, illegal deposit of trees in a lakebed, and illegal ATV operation.
CO Amber Peterson (McGregor) worked area trails for ATV violations and followed up on a TIP of an over limit of sunfish off of Big Sandy. The suspects were angling on other lakes but camping at Big Sandy so they were not over the special regulations limit as the caller suspected. She also worked the Lakes and Rivers Fair in Aitkin and patrolled for AIS and fishing violations around area lakes.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked angling, boating and AIS enforcement during the week.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Chris Tetrault (Isle) checked anglers on area lakes with mixed success to report. A firearms safety class was attended as well as a firearm instructor appreciation fish fry. Enforcement action was taken for juveniles on ATVs without helmets and seatbelts, too many passengers on an ATV and no navigation lights on a watercraft after sundown.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports running the laser shot system at the Lakes and Rivers Fair in Aitkin over the weekend. Lots of questions were answered and lots of kids and adults tried the laser shot system. Patrol was done via ATV in the Solana State Forest where a few ATVs were out seen enjoying the trails. AIS enforcement was done throughout the Malmo Station and fishing and boating activity was monitored. Enforcement action for the week included various ATV violations.
CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) followed up on public waters violations and wolf depredation reports. She patrolled General Andrews State Forest for ATV violations. Off-highway vehicle users continue to disobey signs marking a non-motorized area and drive their vehicles along the beach. The fine amount for this violation is $100 plus court surcharges for a total of $185. Limited class state forests like General Andrews and Nemadji only allow vehicle traffic where there are signs stating you can ride there. If it is unsigned or signed as a non-motorized area, you cannot operate there.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked fishing, boating safety, and ATV activities. Compliance was found to very good, with very few fish observed. A DNR Safety Instructor appreciation banquet was also attended, in which CO Starr learned some new fish frying techniques from an experienced instructor. PWC activity was also monitored with the warmer weather. Other minor calls for service included abandoned property and brush in a waterway.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent a majority of the week checking boaters and anglers on area lakes. Violations found included operating boats at night without navigational lights, fishing with too many lines, fishing without a license and keeping fish out of season. One case was finished up that involved an angler that couldn’t help but show off his fishing success by posting pictures online. The suspect posted photographs that included smiling for the camera while holding up a sturgeon that was caught and kept out of season. The suspect posing for the photos also didn’t bother to purchase an angling license.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) worked fishing complaints and answered numerous calls regarding nuisance bears. CO Wynn checked ATV complaint areas, state forest campgrounds, and attended computer training in St. Paul. Enforcement contacts included angling with extra lines and allowing illegal juvenile ATV operation.
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) issued a road killed bear tag in neighboring station. Time was spent patrolling area lakes and Mille Lacs Lake. Small mouth bass and smaller Walleye still seem to be the heaviest catch on Mille Lacs. Smaller lakes are still producing sunfish. Preparations were made for a firearms safety class and checks were made for invasive species violations.
WREO Rob Haberman conducted site visits for possible wetland violations in Aitkin County. WREO Haberman also conducted AIS enforcement around his assigned work area. WREO Haberman also attended raining in St Paul.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) spent time during the week monitoring angling activity and checking boaters. A new patrol computer was picked up and operational training was attended. While conducting shore angler checks, CO Silgjord found an underage angler consuming alcohol. CO Silgjord patrolled Lake Osakis over the weekend and made an appearance at an area tournament weigh-in. Some good walleye fishing was seen even after some heavy storms. Evening boating activity was monitored on area lakes. Violations for the week included fail to display valid watercraft registration, fail to remove drain plug, no angling license, allow illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, angling with extra lines, insufficient PFDs, fail to use navigation lights, transport aquatic macrophytes, and fail to have license in possession.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) assisted the Todd County Sheriff’s Office with a Class II ATV rollover accident where the adult driver and adult passenger were injured. No helmets or seatbelts were worn. Speed and alcohol are suspected to be factors. Anglers were checked. Recreational vehicle activity was checked.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked angling, ATV and other off-highway vehicles. Officer fielded calls concerning beaver issues and permits were issued. A bow fisherman turned himself in after shooting a bass.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) reports an increase in nuisance bear reports. Most complaints were the result of homeowners leaving food sources out like bird feed and other pet food which attracts bears to a residence. Advice was provided to clean up the food source and the bears will leave. Several nuisance beaver trapping permits were issued for township culverts and roads being flooded. CO Kuske assisted with minnow retailer checks in the district. A person dumped a pickup load of brush and debris on another person’s property without permission. Evidence found at the scene led CO Kuske to the responsible person. Cleanup was requested to avoid a citation. A TIP call from an observant fishermen resulted in two other fishermen being ticketed for using extra lines to angle.
CO Brian Mies (Annandale) checked anglers this past week. CO Mies worked on waters and vegetation complaints. CO Mies also attended a meeting on bail amounts in Sandstone.
WREO Keith Bertram spent the week working AIS enforcement in Stearns, Todd, and Pope counties. Wetland restoration orders were also served in Benton and Chisago counties. Time was also spent assisting a neighboring officer with a commercial investigation.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) worked anglers, boaters and AIS enforcement. Time was spent on injured animals to include a deer walking around with an arrow in its head and a loon with a fishing lure in its mouth. The Avon fireworks were worked with violations found for no lights on boat, no PFD and expired boat registration. Other enforcement action included no angling license. Assistance was given to the Albany ATV training riding class.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) reported a family in a Class 2 ATV (side by side) was stopped on the roadway due to kids with no helmets on. The driver was found to have a revoked driver’s license and said they had bought the side by side ATV three days ago. When told that they could not operate the ATV on a public road with a revoked license they said if they had known that they would not have bought the $15,000 machine. CO Kuske investigated a TIP call of someone possibly using herbicide around a dock on an area lake but found instead it was a large area covered by a blue plastic mat on the lake bottom. The cabin owners where contacted to remove the matting as it’s illegal to cover any lake bottom with plastic sheeting.
St. Cloud – vacant.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) check area lakes for angling and boating activity. AIS checks were performed at several lakes with compliance getting much better than in the beginning of the open water season. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license. Angling with extra lines, AIS violations and possession of marijuana.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked fishermen and Boat/Water patrol on the river and area lakes. He took enforcement action on a number of violations. He attended a meeting in Elk River. He answered a number of nuisance animal complaints.
CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) followed up on an illegal trapping case. Two complaints of dogs chasing deer were investigated. Anglers were checked with violations found for no license and extra lines. Several animal complaints were received including a loon issue and two separate nuisance bear calls. A case was worked where several swallow nests were removed illegally.
Princeton – vacant.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Steve Walter (Waconia) had vehicle maintenance and radio reprogramming completed. A district 13 meeting and training was attended at Fort Snelling State Park. AIS violator suspects were interviewed and appropriate enforcement action was taken. The St. Croix River bridge project in Stillwater was worked. Several nuisance animal calls were handled. The field day for firearms safety students doing the online program was attended at the Minnesota National Wildlife Refuge in Carver. Many telephone calls were returned on a variety of questions.
CO Brent Grewe (Osseo) spent the week checking anglers and following up with complaints. Violations included license issues.
CO Traci Hanson (Minnetonka) worked angling and AIS enforcement on Lake Minnetonka, and Gleason and Parker lakes. Hanson assisted with a firearms safety field day in Carver County. The Officer assisted the Carver County Sheriff’s Office with a river detail and prepared for a trial of an individual charged with DWI on his ATV.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) worked anglers and boaters in the Mound station. He checked Asian anglers at King’s Plant and talked to them about the Asian carp problem. Officer Lee also attended a district meeting and training at Ft. Snelling State Park. He also answered questions on firearms safety classes in the Asian community.
CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) spoke at the Ranger Camp about Conservation Officer’s roles which was hosted by Three River Parks District in Bloomington. He followed up with calls for service including burning prohibited materials, transporting boat without removing the drain-plug, handled a call of an abandoned fawn and a complaint of a person shooting songbirds. He also attended a district meeting and spent time on getting his patrol vehicle retrofitted for a newly issued tablet.
Bloomington – vacant.
Mound – vacant.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Tony Salzer (Ham Lake) patrolled Carlos Avery for activity. CO Salzer also patrolled the Boot Lake SNA for illegal vehicle activity. The use of motor vehicles is not allowed in the Boot Lake SNA.
CO Scott Arntzen (Forest Lake) spent the week checking anglers, watercraft users and doing AIS enforcement. CO Arntzen investigated several TIP calls, assisted with a river clean up detail on the Mississippi River and issued a CDO for a wetland violation. Violations for the week included no fishing license in possession, insufficient number of PFDs, registration issues and no angling license.
WREO Adam Block (Metro) spent the week patrolling for AIS and angling activity. WREO Block worked the Stillwater bridge project on the St. Croix River. Several calls were received regarding complaints on area lakes regarding motorboats and nuisance animals.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) worked AIS enforcement at area accesses finding good compliance. She handled various TIP calls and worked on aquatic vegetation violations on White Bear Lake. CO Kruse worked fishing and boating enforcement on area lakes and streams, handled nuisance animal calls and worked on a waters violation on Lake Johanna.
CO Joe Kulhanek (Hastings) spent the week monitoring anglers around the area. The bite has remained fairly slow. AIS enforcement was worked around the area with good compliance seen. Enforcement action for the week included angling with extra lines, expired watercraft registration and various license violations.
Eagan – vacant.
Metro Officer – vacant.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Doug Lage (Marshall) conducted his weekly radio show on KLOH radio. A busy weekend with a fishing derby on Del Clark for Hat Daze; 30 kids showed and good fishing was had by all with a 3 pound northern being the biggest fish. Area lakes are doing well with good numbers of fish being caught.
WREO Larry Hanson (Southern Region) assisted with a WCA violation in Lincoln County. He taught an AIS class for law enforcement in Benson and assisted with AIS saturations in Kandiyohi and Lyon counties.
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) spent the week working fishing, boating, and AIS enforcement. Fishing success has slowed but a few walleye are still being caught. Lake Sarah has been producing the most walleye. The Balaton Sportsmen’s Club had a good turnout for its annual walleye tournament on Lake Yankton. Dog owners are reminded to watch out for areas of blue green algae if they plan to allow their dogs to go swimming.
Benson – vacant.
Madison – vacant.
Redwood Falls – vacant.
Worthington – vacant.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) attended a Use of Force training and planning meeting at Camp Ripley. The focus was on upcoming academy and in-service planning. ORV and litter enforcement was also worked at some public accesses where vehicles have been doing burn outs.
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) checked anglers, boaters, and compliance with AIS laws. He talked about laws and ethics at a Firearms Safety class. Denz also answered questions about wildlife- related concerns.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) spent time during the week at different lake accesses checking boaters as they came in to make sure they were pulling the plug and not transporting water or weeds. Anglers were checked with many having luck catching all different kinds of fish. An ATV safety course field day was also attended were Klehr spoke with the kids about ATV rules and regulation.
CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson) took a call of dogs chasing deer near Boone Lake and raccoons causing damage north of Hutchinson. She also checked an area for issued on unpermitted riprap on a creek and verified a fish trap permit. Mueller attended a meeting at Camp Ripley and Sandstone during the week.
CO Thor Nelson (New Ulm) received calls regarding injured wildlife and wildlife doing damage. He also attended training in Fairmont. Nelson worked boating, angling, AIS, small game and ATV enforcement during the week.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) worked fishing, boat and water safety, and ATV enforcement. He addressed a couple of calls concerning ATV law and law surrounding game farming.
CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) worked boating, angling and ATV activity. Several violations were noted on a majority of contacts including over-limits. Invasive species continues to be high priority and boaters are well aware of the regulations and penalties of non-compliance.
Willmar #1 – vacant.
Windom – vacant.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) patrolled area rivers this past week. Angling activity was checked. A Use of Force meeting was attended at Camp Ripley.
CO Steve Chihak (Spring Valley) spent the week checking anglers, ATV operators, and working AIS enforcement. Calls of injured wildlife were received. A littering complaint is being investigated. Requests from the public seeking information were returned.
CO Luke Belgard (Faribault) worked angling, boating, AIS, and recreational vehicle enforcement. Local anglers have been finding panfish on area lakes. Time was spent monitoring possible wetland and dumping violations.
CO Chad Davis (Owatonna) checked anglers on area lakes and rivers. AIS and boating activity were also monitored. Wildlife management area activities were monitored along with ATV activity on county and township roads.
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) worked boating and angling activity. CO Howe assisted with the Cops ‘n Bobbers youth fishing event, and also with the Take a Kid Fishing event at German Lake. A complaint of a captive gosling was also investigated. CO Howe also assisted the Division of Waters with a sand blanket inspection.
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) spent the week checking anglers as well as ATV, OHM, and watercraft operators. CO Ihnen responded to TIP calls and investigated other complaints from the public. Additional time was spent patrolling for AIS compliance at local PWAs and surrounding areas. Be sure to drain all water from the lower unit of your boat’s motor prior to leaving the access.
WREO Julie Siems reports checking many anglers and boaters. PFD violations and invasive species violations were encountered.
Albert Lea – vacant.
Mankato #1 – vacant.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports the area lakes and river to be busy with Steamboat Days celebration. He continues to focus on fishing, boating, and AIS. Nuisance animal calls continue with a bear moving through the area and visiting several yards of homes and disturbing bird feeders and garbage cans.
CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked mainly anglers and rec vehicles during the week. Fishing success is still slow on the river. Heyn also did follow-up work on cases and assisted at a OHM accident.
CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) reports all boat landings are now in use since the high water has finally gone down. Fishing was slow this week despite the river conditions improving. Trout streams are in good shape with plenty of trout being caught.
CO Kevin Prodzinski (Wabasha) reports working the Mississippi River as well as area trout streams. Fishing success has slowed a little slow but activity on the big river has been heavy with many recreational boaters out enjoying the summer weather. Some smaller fish were checked, some equipment issued and AIS issues were addressed.
CO Phil George (Rochester) checked anglers and boater during the week and encountered violations for over limits of crappies, no fishing licenses, no PFDs onboard a watercraft, and angling with extra lines. Officer George assisted the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and the Rochester Police Department in looking for a suicidal person. The Officer located the person in the woods at a local reservoir and detained him for local authorities. The person was turned over to sheriff’s deputies
CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) reports spending the week checking angling activity. Fishing success in the area is still slow. Time was also spent checking activity in the state forest units and checking ATV complaint areas.
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports working boating activity and ATV activity. Compliance was good in most cases. Violations encountered were failure to display boat registration, no PFDs, and failure to display ATV registration. Time was also spent checking trout anglers 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 Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports giving continued fixed wing training to another NR pilot. Jensen also had a CO Prep cadet with for a Lake Vermilion boat survey. After the survey was complete, Jensen spotted a boat with two anglers so he landed on the water and performed a license check. The result was finding two nice sized northern pike that were within the protected slot limit. The fish were photographed and released in good shape. Enforcement action was taken.
NR Pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) flew sketch mapping for Forest Assessment; fisher, wolf and marten telemetry for Wildlife Research; and airplane pilot training.
CO Pilot Chris Lofstuen (Bemidji) reports despite being grounded by weather on several occasions, flying several Lake Vermilion creel survey and wolf telemetry missions. Several enforcement requests were flown, including evidence aerial photography.
CO Pilot Robert Geving (New Ulm) worked on forestry sketch mapping flights. NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) flew helicopter training flights with another pilot.
Water Resource Enforcement Officers WREO reports are now placed within district reports.
Enforcement Education
Please check the DNR WEB SITE at http://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 http://www.mndnr.gov.
Please check the DNR WEB SITE http://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 http://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.