Minnesota #DNR Conservation Officer Reports – October 7, 2024 | The mighty 790 KFGO

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: October 8, 2024

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) was investigating an agricultural fire where the person who started the fire escaped. Duck hunters were checked at the Roseau River Wildlife Management Area and Thief Lake. The number of ducks was decent. Violations this week included using a motorboat exceeding the horsepower limit on Thief Lake, pulling out a shotgun, not having a small game license and not having a federal stamp.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking on small game hunters and anglers in the area. Fishing continues to be good just off Warroad.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week talking to waterfowl hunters and investigating various cases. Enforcement action was taken for not having a federal duck tag and for hunting with an unattached shotgun. Fontes investigated several cases in which timber was cut on state land.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) and COC Matthew Boyle spent time on small game patrols, fishing and commercial minnow fishing. Emerald shiners begin to run as trappers wait for cooler water temperatures to harvest. There were mixed reports from grouse hunters, with most having some luck as the leaves fell. Local ducks have migrated from the area amid high winds and lower temperatures. Violations, including exceeding the maximum allowable amount of capercaillie and transporting loaded firearms, were identified and enforcement action was taken.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) continues to train with COC Stringer to monitor waterfowl and small game activity in the area. A radio interview with call-in questions and answers was also conducted on KTRF radio. This week’s enforcement actions included violations of WMA rules as well as ATV and migratory waterfowl tag registration violations.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time conducting commercial taxidermy inspections. A complaint regarding a possible wolf predation involving a donkey was also investigated. Small game and waterfowl hunting continues to be monitored.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports that he is checking on successful waterfowl hunters all week. Time was also spent teaching the law and ethics portion to a youth firearm safety course in Humboldt.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored fishing activity on the lakes in the Blackduck area and worked with CO McGowan on Leech Lake. Fishing was limited at Upper Red Lake due to the strong winds. He also worked with ATVs and capercaillie on forest roads and trails in the area.

Baudette East free.

Blackduck South free.

District 2 – Bemidji Area

Last updated: October 8, 2024

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking duck hunters this week. Prairie chicken hunters were also checked on the final weekend of this year’s hunt. Hunting of deer with archery was also monitored.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time patrolling public lands and trails. He investigated reports of illegal hate speech. Penalty measures were taken against young people riding off-road vehicles without helmets and without presenting registration.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking on anglers, small game hunters and waterfowl hunters. Swedberg was also a guest on a local radio station to talk about ATV safety. He also joined a podcast to talk about the fall hunting season. Ducks appear to be moving through the area and small game hunters are having greater success now that the leaves are beginning to fall.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking waterfowl hunters and archery deer hunters at the Moorhead and Pelican Rapids stations. The wind has prevented many people from taking advantage of the fall season in the area’s lakes, but those who braved the wind have been rewarded with fish. Significant time was spent tracking ongoing wetland cases and responding to complaints related to waterfowl hunting, bowhunting of deer, commercial minnow trapping, and nuisance beavers.

CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time hunting small game, archery for deer and waterfowl. An ATV and all-terrain vehicle activity patrol was conducted. The legal and ethical part of firearms safety was taught in a firearms safety course near Lengby. The areas were being worked on for illegal lighting activities and fishing and boating activities were being monitored.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) reviewed waterfowl hunters who had mixed success rates. Reminding hunters to have life jackets in their duck boats. We responded to a tip about wild poultry dumped near a retail store with enforcement action. Information about baited areas on public land was examined. A call regarding a possible trespass was handled and several calls regarding injured and dead eagles were handled, with one injured eagle being transported to a rehabilitation team.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week checking duck, grouse and bear hunters. Many grouse hunters report a decline in grouse numbers in the area. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity, answering calls from the public and investigating complaints.

Pelican Rapids free.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: October 8, 2024

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) and COC Mooers responded to a litter complaint where a deer carcass, plastic and rubber gloves were discarded. The investigation into who committed the dumping is ongoing. Officers met with the local Soil and Water Conservation District regarding a cleanup order for a wetland violation and monitored ATV, fishing and hunting activities. Multiple calls were fielded regarding questions regarding the upcoming deer season.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) received several complaints about waterfowl hunting within the closed season this week and enforcement action was taken. Time was also spent on various wildlife and trespass related complaints.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl, small game and archery hunters. Strong winds in the region during the week have slowed fishing activity. There have been numerous public questions about hunting areas in the past week.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Time was spent patrolling local lakes, WMAs and waterfowl production areas for waterfowl hunters in the station. Many hunters were in the Alexandria area at the start of the second part of the waterfowl season. Individual divers had good success and were able to capture some diving ducks. TIP calls were followed up. Homan continued to prosecute an ongoing major case.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) noticed a decline in anglers and hunters this week. Strong winds kept people away over the weekend. The few duck hunters out there had a few ducks in their bags. Various measures were taken during the week, including the transport of waterfowl without wings.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports on waterfowl and recreational vehicle activity during the week and weekend. The hunters checked were at their limits. Many questions were answered about the upcoming deer season.

CO Dan Baumbarger (Glenwood) continued to coach COC Chad Ziegler. Time was spent enforcing ATV, grouse and waterfowl hunting. Time was also spent checking areas for fishing activity. A taxidermy inspection was completed.

Wheaton free.

District 4 – Walker Area

Last updated: October 8, 2024

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checks hunting and ATV activities. Law enforcement actions have been initiated for various ATV violations.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) worked on waterfowl and small game hunter and ATV activities. A few people managed to bag a few birds, but the total number of bags for both capercaillie and ducks was small. However, the number of birds in the bag or on the strap didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s mood. Enforcement action was taken for a handful of violations, including not having a state waterfowl stamp and small game license, as well as not wearing life jackets aboard a watercraft while duck hunting. Two duck hunters were unable to get out of a lake due to gusty winds and engine problems. When Sura tracked them down and asked them to put on life jackets before returning to land, they said they didn’t have any.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for small game, fishing and off-highway recreational vehicle traffic. Baum found several ATV and off-highway motorcyclists enjoying nice weather despite the dry conditions in the area. Baum took enforcement action for various ATV and OHM violations.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked in Leech Lake throughout the week. Waterfowl hunters and fall anglers were checked, with most reporting limited success as strong winds prevailed most of the week. McGowan also maintained station patrol equipment and prepared for upcoming training.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) conducted taxidermy inspections and fielded numerous service calls. Additionally, big game, small game, fishing and ATV traffic was handled.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) continued to work on the variety of hunting seasons currently open. Calls from the public included various legal questions regarding waterfowl and small game seasons. A special permit has been granted for the outdoor training of hunting dogs with domesticated/wild birds. ATV enforcement operations were also conducted throughout the week.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continued to check anglers and various hunting activities. Bass fishing was quite good in the area. A call also came in about an injured hawk. Some time was spent attending meetings regarding the new ELS licensing system.

ATV reconnaissance officer vacant.