Weekly CO report
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2024-09-16
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked bear, goose, sandhill crane and grouse hunters. An illegal bear bait was followed up on in the Greenbush area. All hunting activities were reported to be slow, with high temperatures being blamed. Assistance was given to local law enforcement with a deceased individual in the Lost River State Forest.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers, small-game hunters, and goose hunters. Multiple bear-related complaints were fielded. Violations encountered were driving after revocation, speeding, passing in a no passing zone, illegal-length walleye, and angling with an extra line.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) and COC Bobby Stringer report a slow start to the small-game opener. There was a variety of success among goose and grouse hunters. Enforcement action for the week included multiple ATV violations, angling without a license, unregistered bear bait, and several other bear-hunting violations. The officers want to remind ATV operators that all firearms must be unloaded while traveling in vehicles.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working the small-game opener. While groups saw limited success with grouse, many sandhill crane hunters had full limits. Time was also spent assisting with the Pennington County Conservation Day teaching sixth graders from area schools about archery. Enforcement action was taken for juveniles without helmets on ATVs.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) checked goose and crane hunters, as well as small-game hunters during opening weekend. Bruesewitz monitored bear-hunting activity, ATV activity, and nuisance-animal calls throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV violations.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) continued field training with COC Mooers. They spent time monitoring angling activity and conducting boat and water safety checks on Upper Red Lake, Cass Lake, Blackduck Lake, and Medicine Lake. They patrolled ATV trails, checked bear-bait stations, verified bear harvests, and worked the grouse-hunting season opener. Grouse-hunting and perch fishing activity were slow in the Blackduck area with recent warm weather.
Weekly CO report
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-09-16
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a firearms safety field day in Plummer. The archery deer and small-game openers were worked. Time was also spent checking bear hunters, goose hunters, and anglers.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time following up on calls for service about nuisance animals and various camping violations. He fielded questions on public land access issues as well.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports a quiet end to the early goose season and a slow start to the archery deer season, with hot and buggy weather sticking around. Numerous calls about wildlife and general hunting questions were fielded throughout the week. Additional time was spent patrolling area lakes for anglers and enforcing off-highway vehicle laws.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) worked with COC Oberg this past week. They spent time patrolling area lakes for fishing activity, checking bear baits, and preparing for the small-game season opener. The warm weather seems to have impacted fishing conditions, as most anglers were struggling to get the fish to bite. Swedberg also answered questions about the upcoming trapping seasons, and questions about nuisance animals.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked various activities during the week with several different hunting seasons open. Numerous ATV riders were encountered over the weekend and a law and ethics talk was given at an ATV safety class.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up on wetland cases and checking archery deer hunters and early goose hunters. The heat over the weekend didn?t keep archery hunters out of the woods, though activity was limited to short morning and evening hunts. Landmark followed up with reports of possible shining activity, trespassing goose hunters, and baiting deer.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked bear, archery deer, and small-game hunting activity. Wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas were patrolled. Angling and boating activities were monitored. Warren assisted with a call of a hawk being shot.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) reports the week continued with calls about bears. Some goose and small-game hunters checked had success. Property on public lands was followed up on and deer feeding was also investigated. Assistance to other agencies was provided throughout the week, with enforcement action taken on a hunter who shot a hawk.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) checked grouse and squirrel hunters, wild rice harvesting on Upper Rice Lake, and ATV activity throughout the week. Many wild rice harvesters had a successful week on Upper Rice Lake. Time was also spent speaking to students about the laws and ethics of hunting at a firearms safety class. Enforcement action was taken for harvesting wild rice without a license and a juvenile without a helmet on a Class 2 ATV.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-09-16
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked on aquatic vegetation and Wetlands Conservation Act violations through the week. Fishing is holding steady in the area, with many people enjoying the nice weather. Early goose hunters are finding success. An illegal-burning complaint was handled.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports spending his enforcement effort on angling and hunting during the week. He also attended Hero Day in Ashby and answered questions regarding the upcoming seasons.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers and boaters. Preparations were made for upcoming field training with a new officer. Aquatic plant removal violation investigations continue with area state and county staff.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) patrolled Douglas County for early goose and dove hunters. Time was spent assisting local agencies. A big-game case continues to be worked.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) focused on heavy angling activity during the week and through the weekend. As the summer comes to an end, the fishing does not. Various violations were encountered, including special-regulation violations on various lakes. She worked the small-game and archery opener on the weekend. Heat likely hampered activity.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working archery deer and ATV enforcement. Deer farm and taxidermy inspections were completed, and a training was attended. Multiple investigations into illegal burning violations were handled as well.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) began training COC Ziegler this past week. Enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers, ATV operators, and goose hunters. Additional time was spent preparing equipment and boats for the upcoming waterfowl-hunting opener.
Weekly CO report
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-09-16
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) reports working big-game and small -game hunting, along with checking anglers and off-highway vehicle riders. Fall activity is starting to heat up and Cross reports seeing a lot of people out in the field getting ready for the fall seasons. Calls for service were answered, and ongoing cases were investigated and closed.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) monitored ATV activity and took calls about nuisance bears.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports a slow start to small-game hunting. Warm weather made hunter success difficult. Seifermann reports checking archery deer, grouse, and squirrel hunters. Enforcement action was taken for numerous ATV violations.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and hunting activity. Enforcement action taken for various ATV violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent time completing local taxidermy inspections. Time was also spent enforcing ATV regulations. ATV activity has slowed. An ATV safety education class was presented, and approximately 40 students were in attendance. A low number of hunters for the bow opener was observed as the weather was well into the 80s.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Leech Lake and other Cass County lakes throughout the week. Fishing pressure was up, and most anglers are reporting a slow perch bite. McGowan also continued field training a new conservation officer, and assistance was given to local law enforcement agencies. Enforcement action was taken for numerous angling and boating violations.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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