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FeedMinnesota Cuffs & Collars - October 26th, 2012
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked duck hunters on the Roseau River and Thief Lake WMAs. Youth deer hunters also were checked. Assistance was given to State Patrol with a felon found in possession of a firearm in Thief River Falls. Two complaints were taken regarding deer shiners and baited stands.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) concluded an investigation on the unlawful taking of Canada geese, investigated a deer-baiting call, and spoke to the Stephen Lions Club about gray wolves and new hunting regulations. The early youth firearms deer hunt was worked, and a call about an individual allowing his son to take more than the one-deer limit was investigated. Calls about deer stand vandalism and trapping questions were answered.
CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) reports assistance was provided to the sheriff’s department with a robbery complaint.
District 2 – Bemidji area
CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking hunting and fishing activity. Time also was spent assisting a neighboring officer with a search warrant for a felon in possession of a firearm and for hunting without a license. Many reports regarding hunting seasons and trespass were investigated. A citation was issued for the illegal shooting of a swan. Shining and late shooting activity was monitored. Assistance was given to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department with setting up a perimeter and location of a fleeing suspect following high-speed chase that started in Becker County.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) provided security on a fire detail, assisted on a search warrant for a felon possessing a firearm that led to marijuana, spoke to a firearms safety class, participated in a radio talk show program, and prepared equipment for the late-fall season.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) reports a complaint regarding an individual hunting over bait was investigated, as was a complaint about hunters taking waterfowl in open water.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports meeting with the county attorney to discuss charging options involving public waters violations.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) checked waterfowl and pheasant hunters this week. Seefeldt also assisted Camp Ripley DNR staff with the CO academy. He also received information regarding license fraud and baiting activity.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted local departments with a convicted felon, which led to a search warrant, with the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office, Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, the Park Rapids Police Department, and the Menahga Police Department. Guns were seized, as was a vehicle. Officials also executed an amended warrant at the same location for additional seizure of numerous marijuana plants.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) checked on illegal deer stands built on WPAs. Plautz also met with an Amish community to get paperwork sent in to St. Paul in order for them to purchase firearms deer licenses.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) reports calls were received about the deer seasons, bear registration, and decoy placement on public waters.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked a case in which a local hunter had shot two mallards and a goose a week earlier. The ducks and goose sat on the front step of his house the entire week, uncleaned in the sun, the meat spoiling. When asked, the hunter admitted they were spoiled and said he hadn’t cleaned them because he didn’t have a knife. A citation was issued for wanton waste.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) reports the enforcement highlight of the week was a man caught attempting to shoot a pheasant from the window of his mini-van.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Wheaton) assisted CO Anderson in Pope County on a wetland violation and investigated several illegal fires during the burning ban.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) received three complaints were received about people trespassing, both waterfowl and pheasant hunters.
District 4 – Wadena area
CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) assisted park staff with a large group of campers who were ignorant of several park regulations. He also addressed a call regarding a wolf behaving oddly. He assisted in getting an injured raptor to the raptor center and took enforcement action at a local shooting area, when a clay pigeon shooter was found to be under the influence of alcohol.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked anglers, grouse hunters, duck hunters, and balsam bough pickers. He received complaints regarding trespassing and ATV operation issues.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) reports enforcement action was taken for operating an OHM on the roadway, no youth ATV safety certificates, allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, an ATV operator under 18 without a helmet, and no burning permit.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) initiated a depredation investigation involving the loss of two sheep and followed up on trespass violation involving a bowhunter.
CO Shane Siltala (Water Resource Enforcement officer) spent time enforcing AIS laws in the Alexandria area and followed up on a complaint of illegal commercial leech trapping.
District 5 – Eveleth area
CO Dan Starr (Tower) reports an individual was found hunting waterfowl on a state game refuge, which will be a costly mistake. A bear season investigation continues, and the CO continues to assist with a moose investigation.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time meeting with landowners and taking complaints regarding hunters who are trespassing on private property. Some hunters are going so far as to cut locks off of gates and replace them with their own. One bowhunter who disregarded a “no trespassing” sign and shot a deer about 75 yards from a residence was issued a citation for trespassing. The hunter’s bow and deer were seized. The archery hunter will also will face $500 in restitution for the deer upon conviction.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) received a complaint from a homeowner about weird “bait” found on his property. An investigation found a dead, decomposing deer with largemouth bass and northern pike dumped on the carcass. A group of bough pickers was checked and found to not have the required permits for picking on public lands. A check revealed one with an outstanding local warrant. He was transported to jail by CO Fredin.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked ATV riders and grouse and archery deer hunters. The officer assisted the Cook County Sheriff’s Department in locating a missing elderly woman. She was found safe, but a little tired from a long day of walking.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused enforcement efforts on small-game hunters and ATVing activity. Enforcement action was taken for illegal burning and driving after revocation.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt/Ely) reports a grouse hunter was encountered in possession of several packages of synthetic marijuana. CO Bermel also assisted a trapper in successfully releasing a timber wolf accidentally caught in a foothold trap.
District 7 – Grand Rapids area
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) worked aquatic invasive species, wetland/ waters, ATV operators, migratory waterfowl hunters, and trapping enforcement. A Wetland Conservation Act restoration order was issued.
CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) checked grouse hunters and bowhunters throughout the week. Deer baiting and illegal hunting activity was investigated, as was illegal cutting on state forest property.
District 8 – Duluth area
CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) worked ATV complaint areas and trespassing complaints. Shining complaints are picking up in the area.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports lots of archery deer and grouse hunters were checked during the week. Many reports of cars-deer collisions were reported throughout the week.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked on reports of baiting and illegal stands in the Blackhoof WMA. A complaint of trespassing has turned into an arson investigation in the Wrenshall area. A landowner who chased some trespassers off of his property a few weeks ago found one of his deer stands was vandalized and burned during the week. With the dry conditions, the fire also burned about an acre of tall grass before it went out. Anyone with information about this fire is asked to call TIP or the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office.
Water Resource Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) followed up on information about a possible deer-baiting issue with an archery hunter.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked Kamloop’s shore anglers in the Duluth area, checked small-game hunters north of Duluth, and assisted RTO Patten and fellow district officers with adult firearm safety field day.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) spent the week on waterfowl, boating, fishing, small-game, big-game, commercial, fire, and ATV enforcement.
District 9 – Brainerd area
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) responded to a TIP call that led to charges of possessing/transporting untagged archery deer and failing to register a deer before it was processed. Another TIP call is under investigation involving two men who took a shot at some ducks on private property. A quick-thinking landowner got a license plate number.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) worked aquatic invasive species enforcement. Enforcement action resulted in a civil penalty of $500 being imposed for transportation of zebra mussels.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) assisted a person who had fallen off a horse, helped a local police department with a call, and investigating a call about possible illegal deer stands and cutting of shooting lanes.
CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) worked complaints about boaters transporting live fish and water in livewells. He also followed up with weedroller complaints.
District 10 – Mille Lacs area
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports monitoring shining activity during the week. The officer finished an investigation into a big-game violation. A complaint about a party hunting over bait was investigated, and the hunter was charged and a bow was seized. A TIP about a waterfowl hunter hunting after hours also was investigated. An ongoing investigation of garbage dumping on state land was worked on during the week. A TIP regarding a party taking over-length walleyes on Mille Lacs Lake was looked into and was found to be unfounded.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) checked small-game hunters who reported fair to poor success. Heaton received calls regarding trespassing, property line disputes, car-injured deer, and many hunting-related questions.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) saw an increase in calls and complaints with the approach of the firearms deer season. Many calls included hunters seeking information about the new wolf season and changes in deer-hunting areas. A majority of complaints included trespassing, but also involved dogs chasing deer, shooting at night, road hunting, and nuisance animals. Time also was spent assisting area farmers with gray wolf-control activity.
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) checked small-game and waterfowl hunters. Several TIP complaints were handled, and a baiting case was investigated with a neighboring officer.
District 11 – St. Cloud area
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) investigated a wetland complaint involving a person who dug a ditch through a slough without a permit.
CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) worked the Camp Ripley bowhunt. Multiple agencies worked together to find a missing hunter. He was fine.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) checked hunters and trappers during the last week. Officer Martin continued to work on deer baiting and shining issues, as well as working at the CO academy. Time was spent tracking down a local hunter on tax-forfeit land who was baiting with apple-flavored minerals. When Martin confronted the hunter, the hunter said, “It should be legal because they sell it at a local store.” The product’s website clearly stated that the product was illegal in Minnesota due to natural apple flavoring.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) worked duck, pheasant, and deer hunters, as well as anglers. Time was spent assisting at the CO academy and working the Camp Ripley bowhunt. TIP calls were handled involving baited deer stands and trespassing.
District 12 – Princeton area
CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) checked hunters and anglers. CO Musatov also assisted with training at Camp Ripley. Time was spent working shining complaint areas, and an investigation was done on an illegal fire.
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) worked deer shiners, issued cease and district orders for wetland violations, took calls about trespassing, and worked hunter harassment issues.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) worked a deer-baiting case, and issued a summons for hunting deer over a baited area. He worked duck hunters and took enforcement action for a number of violations.
CO Todd Langevin (Center City) reports checking deer stands left in WMAs in the area. CO Langevin also worked shining activity in the area.
CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) checked anglers and hunters throughout the week. Time was spent setting up snowmobile safety classes and answering numerous questions about the upcoming deer season.
District 13 – West Metro area
CO Steve Walter (Waconia) worked the trapping opener, and duck, goose, and pheasant hunters were checked. Trespass complaints were investigated regarding archery deer hunters on posted private property.
CO Jackie Glaser (Metro Water Resources Enforcement officer) followed up on numerous wetland and public waters cases. Time was spent at public accesses in the west-metro area focusing on AIS violations. CO Glaser continues to follow up on a zebra mussel transportation case and completed reports for Hennepin County.
CO Thor Nelson (Bloomington) worked a boat and water detail on the Rainy River with CO Block. CO Nelson received calls regarding archery deer- and waterfowl-hunting regulations.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) attended a week-long boat tactical training course in Stillwater and checked shore fishermen. He also worked duck, pheasant, and small-game hunters around the metro area.
CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) focused on waterfowl enforcement this week. The CO taught at the DNR CO academy and checked small-game hunters in a vacant station.
District 14 – East Metro area
CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) attended court during the week for a boating violation that occurred during the summer. CO McGowan submitted evidence to the Minnesota BCA for analysis.
CO Amber Peterson (Maplewood) assisted with a trespass/neighbor dispute and answered many hunting-related questions. Officer Peterson also patrolled some area lakes and discovered a couple anglers without licenses. They thought since they were not keeping the fish that they did not need a fishing license.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) worked on aquatic vegetation cases in Ramsey and Washington counties. She also checked waterfowl and small-game hunters, worked on a couple deer cases, and handled calls regarding trapping regulations.
CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked hunting enforcement in Anoka County. Enforcement action was taken for a trespassing complaint in East Bethel. CO Muyres also assisted a neighboring officer with a K9 search of a residence for hidden game.
District 15 – Marshall area
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) checked pheasant, waterfowl, turkey, and deer hunters throughout the week. Time also was spent working the raccoon hunting/trapping opener.
CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports that enforcement action was taken for several license violations, bowhunter blaze orange requirements, and burning prohibited materials. A trespassing violation is under investigation.
CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) checked pheasant- and waterfowl-hunting activity throughout the week. Burning ban violations were handled. Illegal raccoon-trapping activity was detected within the Lac qui Parle WMA, with a violator placing traps before the opener.
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) worked a night shining detail with neighboring officers after receiving several complaints. A complaint about someone baiting deer with apples on a WMA was investigated.
CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week on working archery hunters and investigating wetland issues. Enforcement action was taken for unsigned licenses, no small-game license, no pheasant stamp, and no wetland permits at a job site.
CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) assisted a neighboring CO with a fish overlimit case.
WREO Larry Hanson (Southern Region) reports a public waters restoration order was issued in Brown County and a public waters/WCA violation was investigated in Lincoln County. Fishermen, pheasant hunters, duck hunters, bowhunters, and trappers were checked.
District 16 – New Ulm area
CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) followed up on hunter harassment and trespassing complaints. Denz also spent time enforcing ATV laws and took enforcement action for allowing illegal youthful operation.
CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson) assisted with the capture of an injured trumpeter swan near Assumption Lake. The swan appeared to have been shot and was suffering from lead poisoning. The swan was taken to a rehabilitation center. Mueller also investigated a TIP complaint of hunting in a state game refuge near Hutchinson. Mueller assisted the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office with a stranded boater on Stahls Lake.
CO Jason Beckmann (Windom) spent time on small-game, migratory waterfowl, big-game, and sportfishing enforcement. An investigation of a group resulted in several citations and warnings being issued for taking fish by illegal methods, no fishing license, fishing license not in possession, trespassing, and driving a motor vehicle in a prohibited area in a state WMA.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) investigated complaints about OHVers operating on lake and river beds.
District 17 – Mankato area
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) reports a ginseng inspection was performed, and calls relating to landowner disagreements and federal land trespass were investigated.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) followed up on several complaints throughout the week, including shooting too close to a residence, lending and borrowing licenses, failing to register deer, trespassing, and illegal ORVing. The officer also responded to a possible drowning on an area lake. The two subjects were found safe on shore.
District 18 – Rochester area
CO Phil George (Rochester) conducted a site inspection of a reported wetland violation, took TIP calls about hunters without blaze orange during the youth firearms deer season, and checked anglers with extra lines. Officer George assisted with the academy training at Camp Ripley. Officer George also checked deer hunters, goose hunters, and small-game hunters. Enforcement action for transporting a loaded gun, and angling with extra lines.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports heavy hunting and fishing in the area. A case was made in which people were making extra trips with limits of fish. One of the fishermen was from Wisconsin and involved a Wisconsin warden helping with the investigation and following up with enforcement action.
