District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) prepared for waterfowl opener throughout the week. Duck hunters were checked on Thief Lake and Roseau River WMAs.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad) worked ATV, big-game, small-game, and waterfowl enforcement. Waterfowl hunters had varying success during the weekend. Several nuisance-animal complaints were received and questions concerning waterfowl and deer hunting were taken.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) continued field training with CO Karon. CO Woinarowicz and Karon spoke at the mandatory elk orientation for the current elk season, responded to a call about an injured eagle, and investigated an area wildfire.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) investigated a public waters violation. There’s pending enforcement action for destroying aquatic vegetation without a permit.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked waterfowl hunters and received a report about a possible wolf depredation.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) worked a busy opening weekend of the 2018 waterfowl season. He observed a mix of birds taken. Hunters are reminded to check for appropriate licenses and plugs in shotguns before going hunting.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports issuing car-killed deer permits, taking TIP calls about baiting deer, trespassing, and dogs chasing deer.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) worked the waterfowl opener and checked grouse and deer hunters.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) reports time was spent responding to TIP calls. A pair of hikers at the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge reported being frightened by a black bear. Chihak assisted the hikers in retrieving their personal belongings after they abandoned them after encountering the bear.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on small-game, archery, and waterfowl-hunting activity. Area trails were worked for ATVing activity. Warren continued investigations on open leeching and other cases.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) checked area wildlife management areas for ATV traffic, illegal baiting, and archery hunters. Plautz also worked the opening of the waterfowl season and found a lot of success in the field.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, duck hunters, boaters, and ATV riders. A waterway-filling complaint was received and investigated.
CO Brian Holt (Osakis) finished a background investigation of an applicant for the next CO Academy. Time also was spent working the opening weekend of waterfowl hunting.
District 4 – Walker area
CO Randy Posner (Staples) reports working fishing enforcement this past week. The waterfowl opener went well. There were good numbers of hunters and a fair number of ducks around. The most common duck in the bag was the wood duck, and teal were a close second. Violations for no HIP certification and no state or federal stamps were found. Posner checked grouse hunters and the report was poor. AIS violations included duck hunters not cleaning vegetation from and pulling the plugs out of their duck boats.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked a mix of hunters, anglers, and recreational vehicle riders. A background investigation was completed of a CO applicant. A call about an injured loon was received. A law talk was given at a firearms safety class.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports the waterfowl opener brought varied success among hunters. Kittelson worked with the area hydrologist, looking at various projects on Rainy Lake, and gave assistance to a couple of stranded canoeists on Kabetogama Lake.
CO John Slatinski (Ray) continued to monitor small-game hunters earlier in the week. Although the waterfowl opener wasn’t spectacular, several parties were encountered with enough birds in the bag to be satisfied. Trail use was monitored with evidence noted in several areas of unauthorized use. CO Slatinski also assisted other agencies with a semi vs. car collision and canoeists who became hung up on rocks when they got caught in high winds, which caused waves to fill their boat with water. Slatinski also contacted two individuals who were located loading firewood logs from a pile at a yarding area without a permit for such activity.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) monitored duck-hunting activities, checked area forest roads and public access sites, and monitored small-game hunting activities. Beaver problems continue.
CO Duke Broughten (Cook) spent the week monitoring angling, ATVing, bear hunting, small-game hunting, and waterfowl hunting activity.
CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) worked small-game and waterfowl hunters this past week.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked the duck opener, anglers, watercraft operators, ATV riders, and a deer-baiting complaint. He also taught firearms safety classes in Hibbing and Buhl. One duck hunter who didn’t have a federal duck stamp lost his duck and was arrested for a failing to appear in court on a warrant.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) continued field-training duties with COC Andrew Goodman. The COs investigated baiting and forestry violations. Frericks and Goodman also spoke at a trapper education class hosted by members of the Minnesota Trappers Association.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports waterfowl opener was not well attended around Ely and along the Echo Trail. The few hunters who were contacted reported good numbers of ducks and geese, with mostly mallards and wood ducks being seen.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked small-game hunters and waterfowl hunters this past week. Grouse hunters had low overall success.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) completed bear guide inspections and checked anglers at remote, designated trout lakes.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports a decent number of waterfowl hunters were out during opening weekend. Enforcement action was taken for unplugged shotguns, no PFDs, extra lines, and allowing illegal juvenile ATV operation.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked small-game hunters, archery deer hunters, and bear hunters. Time also was spent following up on bear-hunting complaints and checking ATVing activity.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked waterfowl, small-game, and big-game hunting activity during the week. Grouse hunting continued to improve with cooler weather. Big-game investigations continued, with enforcement action taken for failure to register big game, failure to tag big game, and wanton waste violations.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers, grouse hunters, and waterfowl hunters. He patrolled area ATV trails, handled several nuisance wildlife calls, and investigated a deer-baiting complaint. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) checked anglers and boating activity, patrolled campgrounds, worked ATVing activity, and checked small-game hunters and bear hunters. He also worked AIS enforcement.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked a busy waterfowl opener with plenty of ducks around. High winds the day prior to the season opener brought many blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, ring-necked ducks, and mallards to the area.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working a busy waterfowl opener. One individual decided to start the waterfowl season early by shooting a goose out of season with a rifle. The individual was located, and citations were issued.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth) and COC Taylor Hochstein spent time investigating a wetland complaint in which a cease and desist order was given to both a landowner and a contractor who were filling a wetland. A busy waterfowl opener was worked during the weekend. People seemed to be enjoying the nice weather on Saturday, with most reporting some hunting success. Complaints involving shooting before legal shooting hours were looked into. Other violations included not having a small-game license or HIP certification in possession and failure to transfer ATV registration.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the week working the following activities: Watercraft and ATV operation, boat and shore-fishing enforcement, grouse, archery deer, and waterfowl hunting.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked waterfowl hunting, AIS, and OHV enforcement. Patrols were conducted at area lakes and trails, including the Fond du Lac State Forest and the Sawyer Wildlife Management Area. Humphrey fielded several calls and questions about upcoming hunting seasons, licensing, and nuisance animals. A resource protection notification was issued for a potential wetland violation.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked an information booth at the annual Minnesota Deer Hunters Association banquet in Carlton. Assistance was given at a work detail in the Carlos Avery WMA during the waterfowl opener. A TIP complaint was received about someone shooting a swan in the Sturgeon Lake area. After questioning, the suspect denied shooting at any swans. He said he only shot a coot and showed Staples a ring-necked duck. After discussing the importance of being able to identify waterfowl while hunting them, it was learned that the subject did not have a license or any of the required stamps.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked small-game and archery hunters during the week. Some birds were seen, but the hunters put some miles under their boots to get them.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked duck hunters and some fall anglers as the weather took a turn toward autumn. PFD compliance was good among those hunters checked. Enforcement action was taken for waterfowling violations.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Tim Collette (Brainerd) worked the waterfowl season opener and saw good numbers of hunters and a fair number of ducks. A few grouse hunters were out, and Collette received reports about a few bears still being taken. Anglers checked reported the fall bite is ramping up.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked angling, watercraft, AIS, archery deer hunting, and waterfowling activity.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) worked waterfowl opener during the weekend. Guida checked bag limits and license/stamp requirements. A complaint about using a motorized decoy was fielded. Guida also fielded a complaint about dogs chasing deer, which turned out to be dogs at-large. Assistance was given to a motorist who broke an axle and was stranded on the highway.
CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) and COC Annette Kyllo focused on the waterfowl hunting opener during this past weekend. A number of hunting groups were contacted, some of whom were camping on islands and on state forest lands. Campers reported that breakfast was much better than hunting. One hunter was educated about the proper method for inserting a plug in his shotgun.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) assisted with the ATVAM ride event in the Red Top and Solana Loops area. Lots of ATVers were seen out enjoying the nice weather. A few small-game hunters were checked, and most reported not seeing many birds, given the heavy leaf cover. Assistance was given to the State Patrol on a call for service.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked lake activity, where boats and docks are coming off fast, and remaining anglers are doing well. Duck opener went as expected as local ducks quickly became educated.
CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) worked on a background investigation. She also instructed honor guards at Camp Ripley for the annual LEMA Honor Guard Camp.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked waterfowl opener and found good success. Some limits were seen, with compliance found to be good other than an accidentally loaded shotgun. Bear hunters are reporting that baits are starting to get hit well, as cooler weather has arrived. Starr helped an elderly couple with a harvested bear when it was found that the husband did not know how to field-dress or skin his wife’s first bear. Starr also assisted two local sheriff’s offices with a search warrant and suspect search during a multi-felony violent crime.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent time working bear-hunting activity and ATVing activity. He also checked duck hunters on the waterfowl opener. A majority of waterfowl hunters reported having a tough time finding ducks, but a few did have luck locating wood ducks on river backwaters.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) took calls about littering, and answered questions about nuisance animals and trespassing. He also assisted other officers with an ATV detail on the Soo Line Trail.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) reports three juvenile hunters were found shooting too early and sky-busting at birds while shooting in the direction of houses where their shot rained down onto the structures. The juveniles were contacted and educated about the legal and ethical ways to duck hunt. The next group of youth duck hunters that Kuske checked also had to be educated on why it’s illegal to use lead shot while waterfowl hunting.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked angling and waterfowling activity and equipment maintenance. Neighboring officers were assisted with vacant stations and waterfowl work.
CO Frank Rezac (St. Cloud) checked anglers and waterfowl hunters. A wetland cease-and-desist order was issued in Wright County.
CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) reports finding two waterfowl hunters who shot three geese over their limit. The case became more interesting when Bertram discovered that one of the hunters had no licenses and an unplugged gun. Citations were issued, along with the geese and a shotgun being seized.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Angela Londgren (Cambridge) responded to a call regarding three duck hunters whose boat capsized and they were yelling for help. Private citizens located the duck hunters and got them to shore. Their small boat was overloaded and the boat took on water when it was hit by a wave. Luckily, all three were wearing life jackets. After being in the water for over 20 minutes, they were able to walk away and were treated for mild hypothermia.
CO Mike Krauel (Mora) took several calls about a large buck that was shot multiple times with a handgun and left near the road. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the TIP line.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia) focused on the waterfowl opener. Hunters reported moderate success on the opening day and poor results on the second day.
CO Tim Maass (Osseo) continued to work small-game hunters and investigated several TIP complaints. Maass also worked the waterfowl opener during the past weekend. Enforcement action was taken for trespassing, no small-game license, toxic shot, and hunting during closed hours.
CO Brent Grewe (Minnetonka) spent the week checking anglers, training with K9 Shelby, and following up on complaints. Grewe also spoke at a firearms safety class.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Luke Gutzwiller (White Bear Lake) and COC Tyler Ramaker were among the first responders to a boating fatality on Peltier Lake. They also are working an ongoing wanton waste investigation.
CO Joe Kulhanek (Hastings) spent a busy waterfowl opener checking hunters. He also assisted deputies with a rollover accident and spoke at a firearms safety class.
CO Chris Tetrault (Maplewood) worked with neighboring partners for waterfowl opener. One hunter was itchy to shoot at a bird that was flying and illegally shot a sharp-shinned hawk. The hunter had several items seized, including the hawk, a shotgun, marijuana, a marijuana pipe, and lead shot. Charges are pending.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) reports heavy rains during the week dumped 4 to 7 inches, which has created a lot of flooded fields for the ducks and geese to hide.
CO Andrew Dirks (Worthington) checked fall hunters and anglers throughout the week. He also conducted various investigations throughout the week.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Shane Vernier (Willmar) and COC Garrett Thomas followed up on public land-use issues, an ATV complaint, and a hunter harassment complaint.
CO Thor Nelson (New Ulm) received complaints about early shooting, late shooting, using outboard motors in a WMA, and shooting protected species.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) spent the majority of the week checking anglers and waterfowl hunters. Additional time was spent monitoring boating and ATVing activity.
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) spent much of the week working hunting activity. There were waterfowl in the area for the opener as well as waterfowl in the bag. With recent rains, there is lots of standing water in ditches, fields, and low-lying areas.
CO Jamie VanThuyne (Mankato) and COC Shane Zavodnik spent time following up on a commercial minnow trapping case.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Kylan Hill (Zumbrota) reports a duck hunter was contacted on Spring Lake and was found to be in possession of multiple prescription pills and marijuana. The hunter was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, along with a gross misdemeanor firearms possession violation.
CO Phil George (Rochester) reports an ongoing trespass issue is being looked into and deer-feeding complaints have come in.
CO Kevin Prodzinski (Wabasha) reports working some fishing and archery deer hunting enforcement during the week and a busy waterfowl opener over the weekend. The fantastic weekend weather brought duck hunters out in force. The dense fog must have affected the harvest because the number of ducks seen just did not match the shots taken.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports a good but crazy waterfowl opener. A busy waterfowl opener along with a large fishing tournament and a good fish bite made for high river boat traffic. There was a collision between duck boats on opening morning in the dark and heavy fog.
The post Minnesota Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – Sept. 28, 2018 appeared first on Outdoornews.
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