DISTRICT 1
CO Zach Painter was on patrol in Iron County and responded to a complaint of bear hunters who were trespassing. Painter contacted the hunters who had driven through a gate with no trespassing signs. The hunters stated that several years back they received permission to go behind the gate. Painter talked with the complainant who said they no longer had permission, but he did not want to press charges if they left and did not come back. Painter educated the hunters on the importance of getting permission from land owners on a year- to-year basis and gave them a verbal warning for recreational trespass.
CO Brian Lasanen was patrolling a closed section of the ORV trails. Lasanen contacted one ORV and advised the operator he was riding on a closed trail. The rider stated he did not know the trail was closed. Lasanen advised him of the sign and the fence he went around as being good indicators the trail is closed. The ORV rider also failed to purchase ORV licenses. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Josh Boudreaux contacted multiple groups of hunters who had been pleasantly surprised by an increase in ruffed grouse activity. One group of hunters reported 14 flushes in a matter of two hours. In addition, Boudreaux talked with many hunters who have successfully harvested deer this season and reported seeing a larger quantity of 6- and 8-points than in years past.
CO Brett DeLonge received a complaint of bear hunters who were trespassing and killed a bear on property where permission was not granted. DeLonge investigated the bear kill site, property lines, and spoke with several land owners and locals in the area to obtain information on the hunters. DeLonge was able to identify the hunters and after several suspect interviews was able to get admissions of trespassing and not wearing proper hunter orange. Enforcement action was taken, and citations were issued for several violations.
DISTRICT 2
CO Stephen Butzin was first on scene to a residential burglar alarm in Garden Township. As the CO was attempting to gain a vantage point on the residence, he noticed a considerable amount of bait on the property which was well over the two-gallon limit. The CO as well as officers from the Delta County Sheriff’s Department cleared the house. The alarm was false. Contact was made with the property owner regarding the bait and enforcement action was taken.
CO Colton Gelinas received an anonymous complaint about a doe being killed in Luce County, where there are no antlerless deer tags available. Gelinas contacted a suspect at a camp who stated he was hunting; however, he did not kill anything. After a short investigation and statements from other subjects at the camp, the suspect confessed to killing a doe and hunting without a license. The skinned-out deer carcass was located on the adjacent property and was seized. Law enforcement action was taken.
CO Colton Gelinas responded to a RAP complaint in Mackinac County about duck hunters shooting a crow during the closed season. Gelinas contacted the suspects who were in possession of a dead crow, as well as having no Michigan waterfowl license and unsigned federal duck stamps. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Robert Freeborn received a complaint from a local trapper who had caught two wolves in his traps. Freeborn contacted the local biologist and headed to the scene to assist in releasing the trapped wolves. Freeborn checked on the first wolf and determined it was shot in the head while still in the trap shortly before his arrival. He then immediately checked the second wolf which was still alive and well. Freeborn searched the area for vehicles while keeping an eye on the second wolf until the biologist arrived. The biologist was able to release the second wolf without incident. The investigation is ongoing.
DISTRICT 3
CO Adam LeClerc investigated a RAP complaint of a turkey possibly being taken over bait. After meeting with the complainant and checking the area, Leclerc found more than the allowed legal limit of deer bait on the ground. LeClerc interviewed the suspect and he admitted to shooting the turkey while deer hunting. Leclerc explained to the hunter that it is illegal to hunt over bait for turkeys and enforcement action was taken.
CO Andrea Albert received information on a subject shooting an 8-point buck during the archery season who bought a license after the fact. Albert contacted the hunter who eventually confessed to shooting the deer without a license. The deer was seized and the hunter was cited for the violation. The penalty for taking an 8-point deer without a license consists of 5 to 90 days in jail, five years revocation of all hunting licenses and $6,000 in restitution plus court fines and costs.
CO Eric Bottorff was conducting surveillance on the Little Black River when a subject and his 11-year-old son approached the river and attempted to net a large group of spawning salmon. Shortly after that, the subject climbed into the culvert that ran underneath the roadway and netted three salmon while his son directed fish toward him with a stick. The subject was contacted at his vehicle with the salmon still in his net. Enforcement action was taken.
COs Kyle Cherry, Eric Bottorff, Tim Rosochacki, Matt Theunick, Adam LeClerc, Chad Baldwin, and Sgt. Mark DePew executed a search warrant at a residence in Cheboygan County after receiving credible information that a subject had poached a cow elk. Several items located in and around the residence supported the poaching incident. The COs also uncovered stolen property along with illegal narcotics. The investigation continues.
CO Jonathan Sklba received a snagging complaint in the Rogers City area. Sklba responded, but the subjects were gone. Sklba stayed in the area for a while and observed quite a bit of traffic; however, nobody would fish within the area. Sklba left the area and hid his truck only to return on foot. Upon his return, a least a dozen people had begun fishing. Sklba was able to observe the anglers and make a few good checks.
DISTRICT 4
COs Patrick McManus and Rebecca Hubers were on patrol at the Betsie River when they noticed a subject reel in a fish caught under the belly. Once the subject netted the fish, they took the time to look around to see if anyone was watching and didn’t see the COs standing directly above their location. The subject then put the fish on a stringer and resumed fishing. The COs made contact and issued the subject a citation for retaining the foul hooked fish.
CO Steven Converse was on patrol along the Manistee River when he observed three individuals fishing with illegal lures. Converse contacted the subjects and educated them on the fishing regulations and issued them tickets for the violations. The next day Converse observed the same subjects using the same illegal devises and blatantly snagging fish. Contact was again made, and tickets issued for snagging and the use of illegal gear.
CO Josiah Killingbeck contacted two subjects in a permanent ground blind that had been on state land for at least three years. At the time of contact, the subject was also using an over-limit of bait. The subject told Killingbeck that he had not looked at a hunting guide since he was a kid, 20 some years ago, and had no idea on the rules for blinds or baiting regulations. Numerous violations were addressed, and education provided about legal hunting methods. Enforcement action was taken.
COs Brian Brosky and Kyle Publiski responded to a complaint of a subject who had operated his motor vehicle past road closure signs on USFS land in Mason County. The COs checked the area on foot to locate the subject who was bowhunting and did not have a license in his possession. The subject was also hunting over excess bait and failed to place a name and address on his tree stand. Upon checking records, it was determined that the same subject had been cited for the same offenses in 2008. Enforcement action was taken.
DISTRICT 5
CO Craig Neal had been working a complaint of an illegal treestand on state land in northern Missaukee County. Neal was finally able to locate the hunter in his treestand. The hunter had several violations: baiting prior to Sept. 15; placing a treestand on state land prior to Sept. 1; as well as no identification on his stand, to name a few. Enforcement action was taken.
COs Matt Zultak and Ben McAteer were conducting a wildlife patrol in Roscommon County when they noticed a subject wearing all camouflage floating down the Cut River in a camouflage kayak. The COs contacted the subject and asked what he was doing. The man answered, “Observing waterfowl.” Zultak noticed a shotgun in the kayak that the man was attempting to conceal with his leg. Zultak informed the subject he had seen his firearm and asked what kind of shells he was shooting. The man replied, “Eights.” McAteer asked why he was afield without hunter orange. The subject confessed that he was waterfowl hunting and did not need hunter orange. Upon further investigation, it was determined the man was not only hunting waterfowl with toxic/lead shot, but also had failed to obtain a federal waterfowl stamp. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Kyle Bader checked a waterfowl hunter in Ogemaw County that was returning to his vehicle to get a fishing pole. The man said one of his decoys had floated into the middle of the lake and he was hoping to snag it. Bader followed him back to his blind and checked his two hunting companions. When one of the hunters unloaded their shotgun, Bader observed that one of the shells contained lead shot. Further investigation revealed the man to be in possession of more lead shot shells in his hunting bag. A citation was issued for hunting waterfowl with toxic shot and a warning was issued for not signing his federal migratory bird stamp.
DISTRICT 6
CO Josh Russell was patrolling the Flat River State Game Area when he pulled into a parking lot and found a vehicle parked with a subject standing outside of it. As Russell contacted the individual, he noticed an uncased shotgun in the vehicle. Russell asked the subject what he was hunting, and the subject responded “turkey”. The subject did not have a case for the gun and was hunting on public land with a private land turkey license. The subject was issued citation for uncased firearm in a motor vehicle.
CO Quincy Gowenlock was checking subjects coming out from their morning waterfowl hunt in the Shiawassee River State Game Area (SGA). While conducting a check on an individual, Gowenlock checked the hunter’s shotgun for a plug. After finding the shotgun didn’t have the required plug in it for hunting waterfowl, Gowenlock told the hunter that he would be issuing a citation. The hunter could not believe that he didn’t have a plug in his shotgun and the CO checked again. After stating “there must be a mistake,” the hunter handed Gowenlock four shotgun shells and the CO proceeded to insert all four into the magazine tube. At that point the hunter conceded and accepted his citation.
COs Bob Hobkirk and Seth Rhodea worked opening day of the south zone waterfowl season on Saginaw Bay patrolling the area by boat. During the patrol, numerous violations were located including possessing toxic shot, hunting waterfowl without licenses, unplugged shotguns, transporting loaded firearms while under power and numerous marine violations. In total 10 citations were issued during the patrol.
CO Mark Siemen received information that a subject had killed a deer with his bow and purchased a license the next day. With this information Siemen contacted the subject and he confessed to killing a 9-point buck without a license. All evidence was collected, photographed and seized by Siemen. Enforcement action was taken.
DISTRICT 7
COs Ivan Perez and BJ Goulette found a hunter who had been illegally hunting and took a buck illegally off an Ottawa County Park property that is closed to hunting. The subject was also baiting contrary to the baiting ban in the CWD area. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Greg Patten and a Muskegon County Deputy were working on locating subjects who were using unmarked treestands and bait in Duck Lake State Park. On Oct. 14, Patten received an email from a person who called the RAP line about one baited area. The reporting party said that people were back in the area hunting with bait. Patten was in a different part of the county. Patten contacted the deputy to check if he was close to the state park. The deputy said that he was already going to check the area and would look and see if there were any persons in stands or using bait. The deputy located two subjects hunting with corn and molasses bait which was well over the old two- gallon limit. The subjects were set up near an area baited with carrots and sugar beets that was reported earlier. The subjects were unaware of the other bait and confessed to just putting out the corn and molasses. Enforcement action was taken.
While checking a deer processor in Kent County, CO Justin Ulberg noticed a tag that appeared suspicious. The deer tag had been purchased approximately one hour before Ulberg’s arrival at the processor. It appeared that the hunter had shot the deer and then purchased his license. Ulberg responded to the hunter’s residence and interviewed him about the deer. The hunter confessed to not having his license when he went out hunting, shot the deer and then went to the store to purchase his license. Enforcement action was taken.
DISTRICT 8
CO Mike Drexler was working the waterfowl opener on foot patrol of a state game area in Washtenaw County when he contacted his first group of the morning. While checking a hunter in the group, Drexler noticed him eject what appeared to be two lead shells out of his shotgun. Drexler checked the shells and found the subject to be hunting with lead shot. Enforcement action taken.
CO Jason McCullough assisted the local sheriff’s department with a complaint involving a home owner who had a crossbow bolt shot into the wall of their home. The bolt had penetrated the exterior wall of the home. Located a short distance from the house was a large bait pile and trail camera. Using the trajectory of the arrow, a makeshift ground blind was located on some vacant city property. The officers contacted a couple of adjacent property owners who lived on the next road. The adjacent property owners happened to be missing a crossbow bolt that matched the crossbow bolt removed from the home. After a brief interview, the hunter stated he had shot at movement in the bushes during low light conditions. The hunter stated he heard a loud impact after he shot but thought he hit a plastic bucket that had been left in the woods previously. Thankfully no one was injured, and McCullough stressed the importance of always knowing your target and what is beyond it. Charges are being sought through the local prosecutor’s office.
CO Nick Wellman was patrolling near the Sauk River when he noticed two individuals fishing off a fishing pier. He contacted the two anglers and they both stated they had fishing licenses but didn’t have the licenses on them at the time. After checking their story through dispatch, it was found that neither of them had fishing licenses and one of the men had a warrant for his arrest. Enforcement action was taken and the man with the warrant was placed in custody.
CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling the Somerset State Game Area in Hillsdale County for the south zone opening day of waterfowl season. The CO approached two hunters, one of which immediately stated they had an unplugged firearm they were using to hunt. The subject assured the CO they were only loading the firearm with three shot shells. When the CO unloaded the firearm, four shells came out. Enforcement action was taken.
DISTRICT 9
COs Nick Ingersoll and Keven Luther were patrolling the Erie Metro Park when they contacted three individuals out waterfowl hunting. The COs conducted a check and asked all the hunters if they had plugs in their guns. All three hunters stated they did. The COs checked the hunter’s shotguns and determined that one of the three guns could hold more than three shells. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Nick Ingersoll was working the opening day of waterfowl season when he contacted two hunters just finishing their hunt. Ingersoll asked both individuals how they did and stated they shot five wood ducks in total. Ingersoll asked the hunters for their licenses, and both hunters immediately put their heads down and told the CO they did not have them. They stated they didn’t think they would be going out that morning and said they should have gotten them. Enforcement action was taken, and the five wood ducks were seized.
CO Nick Ingersoll was working the opening day of waterfowl season when he contacted a hunter just finishing his hunt. Ingersoll asked the hunter if he could look at the ammunition he was using, and the hunter agreed. Ingersoll was advised by the hunter that he reloads all his own ammunition, so he knows they were all steel shot. Ingersoll inspected his ammunition and found seven shells that contained lead shot. The hunter stated he didn’t know he reloaded the heavy steel shotgun shells with lead shot and had made a mistake. Ingersoll advised the hunter the importance of not using lead shot and enforcement action was taken.
CO Pat Hartsig received a complaint of an untagged deer hanging in a garage. The complainant gave a general area and the wrong name of a suspect. Hartsig contacted the local police department and was able to find a similar named individual. Contact was made at the residence and when nobody answered the front door they walked to the garage door where Hartsig and Silorey noticed blood on the ground. The subject came out of the house and stated he did not have a tag for the deer. The hunter’s buck and bow were seized, and enforcement action was taken.
The post Michigan Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – Nov. 23, 2018 appeared first on Outdoornews.
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