Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Division of Enforcement

15011 Highway 115 (Camp Ripley)

Little Falls, MN 56345-4173

For Immediate Release

Contact: Rich Sprouse

Public Information Officer

800-366-8917, Ext 2511

CONSERVATION OFFICER WEEKLY REPORT

11-30-08

District 1 - Baudette area

CO Troy Richards (Roseau) followed up on complaints that occurred during firearms deer season. Richards spoke with two parties that successfully filled their cow elk tags with two mature animals from the Grygla herd. Richards monitored trapping activity and spoke with trappers awaiting the fisher and bobcat opener.

CO Ben Huener (Karlstad) spent the first part of the week preparing for the muzzleloader season with baited stands and deer stands on WMAs. Thursday morning was spent investigating the first of two elk poached from one of elk herds in Kittson County. Saturday saw a few muzzleloader hunters and the second elk, a bull, which was also shot and left to lay. Anyone with information on the elk that were shot and left are urged to call Turn In Poachers at 1-800-652-9093. Callers may remain anonymous. Anglers were checked on Lake Bronson and an injured eagle was rescued.

CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) checked trapping activity and conducted follow up on investigations from the firearms deer season.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) continued to investigate deer hunting violations involving both juveniles and adults. Complaints of illegal trapping are also being investigated.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) worked the muzzleloader deer opener with Lt. Znajda in the Marshall County area. Hunter numbers appear to be down from last year, but those in the field enjoyed seasonably warm weather. Equipment maintenance was performed and calls of injured raptors, deer baiting, and recreational trespass were handled. Enforcement action for the week included driving after cancellation and license violations.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck) worked ATV and fishing enforcement during the week. Anglers are starting to fish the area lakes with limited success. The opening weekend of muzzleloader hunting was quiet, with very few deer being harvested. A court trial was attended in Houston County and follow up was conducted on a deer feeding complaint in the no feed zone. Enforcement action during the week included angling without license in possession and fail to display registration.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) completed investigations on deer hunting cases and angling complaints. Ice on Red Lake continues to improve with some anglers venturing out. Anglers are reminded to be cautious when going out onto new ice. Charges are pending on an individual after CO Gorecki received a TIP call that someone was in possession of a Bald Eagle.

Warroad #2 - vacant.

District 2 - Bemidji area

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) reports a few anglers and spearers have taken to the ice. Ice thickness varies, so caution is urged when venturing onto the ice, and no vehicle traffic is recommended. The Muzzleloader Deer Season started slowly. Standing corn may be hampering the deer harvest.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) conducted a site inspection of a wetland alteration site. A party spot in a Wildlife Management Area was checked for activity. A call on an injured pelican was received. Shelters and ATVs have been seen on the ice of area lakes.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked trappers and muzzleloader deer hunters. Few MZ deer hunters were observed in the field.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) received a call of an injured owl. The bird died before the officer could pick it up. Informational calls about the MZ deer season, angling, fish house licensing, and registering wheel type fish houses with Department of Public Safety were answered. Some anglers are on the ice. Some lakes still have open water. Be Careful!

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) observed a fair number of muzzleloader deer hunters in the field. Hunters are reporting seeing fewer deer. Anglers are venturing onto the ice. Many report 3”-6” where there is ice. Some lakes remain open. Complaints of illegally taken deer during the regular firearm deer season continue to be investigated.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) focused enforcement efforts on deer hunting activity. Muzzleloader deer hunters were checked, complaints from the past deer season were investigated, complaints of deer carcasses being dumped were checked, and deer baiting sites checked for activity. Anglers are venturing onto the ice of many lakes. There is open water on some lakes. Caution is urged if venturing onto the ice. Equipment maintenance and administrative duties were completed.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) checked muzzleloader deer hunters and trappers pursuing fisher and bobcat. Angling and spearing activity increased over the weekend. Complaints of over limits, borrowing/lending a license, and hunting without a license were investigated.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) reports a slow start to the muzzleloader deer season. Anglers are venturing onto the ice of many lakes. Some ATVs were seen on smaller lakes. Canada goose hunters in the Fergus Falls area continue to do well. Complaints of deer carcasses dumped in the road ditch, stands left in WMAs, hunters too close to buildings, and untagged traps were investigated. The officer spoke to a Snowmobile Safety Class regarding laws, safety, and riding ethics.

District 3 - Fergus Falls area

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) responded to a call of an injured deer on the ice. With the help of a local neighbor an unsure ice conditions, the deer was pulled to shore. Plautz also responded to complaints of carcasses dumped and several muzzleloader questions.

CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) worked the opening of the muzzleloader deer season and answered questions about the upcoming ice fishing season. He also met with snowmobile safety instructors in the area to set up this year’s class. Ice conditions in the area not safe. Ice varies from no ice to six inches; extreme caution is advised when going out on the ice.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) centered on the muzzleloader deer season and numerous questions associated with the hunt. CO Osborne also researched laws and regulations and continued to work on investigations from the firearms deer season.

CO Mike Shelden (Alexandria) participated in a multi-high school career fair at the Radisson Arrowwood Center in Alexandria in which 675 high school juniors from around the area attended. Shelden did presentations during the day for those interested in a career as a Minnesota Conservation Officer. Other work included checking ice conditions on area lakes, checking waterfowl hunters and some muzzleloader deer hunters. Officer Shelden issued a ticket for litter to an individual who dumped two complete deer carcasses on the Lake Christina public access with the tags attached. He said he thought he was just “Doing the coyote’s a favor” by leaving the carcasses there for them to eat.

CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) worked deer hunters over the muzzleloader opening weekend finding quite a few hunters out. Additional time was spent checking waterfowl, pheasant, and archery deer hunters, and complaints were received and investigated regarding possible WMA violations. Ice angling/spearing activity is starting to pick up as the ice thickens, however ice conditions vary greatly depending on the body of water you are on.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Wheaton) checked trappers, pheasant hunters, goose hunters, and muzzleloader deer hunters. CO Baumbarger worked with CO Anderson on a complaint area this past weekend. Time was also spent checking fishermen and investigating shining complaints. Fishermen are cautioned to check ice conditions before venturing out on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm, and insufficient amount of blaze orange.

CO Tony Anderson (Morris) reports muzzleloader deer season opener was pretty slow. Most hunters report seeing nothing or one deer. The pheasant hunters well out numbered the deer hunters. Pheasant hunters are only finding an educated bird or two. Almost every group of pheasant hunters had to be reminded about wearing more blaze orange during the muzzleloader deer season. CO Anderson finds only a few very large groups of Canada geese left in the area. Goose hunters are having a very hard time getting these late season birds to decoy. CO Anderson fielded calls about deer license questions and antlerless permit questions.

Fergus Falls - vacant.

District 4 - Wadena area

CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) reports more and more anglers are venturing out on area lakes. Officer Parthun received complaints regarding dogs chasing deer, dumping of deer carcasses, and collisions with deer. CO Parthun also continued to investigate several big game cases from the firearms deer season.

CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) checked muzzleloader hunters and fishermen during the past week. Officer Hunter still continue to receive complaints of trespass and archery hunters are reminded to wear blaze orange while hunting during the muzzleloader season.

CO Gary Sommers (Walker) focused on big and small game hunting and sport fishing activity. In addition, Officer Sommers prepared equipment for storage and observed ice anglers on Leech Lake at the same time there were people angling from a boat, both in close proximity to each other. Officer Sommers reports that this was the quietest weekend since the heavy spring snowfalls that occurred in April, especially considering it was opening weekend for muzzleloader and fisher and bobcat season. Walkable ice is present on numerous lakes for ice fishing, and it was the last weekend for duck hunting and musky angling. There were very few people out participating in outdoor activities.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) began checking ice fishermen and spearing activity. Ice thickness was variable depending on the lake. Caution is advised as many areas still have very thin ice.

CO Duke Broughten (Longville) followed up on complaints from firearms deer season and focused on the opening of muzzleloader. Local deer registration stations claim registrations are down 5 to 7 percent. Hunters reported opening weekend of muzzleloader deer hunting yielded low success. CO Broughten reports ice fishing is underway and some lakes in the Longville area are reported to have five to eight inches of ice. Anglers are still advised to exercise extreme caution when traveling on the ice. Enforcement action was taken on operating an ATV on roadway, no deer license in possession, and littering.

CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) worked muzzleloader deer season opener and investigated follow up complaints from deer season. Officer Halverson also worked early ice fishermen. Anglers have had some success with crappies, sunfish and walleyes. Contacts were made for uncased gun and unregistered ATVs.

CO Colleen Adam (OHV Recreation Officer – Park Rapids) checked trappers, as well as grouse and muzzleloader hunters on the weekend. Officer Adam reports shelters are beginning to appear on smaller lakes and ice anglers are hoping for better ice conditions barring another Dec. 1 foot of snow. CO Adam also attended an OHV signing meeting.

District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls)) reports the opening of muzzleloader season bringing a fair amount of hunters out into the field, along with the fisher and pine marten trappers. Numerous animal complaints were also handled. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations and some follow up from regular deer season issues.

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray/Kabetogama) finished up court related cases from the rifle deer season. Patrolled checking muzzleloader deer hunters, marten and fisher trappers, and a few brave souls venturing onto the ice to spear northerns.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports working on equipment storage, returning phone calls on a variety of outdoor topics, and lastly monitoring outdoor recreational activities over the week.

CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports following up on some post firearm deer hunting issues and investigating a complaint of dumped deer parts and a possible hunter harassment complaint. Ice fishing is just getting started with a few people walking on area lakes. Five or so inches of ice is reported on some of the bays of Lake Vermilion.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked the deer muzzleloader and fisher/marten/bobcat openers and found fewer folks than usual out and about in the woods. Follow up was conducted on violations from the deer rifle season.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) began working trapping activity in the Virginia area. Reports of dogs chasing deer were taken and are being investigated. A TIP call was taken concerning a person archery hunting deer over bait. Average ice thickness on Virginia area lakes appears to be around 4-5 inches.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) has been receiving numerous calls from an individual who claims a large black cat has followed her around her farm and she often sees green eyes when she shines her flashlight out into the woods. An Eveleth Wildlife official and myself went to her farm and looked the area over for tracks within the snow and nothing unusual was found. Prior to leaving, Officer Fredin looked through his binoculars out into the woods and the homeowner then pulled out a pair of her binoculars and stated hers are really strong, she can see UFOs at night. Trapping activity was also monitored and ice fishing as begun.

I. Falls # 2 - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a quiet week between firearms deer season and muzzleloader season. With the pine marten-fisher season opening, trappers are reminded to review the new laws designed to protect the lynx. The CO answered several questions about the muzzleloader and trapping seasons during the week. The opening of the winter trout season is January 15th for both the BWCA and outside the BWCA seasons. There are no longer two different opening dates for the two as shown in the fishing synopsis. The change was made after the printing. Please pass this on to your trout fishing buddies.