DNR conservation officers' report: ATV enforcement; dead calf cases, etc.

Here's the weekly report from DNR conservation officers in northwestern Minnesota for May 4:

District 1 - Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) worked ATV enforcement and had repairs done on state equipment early in the week. Huener assisted with a Trapping Certification Class in Roseau. In-service training was attended at Camp Ripley. Two new cases involving dead calves were investigated.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) spent time at Camp Ripley for annual training. Anglers on the Rainy River were checked as well as people trying to spear rough fish. CO Birchem followed up on local fire investigations.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) taught the law and ethics portion of Firearms Safety Classes in Newfolden and East Grand Forks. He also assisted with range day for the Warren Firearms Safety Class. CO Woinarowicz continued to monitor fishing activity and saw an increase in the number of people using bows and spears attempting to harvest suckers in area ditches. Multiple groups of ATV riders were cited for operation of ATVs off trail in a WMA and registration violations. Other enforcement action included angle without license, over limit of crappie, angle with unattended line, and allow illegal operation of ATV by juvenile.

CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) checked areas for fish run activity. Wildlife management areas were patrolled and monitored for activity. Officer Warren also attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Plans were made for local firearm safety classes. A complaint of individuals shooting from a roadway was received.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) checked area spearing activity and monitored closed spawning areas. A complaint on a timber wolf was received. Equipment maintenance was performed on ATV and boats. Enforcement action for the week included license violations.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent monitoring area creeks and ditches. The high water and cold temperatures has made it difficult for people to see and catch suckers. Vehicle maintenance was performed on station equipment in preparation for the opening weekend of fishing.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. An investigation is still ongoing for two falcons being shot in the past week in the same area. Fishing continues to be fair on Lake of the Woods for sturgeon. The ice is now off of Red Lake. ATV activity was monitored and fire investigations were completed.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.

District 2 - Bemidji area

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) checked anglers and observed several limits of crappies. Informational calls regarding fishing, ATVs, and permits to cut firewood on state lands were handled.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) assisted the sheriff's department with a call. The officer responded to complaints involving leeching, fires, angling, boating, and OHMs. Sucker anglers, spearers, and netters are having success. One crew had over 150 fish. The officer attended the in-service training at Camp Ripley.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) assisted with the in-service training at Camp Ripley. Minnow and leech trappers were checked. The officer assisted with the Firearm Safety Class and Range Day in Bagley.

CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) checked anglers and monitored spring fish spawning activity. Anglers are having some success taking panfish and spearing suckers. The officer spoke to the Bagley Firearm Safety Class regarding laws, safety, and ethics. Area trails were monitored for ATV activity. Several beaver depredation and illegal fire complaints were investigated.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports that the area lakes are finally ice free. Panfish activity is increasing. One group of sucker spearers were asked to raise their hand if they were skipping school, everyone raised their hand. A TIP call of a large walleye shot with an arrow was investigated, at this time no evidence was found. A wolf depredation complaint was investigated and federal trappers were called to the area. The officer attended a lake association meeting and spoke to a Firearm Safety Class about laws, safety, and ethics.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) assisted with the in-service training at Camp Ripley. Fish run and angling activity was monitored. Two nonresident anglers were observed catching northern pike. When approached, the two said they came to the Detroit Lakes area for the fishing opener. They didn't realize the opener was the following weekend or that they needed a Minnesota Angling License. The officer witnessed what he believed to be a drug deal. The sheriff's department was contacted and the following stop resulted in the arrest of two men for felony possession of narcotics and other related felony drug charges. The officer assisted neighboring officers with an illegal fish taking TIP call. While on the way home after the detail, the officer came across a car, ATV and OHM (off-highway motorcycle) in the road ditch. The vehicle had been involved in a crash. One person had a broken leg and head injuries. Charges for DWI are pending on all three.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) checked anglers and sucker spearers. The officer assisted neighboring officers with a fish run TIP call and a car, ATV, OHM crash. A dogs chasing deer complaint was investigated. The officer attended the in-service training at Camp Ripley.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) monitored angling, fish run, and turkey hunting activity. Crappie fishing success is increasing as the water warms up.