Minnesota Cuffs & Collars – November 2nd, 2012

District 1 – Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) attended arson investigation school.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) reports that preparation for the deer season is under way by locating deer bait and stands left unlawfully in WMAs.
CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) reports a  call of possible deer shinning activity was received with the investigation ongoing.
CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) worked waterfowl activity and seized an accidentally caught fisher. Complaints of deer taken out of season were worked on.
CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and hunting activity throughout the week.

District 2 – Bemidji area

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time checking archery deer, waterfowl and small game hunters and trappers. Area WMAs were checked for illegal deer stands.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) reports skunks are active looking for food. They’ve ended up in towns, yards, sheds, and window wells and are causing concern.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) monitored waterfowl and trapping activity in the area.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) reports complaints of baited deer stands and an individual making a race track in a wetlands area were investigated.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports two accidentally taken fishers were turned in by a young trapper. CO Vinton provided suggestions how to avoid catching them in the future.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) investigated a report of an individual taking a deer by bow and not tagging it. The suspect confessed, resulting in confiscation of the deer and a citation being issued. A TIP call was received regarding several people hunting in a duck refuge west of Hitterdal. Five individuals were found hunting ducks in the refuge; enforcement action was taken for hunting on state duck refuge, unplugged shotguns, and license violations.
CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) reports that after investigating a complaint, with the assistance of CO Al Peterson, three individuals were issued five citations totaling $2,655 in fines and restitution. Two bows, a 10-point buck, and a 13-point buck were seized. Both deer were taken with the aid of bait.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted CO Stattelman on a TIP of an individual that had been bragging on Facebook about killing multiple trophy bucks. He was charged with overlimit of deer, baiting, and borrowing a license (illegal party hunting). Two others were also cited for lending a license. Equipment was seized and citations were issued.
CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) assisted a neighboring officer with baiting and taxidermy complaints.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) checked prairie chicken, pheasant, and waterfowl hunters.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) checked area trappers and seized an incidentally taken fisher.
CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) focused enforcement efforts checking fishermen, waterfowl hunters and pheasant hunters. A call was handled on an injured deer.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl and small game hunters. An increase of divers has been seen in the area.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked a case where two swans were seen shot by duck hunters. CO Johanson assisted with interviewing and searching for the birds. The investigation is ongoing.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) reports several hunting-related TIP calls are under investigation and a shining detail was worked under the airplane. Several days were spent at Camp Ripley instructing the CO recruits on sport fishing enforcement.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Wheaton) helped teach at the CO Academy this past week, and participated with a work crew in Douglas and Todd counties.
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) received photos from a game camera along with a trespass complaint from Pope County. Pope County Wetland Conservation Act violation investigations and restorations are ongoing.

District 4 – Wadena area

CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) took complaints of illegally taken deer and shooting from the road.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) assisted a trapper that caught a bobcat in a leg-hold trap. The bobcat ran away unharmed.
CO Gary Sommers (Walker) made contact with a waterfowl hunter who was transporting a very noticeable amount of aquatic vegetation hanging from his boat trailer. The hunter said he and his daughter were so cold he didn’t even check for vegetation on the trailer, however, he remembered to pull his drain plug from the boat. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked various hunting activities during the week. A duck hunting TIP call assisted officers in tracking down a trumpeter swan shooter and another party in a separate incident chasing and rallying ducks.
CO Larry Francis (Remer) noted that waterfowl activity continues in the area, but at a decreased level.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) observed several hunters preparing for the upcoming firearms deer season. CO Broughten also assisted other District 4 officers with an incident where a waterfowl hunter shot a swan.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) assisted at the CO Academy for fishing week and participated in a shining crew in Todd County.
CO Colleen Adam (OHV Recreation Officer – Park Rapids) investigated a complaint of an ATV operating in a wetland and found an archery deer hunter over a baited area.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Shane Siltala monitored late-night shining activity.

District 5 – Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) spent time checking trappers, grouse hunters, and archery deer hunters.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports work on seasonal equipment transition, continued administrative and computer related tasks, issuing permits, and monitoring area outdoor activities.
CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports following up on a report of a dead wolf in a brush pile that turned out to be a deer hide. Whitefish netting activity was monitored. Not many fish reported in the nets. Of the few fish in the nets, the female egg sacks were still quite tight, meaning they have not begun to spawn quite yet.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) seized a boat and trailer for forfeiture that had been used during a BWI from last summer.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time and located numerous active deer baits still being refreshed after the 10-day period that all bait was supposed to have been removed. If any hunters are found hunting over those baits on opening morning they should expect to meet CO Frericks and plan on setting aside some time to speak with him.

District 6 – Two Harbors area

CO John Velsvaag (Ely) took calls on the upcoming wolf and deer seasons and checked several areas for illegal deer baiting.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) notes that with the upcoming wolf season, deer carcasses have become a commodity. Reminder to anyone wanting to possess a road-killed deer for the wolf hunt: you must obtain permission from the authorities or it becomes illegal possession of a big game animal and you will be charged.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt / Ely) reports enforcement action included illegal operation of an ATV on a roadway and no small-game license in possession. Several places were located where ATVs have been operating illegally in wetlands; investigation to follow.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that while on an arson investigation in northwest Minnesota, COs Grundmeier and Fagerman backed up a Marshall County deputy on an assault call with a loaded rifle involved.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended a follow-up meeting on the accidental shooting of a DNR employee by a grouse hunter. The hunter took a poor shot on a curvy county road looking up a rise where he could not know what was beyond his target.
CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) picked up a road-killed bear cub on Highway 61.

District 7 – Grand Rapids area

CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) took enforcement action on a bear hunter not registering bear bait, leaving signs out after season and litter on the bait pile.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) said the anglers who braved the cold found fair success on large northern pike and a few walleyes.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) assisted with Use of Force Training with the CO Academy at Camp Ripley.
CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) did a presentation on the upcoming wolf season to the Grand Rapids Lions Club.

District 8 – Duluth area

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) reports shooting from roadway issues were investigated.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports several reports of baiting are now being investigated. Please note that if you are caught hunting over a baited area you will now automatically lose your hunting privileges for one year, including loss of firearm, in addition to any fines.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) handled a TIP call dealing with small game hunting trespass.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) spoke to a local retired men’s group in Cloquet about the DNR K9 unit.
Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) checked waterfowl hunters in the Duluth area.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) followed up on a complaint of a bowhunter hunting past legal hours. Kamloops shore anglers are still fishing in the Duluth area.
CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) reports enforcement action taken for ATV and small game violations.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) attended a meeting and assisted with an ATV class in Two Harbors. Enforcement action taken for commercial, and boating violations.

District 9 – Brainerd area

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) checked waterfowl activity and responded to numerous issues regarding the upcoming firearms deer and wolf seasons.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) reports a TIP call led to a group of nonresident anglers that had been stockpiling crappies all week. Citations were issued and the group now faces thousands of dollars in fines.
CO Jim Tischler (Cuyuna Country State Rec. Area) along with park staff and CO Collette held the 16th annual Cuyuna Country SRA community deer rifle range day.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) spoke to young deer hunters prior to a special hunt at Savanna Portage State Park.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) investigated three separate incidents of hunter trespass/property dispute issues. Tree stands on neighboring private property and “No Trespassing” signs torn down were discovered by landowners preparing for upcoming rifle season.

District 10 – Mille Lacs area

CO Greg Verkuilen (Garrison) worked the Mille Lacs full moon bite. Anglers were doing well but catching mostly protected slot fish.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports several investigations were completed and forwarded to the county attorney for charging. Summer related equipment was winterized and put away for the season.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) received a call of used motor oil dumped along a road.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent a majority of the week following up on arson investigations.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) received numerous complaints of random shots fired after dark, several road-killed deer, and assisted the Pine County Sheriff's Department with several traffic accidents over the weekend.
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) checked archery hunters and assisted with Academy training during sport fishing week.
WREO Rob Haberman worked the Camp Ripley Archery Hunt over the weekend. One hunter fell an estimated 30 feet when his stand collapsed. He sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was not wearing a safety harness.

District 11 – St. Cloud area

CO Rhonda Friese (Long Prairie) followed up on complaints. Hunters were checked.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) investigated TIP complaints and handled trespass calls.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) answered several TIP calls, assisted at the CO Academy, and worked on deer baiting cases.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) finished up on a trapping case enforcement action taken on illegal out of season animals.
WREO Keith Bertram assisted neighboring officers by investigating baiting complaints and during a shining work crew.

District 12 – Princeton area

CO Tony Musatov (Sauk Rapids) assisted with training at Camp Ripley with the new Academy. Time was spent working waterfowl hunters with diver ducks in the bag.
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) spent time at Camp Ripley with the new recruits, and took enforcement action on failure to register deer and shooting after legal hours cases.
CO Mitch Sladek (Big Lake) followed up on a hunting complaint regarding possible careless discharge of a firearm.
CO Todd Langevin (Center City) worked on a public waters issue with a local ski resort that was pumping water earlier than their permit allowed.
CO Brandon McGaw (Mora) spent the week returning phone calls and responding to various complaints. Complaints of baiting, hunting too close, hunting near property lines, large tree stands, found tree stands, property line disputes, placing “no trespassing” signs on state owned land and others hunting “my deer” were handled.
CO Brian Dobbick (Cambridge) investigated ATV complaints and monitored trapping activity. Follow-up was conducted on a wetland violation.

District 13 –West Metro area

CO Steve Walter (Waconia) assisted the Carver County Sheriff’s Department and Waconia Fire Department with a boating accident on Lake Waconia where a duck boat with three hunters ran into a fishing boat at a high rate of speed during daylight hours. None of the duck hunters had life jackets with and were very lucky not to have this turn into a tragic disaster.
Conservation Officer Tony Salzer (Osseo)  patrolled Hennepin County and responded to a hunter harassment complaint in the northwestern part of the county. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Jackie Glaser (Metro Water Resource Enforcement Officer) issued a cease and desist order to a landowner in St. Paul for filling a wetland.
CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) worked on some investigations and assisted the Aviation Unit on a shining detail.
CO Thor Nelson (Bloomington) investigated complaints of taking waterfowl before and after legal hours, shooting from open water, wanton waste and hunting over bait.
CO Kevin Neitzke (Ft. Snelling) patrolled Dakota County with CO Pril checking archery deer hunters and small game hunters.
CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) received several TIP calls regarding illegal hunting.

District 14 – East Metro area

CO Patrick McGowan (Hastings) took several TIP calls regarding trespass issues.
CO Amber Peterson (Maplewood) assisted with a firearms safety field day at Carlos Avery.
CO Vuthy Pril (ELCOP) checked pheasant hunters around the Dakota and Washington county wildlife management areas.
CO Scott Arntzen (Forest Lake) assisted a neighboring officer on a complaint of shooting after hours.
CO Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) worked big game enforcement in Anoka County.
CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) handled a TIP call in which a trapper was setting his muskrat traps before 9 a.m. on opening day. Enforcement action was taken.

District 15 – Marshall area

CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) reports a barn fire was detected while on routine patrol. The homeowner was not present and local fire was called to the scene, where assistance was given.
CO Neil Henriksen (Benson) reports youth firearms safety was completed in Appleton
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) reports trapping activity was monitored with people having the best luck with raccoon
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) reports pheasant hunters continue to struggle to find birds.
CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports a deer was reported stuck in a slough near Hendricks, but the deer finally removed itself from the mud.
CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week on working trappers and pheasant hunters. Road-kill deer calls remain frequent.
CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington): with the trapping season now in full swing, the officer reminds dog owners to review Page 34 of the 2012 hunting and trapping regs, which explains how to free a dog from a body gripping trap.

District 16 – New Ulm area

CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) continues to follow up on a shoot from motor vehicle complaint in addition to an otter taken out of season.
CO Jen Mueller (Hutchinson) reports waterfowl hunters were checked, with one person found to be in possession of toxic shot. A trumpeter swan was rescued off Hoosier Lake in Meeker County, but died the next day of possible lead poisoning.
CO Jason Beckmann (Windom) investigated a possible wetlands violation.
CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) investigated a case of people leaving equipment on a WPA, taking and not retrieving waterfowl, and trapping public land without tagging traps.
CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) took enforcement action for fail to register deer, discharging firearms well within 500 feet of a corral, possess loaded firearm in a closed game sanctuary and no pheasant stamps.

District 17 – Mankato area

CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) reports multiple complaints of furbearer carcasses, breasted out birds, bags of deer bones, etc., dumped along roadsides. Please remember to dispose of your carcasses properly and discreetly.
CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) gave assistance in locating a waterfowl hunter who drowned after his boat swamped on an area lake.
CO Bob Geving (Mankato) attended a meeting at Camp Ripley and flew a shining detail for District 16 officers.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) assisted in the search and recovery of a duck hunter who drowned on Lake Elysian in Waseca County.
WREO Julie Siems (SE) gave assistance at an area rotenone treatment.

District 18 – Rochester area

CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports violations encountered were untagged traps, 220s within 500 feet of residence, and traps too close to water.
CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked mainly hunters and trappers during the week.
CO Phil George (Rochester) reports issues with the CWD zone continue. Reminder to hunters that any harvest in the CWD zone is required to be tested and fawns need a transport tag if transported outside the zone.
CO Scott Fritz (LaCrescent) reports several trespass complaints involving squirrel hunters came in this past week. All complaints came from hunters leaving state forest lands onto posted property. Many calls came with regards to the new conibear trapping laws.
CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) reports a TIP call was investigated for an illegally taken turkey.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) worked several trespass complaints involving deer hunting and squirrel hunting. In one case, as he approached two hunters they threw a bag of squirrels into a ditch. They were both over their limit.
CO Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports duck numbers on the Mississippi have increased, as well as hunters and their success.