DNR conservation officers' report: Sturgeon angling, Monitoring fire activity etc.

Here's the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwestern Minnesota for May 3:

District 1 - Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent investigating two arson cases in Roseau and Kittson counties. Area OHM (off-highway motorcycle) activity and ORV (off-road vehicle) activity was monitored.

CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) spent time monitoring a dredging project, working on a wetlands filling issue and equipment maintenance.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Sturgeon anglers were checked on the Rainy River with success appearing to be somewhat down. Fire, burning prohibited material, and litter cases were followed up on. ATV activity was monitored.

CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) monitored fire activity and investigated illegal burning. The law and ethics portion of a local Firearms Safety Class was taught and a meeting for the Lake Bronson Gateway Initiative was attended. CO Warren investigated a possible gray wolf depredation. Area public accesses and WMAs were monitored for activity.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) worked on the Wildfire Investigation Team in the northwest part of the state. ATV trails were monitored and minnow dealers were checked. Complaints of illegal fishing were checked, and solid waste dumping complaints were investigated.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck) attended yearly training at Camp Ripley. ATV complaints were handled.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) attended training at Camp Ripley throughout the week. Training ranged from use of force to first aid. Anglers are reporting fair sturgeon fishing with many sturgeon being caught within the slot. Several complaints of anglers snagging sturgeon as they ran up low streams were also investigated. Violations encountered throughout the week included angling, fire and ATV violations.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.

District 2 - Bemidji area

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) received informational calls on various laws/regulations, a nuisance black bear and a black panther. Panfish anglers are having some success on area lakes. The officer spoke to a Firearms Safety Class about laws, safety and ethics. He also participated in an interview with a regional newspaper regarding deer ticks.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) responded to complaints of illegal leech trapping, trespass, burning, a captured live deer and a crash involving a DOT truck. The investigation of a swan that was shot from a motor vehicle continues. He attended in-service training at Camp Ripley.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked anglers and ATV riders. The officer assisted with instruction during the in-service training at Camp Ripley.

CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) continues to investigate wild fires with other members of the arson team. ATV activity in the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest was monitored. Spearing of suckers in area rivers and streams has begun. Anglers report low numbers of fish. The officer spoke to a Firearms Safety Class about laws, safety and ethics.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) investigated complaints of sucker spearing before spearing was allowed. Anglers and ATVers were checked. The officer had a high school student ride along, observing conservation officer duties.

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) reports angler success has slowed. The officer spoke to the Barnesville Firearms Safety class about laws, safety, and ethics. He also spoke to a NDSU class about angling laws and enforcement. A meeting about a wetland alteration violation in Clay County was attended.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) attended the U.S. Coast Guard Watercraft Safety Course.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) continues to investigate a deer case from 2009; public waters alteration and trespass complaints were also investigated. The in-service training at Camp Ripley was attended.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) monitored angling and minnow seining in zebra mussel-infested waters. Shoreline altering and altering the course of public waters issues were investigated. The officer assisted with the field day of the Pelican Rapids Firearms Safety class.

Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson attended the Technical Advisory Committee meeting in Polk County, a wetland violation meeting in Clay County and investigated WCA violation cases in Beltrami, Becker, Ottertail and Kittson counties. Invasive species work planning was also done.

NR Pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) flew two days of helicopter moose/calf surveys checking on last year's calves and will start checking radio-collared cows for new calves later on in May. Pilot Heineman also flew timber wolf telemetry and pilot training in the airplane.