DISTRICT 1 Conservation Officer (CO) Ethen Mapes and Probationary Conservation Officer (PCO) Alex VanWagner were on patrol in Ontonagon County when they observed a running vehicle parked on an off-trail vehicle (ORV) trail with its hazard lights on. Upon contact with the vehicle, all four occupants were found to be intoxicated. The driver was arrested for operating a motor vehicle…
Division of Wildlife Central Ohio – Wildlife District 1 On the opening weekend of early waterfowl hunting season, state wildlife officers Adam Smith and Houston Wireman, assigned to Logan and Champaign counties respectively, were contacting waterfowl hunters on Indian Lake when they observed a small vessel heading into a nearby channel with two individuals on board. The individual on the…
NORTHCENTRAL REGION From the Game Commission McKean County Game Warden Jeffrey Orwig reports charges were filed against a Tioga County resident for hunting over bait. Clinton County Game Warden Kirk Miller reports that multiple individuals have been cited for having loaded crossbows in vehicles during the archery season. McKean County Game Warden Heath Hilbert reports that multiple individuals were taken…
District 1 – Baudette area CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. Violations encountered included angling without a license, possessing an overlimit of walleyes and sauger, and possessing illegal-length walleyes. CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls) conducted patrols for trapping, ice angling, and snowmobiling activity this week. CO Corey Sura (Baudette) responded with fire and rescue…
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis In Stephenson County, CPO Alvarez got a tip about a truck trespassing on private property and a male walking near the woods with a rifle. CPO Alvarez located and stopped the vehicle and located a .243 Mossberg rifle unloaded and in a case. CPO Roesch arrived to assist. The complainant arrived on the scene…
No License, Hunting Over Bait (Oneida County) On Nov. 29, ECO Noyes received an anonymous tip about a large buck shot on a baited property in the town of Forestport. ECO Noyes responded to the property and found no one was home. The ECO observed a blood trail in the driveway leading to a barn and a fresh gut pile…
NORTHEAST REGION Wautoma Team/November Warden Ben Nadolski, of Montello, was called to assist the Montello Police Department when a large buck attacked the front door of a house in town. The door was all glass and the buck apparently responded to its reflection as a “competing buck.” Officers stayed in the area until the deer wondered into the woods. Wardens…
Banquets/Fundraisers JAN. 8, 2022: WTU Southern Minnesota Deer Camp, 5:30 p.m., Holiday Inn/Austin Conference Center. For more info calll Chris Petersen, 507-450-6256. JAN. 22, 2022: WTU Red River Valley Deer Camp, 5 p.m., Eagles Club, East Grand Forks. For more info call John Eaton, 218-779-0968. JAN. 28, 2022: Sioux Trails DU Banquet, 5 p.m., New Ulm Event Center. For more…
District 1 – Baudette area CO Corey Sura (Baudette) spent time checking anglers on Lake of the Woods and Upper Red Lake. Violations included fishing with extra lines, possession of marijuana, and fishing without a license. Sura and CO Ben Huener also partook in a field trip at Norris Camp with elementary students from Warroad. The officers discussed ice safety…
District 1 – Baudette area CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked area muzzleloader hunting, trapping, and angling activity. Angling on Lake of the Woods was overall good, but inconsistent. CO Corey Sura (Baudette) spent days checking anglers on Upper Red Lake and Lake of the Woods. Violations encountered included an overlimit of walleyes/sauger, an overlimit of walleyes greater than 17 inches…
DISTRICT 1 COs Cody Smith, Dave Miller, and John Kamps conducted a small game patrol using a grouse decoy. The COs interacted with many hunters throughout the day. Many positive checks and several violations including three violations for possession of loaded/ uncased firearms upon a motor vehicle were observed as well as violations of the hunter orange requirement. These violations…
SOUTHWEST REGION From the Game Commission Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties Land Management Group Supervisor Dan Puhala reports citations have been filed against two individuals who were driving on a handicap-access road and in possession of alcoholic beverages while on state game lands. These designated roads are provided for hunters with disabilities so they can access areas. Use of these…
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis In Boone County, CPO Swanson was conducting fishing compliance checks in Belvidere when she spoke to a juvenile who said he was 15 but gave a date of birth for that of a 17-year-old. After further questioning, he admitted he was 16 and did not have a fishing license, and was from out of…
Jumping the Gun to Shotgun Season (Orange County) On Nov. 7, ECO Carl received a report of a gunshot and a hunter driving an ATV to the area where the shot was heard to retrieve a deer. The Southern Zone firearms season opened Nov. 20, meaning this deer was illegally taken. Officer Carl quickly responded to investigate a nearby residence….
SOUTH-CENTRAL REGION Rock River Team/ October Warden Ryan Mannes, of Horicon, was near the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge when he observed two people in kayaks hunting ducks in the closed refuge. Mannes instructed them to come back shore and made contact. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office issued multiple citations. Warden Mannes was on patrol near Mayville and observed…
District 1 – Baudette area CO Corey Sura (Baudette) spent time checking anglers on Upper Red Lake throughout the week. Much like anglers’ success, the thickness of the ice also varied across the lake. It was reported that an ATV went through the ice on the northeast side of the lake, even though the average thickness of the ice on…
DISTRICT 1 CO Ethen Mapes responded to a search and rescue in the Porcupine Mountains after a hiker signaled for help. The Porcupine Mountains State Park rescue boat was used to transport first responders, park rangers, and CO Mapes to a location on the shoreline of Lake Superior. Rescuers hiked into the subject, who had suffered a heart attack, and…
Division of Wildlife Central Ohio – Wildlife District 1 In October, State wildlife officer Brad Kiger, assigned to Franklin County, attended a tree planting event at Sawmill Wetlands Education Area. The event was organized by the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, an Ohio Division of Wildlife partner. The trees were purchased by Accenture, and Del-Co Water helped transport the…
SOUTHWEST REGION From the Game Commission Allegheny County Game Warden Douglas Bergman reports charges were filed against an individual from Hazelwood for hunting during the archery deer season without first securing the archery privilege required to do so. Hunters are reminded to please make sure they have all the required licenses and permits needed before going afield. Allegheny County Game…
District 1 – Baudette area CO Ben Huener (Roseau) completed some cases from the firearms deer season. Complaints also were investigated from the archery and muzzleloader deer seasons. Huener responded to a call about two large bucks south of Badger whose anglers were stuck together. One of the deer had injuries to its head and was almost dead upon arrival….
Northwest Zone – Captain Laura Petreikis In Whiteside County, CPO Swanson received a call about an injured fox in a backyard. The young fox was transported to Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehab and is being treated for a broken front leg and mange. In Boone County, CPO Swanson was conducting fishing compliance checks in Belvidere when she spoke to a juvenile…
Hunter Perishes While Dragging Buck (St. Lawrence County) On Nov. 2 at 8:36 p.m., a woman called Ray Brook Dispatch to report her husband overdue from hunting on the western side of Tupper Lake in the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest. Forest Rangers, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), NYSP, and volunteers were part of the search team. On Nov. 3, Rangers…
SOUTH-CENTRAL REGION Dodgeville Team/September Warden Mike Burns, of Iowa County, stopped a UTV rider near Gratiot driving faster than the speed limit, operating in the oncoming lane and operating without valid registration. Burns took enforcement action against the operator for operating while intoxicated. Dodgeville Team/October Warden Burns was patrolling near the Yellowstone Lake dam when he contacted a man who…
District 1 – Baudette area CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked deer hunters throughout a slow second week of the firearms deer season. Violations encountered included shooting from a vehicle at deer, transporting an illegally taken big-game animal, trespassing, and transporting a loaded firearm. CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) continued monitoring area firearms deer hunters during the final weekend of…
DISTRICT 1 CO Zach Painter, while working a complaint late at night in Gogebic County, had an unrelated vehicle pull up, stop, and roll down their window to talk. CO Painter spoke to the operator of the vehicle, who said he was just out driving around trying to clear his head. While talking with the subject, CO Painter noticed several…
SOUTHWEST REGION From the Game Commission Allegheny County Game Warden Douglas Bergman reports charges were filed against an individual from Hazelwood for hunting during the archery deer season without first securing the archery privilege required to do so. Hunters are reminded to please make sure they have all the required licenses and permits needed before going afield. Allegheny County Game…
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