Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwest Minnesota for April 29:
District 1 - Baudette area
CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) patrolled for ATV activity. Area waterways were monitored in regards to flood potential. Law and ethics portion of firearms safety classes were taught in Newfolden and Thief River Falls with a question and answer session with parents. Follow up with Firearms Safety Instructors on safety procedures were conducted. Area WMAs were patrolled for activity.
CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) checked area anglers, checked spring trapping activities, and monitored ATV activity. The field day for the Blackduck and Kelliher classes was completed. CO Backer received a report of stolen traps
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) investigated a TIP report and assisted the Kelliher Firearms Safety instructors with the youth FAS Field Day. Assistance was provided to the sheriff's office with a report of an injured deer. A number of reports were taken of nuisance bears getting into bird feeders as they begin to emerge from their winter slumber. Time was also spent on flood preparation for the seasonal transition.
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Karlstad - vacant.
Warroad #1 - vacant.
Warroad #2 - vacant.
District 2 - Bemidji area
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports speaking at an ATV and a firearms safety class. Time was also spent checking ice anglers on local lakes. ATV operators were also checked.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) worked angling activity. He also had a call about a moose and a request for more deer crossing signs on a state highway since the avid hunter thought too many were getting killed on the road.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) monitored angling activity on area lakes. The bite is spotty with most people targeting perch. CO Vollbrecht and CO Holt removed two fish houses from area lakes. CO Vollbrecht worked at boat and water detail on the Rainy River with CO McGowan during the spring sturgeon season. Anglers enjoyed the sun and warm temperatures. Several boats were checked during the detail. Numerous boating and angling violations were observed.
CO Brian Holt (Bemidji) assisted with removing several ice houses that were still out on lakes and checked on ATV activity in the area. A complaint was received of an individual skinning a deer in his back yard. Upon further investigation it was discovered the animal in question was a pig, not a deer. CO Holt also met with staff from Itasca State Park and discussed the upcoming summer activities in the park.
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CO Chris Vinton (Detroit Lakes) reports investigating several calls of dogs chasing deer. Dog owners should be reminded that allowing dogs to run loose exposes them to risks and the owners to civil penalties. Turkey hunters are finding modest success as the warm weather has opened up some of the snow. Ice anglers are reporting 30 inches of ice but soft ice on top as the shoreline areas begin to open. A firearms safety class was attended in Detroit Lakes. A swan was possibly shot between Perham and New York Mills. Anyone with information is encouraged to call TIP at 800-652-9093.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) followed up on complaints of anglers taking walleyes early on the Buffalo River. He also followed up on complaints of unlawful operation of ATVs by juveniles. Flood waters continue to rise on the Red River and moderately on the Buffalo River. CO Seefeldt attended the Felton youth firearms safety class to talk about game laws. Several calls were taken regarding sick or injured deer.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) monitored spring fish run. Enforcement action was taken for possession of dip net in public waters during spawn. Panfish bite has picked up significantly and several over-limit complaints were investigated. Enforcement action also taken for shelters left on the ice and access.
CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking fishermen and turkey hunters. Ice is starting to pull away from shore on some lakes making access difficult. Turkey hunters have had mixed success. Some snow geese showing up in the area. He also worked on dogs chasing deer, followed up on litter left on lakes from fish houses and investigated complaint of straw dumped on the ice of an area lake. CO Forsberg also disposed of sick deer from complainant.
Wetland Resources Enforcement Officer Joe Stattelman spent the week working on AIS and WCA issues. A training class was given to the Becker County SO regarding AIS enforcement. Time was spent completing assignments for an upcoming training. Several possible WCA violation sites were inspected. Equipment was moved to Barnesville for flood prep. Some fishing and fish run activity was checked in the area.
Perham - vacant.
Natural Resources Pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) helped station aircraft for upcoming projects and flew a helicopter maintenance flight. Heineman also worked on helicopter evaluations.
