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FeedMInnesota Cuffs & Collars - April 20th, 2012
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) patrolled area WMAs and presented the law and ethics portion to the Lancaster firearm safety class.
CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) checked anglers and boaters on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River for compliance with rules and regulations. Several calls about possible wolf depredation were investigated.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) taught the law and ethics portion of the firearm safety class in Oslo and the ATV safety class in Grygla. A wildfire was investigated, anglers were checked in an adjoining vacant station, and a gray wolf depredation was investigated. An interview was conducted with an individual concerning his ice shelter that was left on the ice of Lake of the Woods, which sank upon ice breakup.
CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) instructed at three firearms safety classes and monitored spring fish run activities. A number of illegal fires were investigated.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked boaters, anglers, and leech trappers. AIS inspections were done on water-related equipment. A trespass complaint resulted in a property dispute. Also, stolen snares were recovered, and calls about two drained WMAs were investigated.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) checked ATVers, leech trappers, and anglers. Complaints about ATVers operating in a closed area and calls regarding dead eagles were investigated.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) worked with officers from the Idaho Fish and Game Department on a big-game case.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) continues to investigate a case involving two juveniles who were shooting a variety of animals this spring. A complaint about a person shooting a pheasant also was investigated.
CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) focused enforcement efforts on illegal fires and burning, angling, boating, and garbage dumped on public accesses and public lands.
Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson (Northwest Region) attended the public meeting in Vergas on AIS issues. Hanson also participated in the career day at Detroit Lakes High School.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) monitored fish run locations and checked anglers. Richards received a complaint about a public waters violation and responded to some burning restriction complaints.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spoke to two area firearm safety classes regarding laws and ethics. Plautz also seized a timber wolf that was shot legally by an area farmer who was protecting livestock. An incidentally caught otter was seized, and Plautz met with a landowner and survey crew regarding a trespass issue. Fishing enforcement and invasive species work was conducted.
CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) focused enforcement efforts this week on spring fish run and angling enforcement.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen and boaters. An abundance of questions were handled about the fishing opener.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) worked another busy week of fishing enforcement, checking anglers and monitoring fish run activity. Numerous AIS contacts were made, and many AIS watercraft decals were given out.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Wheaton) checked fishermen and ATV operators, and monitored areas closed to fishing. Baumbarger also responded to illegal fires, and issued minnow transportation permits.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) focused enforcement efforts on invasive species laws, anglers, and ATV operators. Anderson assisted at a Wetland Conservation Act technical evaluation panel meeting that is discussing wetland credits and several other proposed projects involving wetlands.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) investigated illegal burning and trapping activity. He also monitored ATV and OHM activity and handled a nuisance beaver issue. Officer Parthun took an unsubstantiated report of a cougar sighting and checked public access sites and remote lakes.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) continued working on a large fire investigation and investigated several other smaller fires. Officer Oldakowski monitored many area creeks and lakes for spring fish run activity, continued an investigation into a wetlands violation, and initiated an investigation involving an ATV complaint.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) observed few resource users out due to the cold weather. He spent time inspecting commercial minnow dealer operations and conducting equipment maintenance. Officer Mathy also investigated a complaint about dumped deer and coyote carcasses.
CO Larry Francis (Remer) investigated a dump pile for identifying items and referred a case of two parties tilling, clearing, and planting food plots on federal land to the U.S. Forest Service.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring spring trapping, ATV, and angling activity. CO Broughten also received several calls concerning stolen and tampered beaver traps. Anyone with information that may be related to stolen or tampered traps is asked to call the TIP line at 1-800-652-9093.
CO Colleen Adam (OHV recreation officer – Park Rapids) patrolled state forest roads and trails this week. Officer Adam also worked on a case involving closed season, illegal trapping sets.
CO Shane Siltala (Water Resource Enforcement officer) assisted with a large wildfire near Oylen.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports numerous questions about a possible wolf-hunting season inquiries about when the fishing season will open.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reports an ATV driver was arrested for driving after cancellation.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) investigated reports about otters and muskrats being taken out of season. Interviews are being conducted, and the investigation continues.CO Frericks also spoke to a firearms safety class in Virginia.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) stopped a juvenile who was traveling down a county road on an OHM. The CO met with a parent regarding lawful operation of an OHM.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) joined CO Fagerman on a work detail to the Rainy River on the last weekend of the walleye season on Canada border waters.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked fishing and hunting complaints and spent time in the BWCAW. Remember that 2011 fishing licenses will expire at the end of the month.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked in another part of the state as part of the wildfire investigation team. He also worked with Officer Thomasen on the Rainy River during the last couple days of that season. A few people were encountered who had a hard time keeping track of the two-walleye limit. Fish were seized, citations were issued, and the folks at the Grand Marais Senior Center will have a nice walleye lunch this week.
CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) investigated a TIP call regarding litter near Lax Lake. CO Johnson’s investigation led to a citation for a local resident. CO Johnson also took enforcement action for an unregistered canoe.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) monitored spring beaver trappers and ATVers. The officer also checked trout anglers during the inland stream trout opener.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVers, spring beaver trappers, and state trail users. He also worked trespassing and ATV complaints during the week, and taught a firearms safety class.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) continued aquatic invasive species enforcement efforts on the Rainy River, issuing citations for watercraft plug transport violations. Overall, AIS compliance has improved remarkably.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked fire and angling enforcement throughout the week, as well as monitoring fish run activity. CO Humphrey also patrolled in the Sawyer WMA and Fond du Lac State Forest, where spring road and trail closures were in effect. CO Humphrey assisted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with an interview on a case in which a timber wolf was shot near Carlton during last November’s firearms deer season. A restoration order was served on a wetland violation.
CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) worked complaint areas for ATV violations. Officer Schmidt also followed up on a wetland complaint. Illegal fires continue to be an issue. Wolf depredation complaints continue, and cattle losses were investigated. Spring fish runs are still going, and rivers were worked for the illegal take of spawning fish. A group of individuals attempting to net spawning fish were cited.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent several days working the North Shore tributaries for the steelhead and Kamloops fish runs. Officer Duncan also met with a few beaver trappers in the field. Three local trappers were certified as wolf controllers.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports several incidentally caught otters were turned in by local beaver trappers.
CO Scott Staples and K-9 Schody (Carlton) report a work detail was done on North Shore streams and two individuals were caught taking trout with a dip net. Both parties are facing gross misdemeanor charges.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers, smelters, and watched rivers for illegal activities. He also worked AIS enforcement for boats leaving accesses on Lake Superior and the St. Louis River. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations and illegal take.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) monitored angler activity. Two people were apprehended for netting fish from a sanctuary in the middle of the night.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) provided a ride-a-long opportunity for a Central Lakes College student. A call was taken about a yearling bear apparently living in a culvert near Pine River, and a call was handled from a lakeshore owner regarding a dead swan that washed up on their shoreline.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) patrolled the station for all-terrain vehicle and sportfishing enforcement. Officer Guida also followed up on an illegal dumping complaint that occurred on state property. Officer Guida located the Social Security cards of three children, a banking card, and numerous other important documents. The owner was contacted, and indicated that the items were previously stolen. Numerous other items including televisions, mattresses, and appliances also were littering the area.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) checked fishermen, worked ATV complaints, and handled incidental otter catches during the week. He also investigated a litter case, monitored fish run, and educated fishermen about invasive species laws.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) worked with a certified wolf trapper who was trapping for a rancher with missing calves.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) followed up on trapping thefts and a grass fire investigation. Heaton also checked traps throughout her station, finding untagged traps and Conibear traps that were more than half way out of the water. Heaton received complaints about nuisance bears damaging bird feeders.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) spoke at a firearms safety class put on by the Snake River Valley Conservation Club.
Officer Mike Lee (Isle) completed the second week of the Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs Program with Isle and Onamia fourth-graders. Officer Lee received numerous reports about incidental otters being taken. The otters were seized and turned over to the Minnesota Trappers Association for educational purposes.
CO Greg Verkuilen (Garrison) monitored tribal harvest on Mille Lacs, which included a charge for illegal purchase of walleyes.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports taking calls regarding litter and also fishing law-related questions. A gray wolf predator controller application was received and was forwarded for approval.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent time on local lakes checking the area’s first open-water panfish anglers. Time also was spent instructing at the conservation officer academy at Camp Ripley.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) met with the Sullivan Lake Association to discuss AIS issues. CO Kuske also handled an incident that involved a juvenile taking ducks and pheasants during the closed season.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) worked anglers, boaters, wetland impacts, and invasive species enforcement. Thesing also assisted at the conservation officer academy at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action for the week included no angling license, failing to remove a boat’s drain plug, failing to display watercraft registration, and failing to file a contractor responsibility form.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) worked on a nuisance bear issue. Follow-up was done on burning violations.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) spent time working aquatic invasive species enforcement at public accesses on local lakes. She also spoke at two firearms safety classes. Officer Londgren patrolled the Rum River State Forest and wildlife management areas, as well as working ATV complaint areas, and taking calls about nuisance animals.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) finished a big-game investigation with summonses and written warnings issued.
CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) gave presentations to firearms safety classes in Buffalo and St. Michael. Reller also inspected several shoreline violations with enforcement action to follow.
CO Brandon McGaw (Mora) reports wildfires around the county were investigated. Enforcement action was taken regarding careless handling of a fire, failure to check traps, and failure to have the required number of life preservers in a watercraft.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) assisted the Three Rivers Park District with a call involving a person disturbing goose nests and taking eggs. She also worked a detail at Fort Snelling State Park. Time was spent at lake accesses checking boaters for invasive species and drain plug violations.
CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) focused on fishing and invasives species enforcement this week. The CO handed out the new required stickers to every boater he checked on Minnetonka. He also met with a local weed harvester regarding invasive species issues.
CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) continued checking anglers and boaters on west metro lakes and rivers. He assisted other district officers during a recent VIP visit in Minneapolis.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) worked shore fishermen, boaters, and invasive species enforcement in the metro area. He also responded to a complaint about people fishing with extra lines at the Coon Rapids Dam.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Jason Jensen (Metro WREO) reports a week of AIS training for law enforcement agencies. Officer Jensen also attended a meeting with an aquatic plant harvester company.
CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) patrolled Washington and Dakota counties for angling enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, slow-no wake violations, illegal-length walleyes, PFD violations, and failure to remove drain plugs while transporting boats.
CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked fishing enforcement in Anoka County. Several TIP calls were taken regarding suspicious fishing activity.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) handled a call regarding an individual shooting cardinals in Ramsey County and attended a district meeting in St. Paul. She also worked a trapping case in Anoka County and did equipment maintenance.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports that enforcement action was taken for taking fish during the closed season (northern pike). He also assisted with the CO academy at Camp Ripley.
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) spent the majority of the week working fishing, boating, and invasive species enforcement. The stream trout opener was busy, with lower-than-normal water levels creating good opportunities for fishermen.
CO Neil Henriksen (Benson) reports the enforcement focus of the week was ATV operation and fishing enforcement. More otters were turned in by beaver trappers.
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) checked anglers on Lac qui Parle and patrolled the Minnesota River. A fish house that went through the ice during the winter finally was removed from LqP. Enforcement action was taken on two men after they were found smoking marijuana at a public landing.
CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) issued numerous out-of-state minnow transport permits throughout the week.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent the week checking ATV and OHM riders. Time also was spent checking fishermen and boaters. A number of ATV complaints regarding kids riding on county roads were received. The kids were identified and tickets were issued. .
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) gave an ATV law presentation to the local sheriff’s department and spent time checking burn permits to ensure compliance with restrictions.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) completed his radio program with KKOJ/KRAQ, discussing topics including bear-hunting license applications timelines, turkey-hunting season, and aquatic invasive species.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) checked anglers. The St. Peter trout ponds opened to a large crowd, although there were fewer people than in some recent years.
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) spent the week checking anglers, boaters, and ATV operators. He also worked at an information booth at an Owatonna sporting goods store.
CO Julie Siems (Faribault) reports a site in violation of the Wetland Conservation Act was visited. Training on investigating and recognizing copper theft was attended, as well.
CO Bob Geving (Mankato) issued a cease and desist order for a wetlands violation and assisted in capturing an injured swan for rehabilitation.
CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) reports an illegal fire was checked and some taxidermy inspections were completed.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports a wetland investigation received some attention, with a restoration order served.
CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) reports spending the past week checking anglers, meeting with landowners, doing some work on the boat house, and attending a meeting.
CO Scott Fritz (La Crescent) assisted Lt. Olson with a presentation at the Taxidermy Guild Conference held in Rochester. Enforcement for the week was taken for illegally possessing an undersized bass, no fishing license, and failure to remove a drain plug from a boat while transporting it.
CO Phil George (Rochester) issued a cease and desist order on a wetland issue. Officer George also assisted the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office with a fire that got out of control for a short time, during which a few residences had to be evacuated as a precaution; the fire quickly was brought under control.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) assisted the Winona-area USFWS refuge officer with two dumping investigations. Many people were out scouting for turkey hunting and looking for mushrooms.
CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked mainly anglers during the week. The trout opener was extremely busy with a lot of limits and some overlimits seen taken on opening day.
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) spent time on ATV complaints and a few burning complaints.
