WEEKLY DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT: Ice house removal, Drugs in the fish house etc.

Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwest Minnesota for March 17:

District 1 - Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked area anglers and snowmobilers. Fishing success remains slow and fish house removal has begun on Lake of the Woods. Some anglers are facing some rough conditions getting their houses off the lake. He made a law and ethics presentation to the Roseau Firearms Safety Class. CO Huener attended the public information meeting in Greenbush regarding the elk herds. He also assisted a neighboring CO with a drug investigation on LOW. Violations for the week include angling with extra lines, possessing illegal length walleyes and pike, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, and operating an unregistered snowmobile.

  CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) responded to calls of dogs chasing and killing a deer and a deceased bobcat. He also investigated litter issues left by anglers removing ice shelters, although anglers did seem to be more conscientious about what they left behind this year in the Thief River Falls area. Enforcement action was taken for litter and allowing a dog to chase and kill deer.

CO Angela Warren (Thief River Falls) monitored ice house removal from area waters. She worked area snowmobile trails, which continued to degrade due to some warmer days. CO Warren also taught the law and ethics portion of a snowmobile safety class in Middle River and assisted a motorist who had run into the ditch.

CO Demo Regas (Blackduck) checked anglers and monitored fish house removal progress on Upper Red Lake and special regulation lakes. He also investigated TIP calls and spent time making preparations for the upcoming Firearms Safety Classes in Blackduck and Kelliher. Enforcement action was taken for fishing violations.

CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) monitored fishing and snowmobiling activity throughout the week, most of the time on Lake of the Woods. While checking anglers on Lake of the Woods he checked one fish house and observed through a window an angler reel up an extra line. When the anglers inside eventually opened the door, CO Gorecki detected a strong odor of marijuana. After subsequent questioning and search, he seized a significant amount of various narcotics, cash, and other contraband. Charges are pending on three individuals, including one for felony possession. Other enforcement action taken during the week include angling without a license, illegal length walleye, extra lines and snowmobile registration violations.

Baudette -vacant.

Blackduck #2 - vacant.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #1 - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.

District 2 - Bemidji area

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending airboat training in Winona. Time was also spent checking ice anglers. Few fish houses remain on area lakes. Commercial taxidermy inspections were completed and a road-kill fisher was seized.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) assisted other agencies, investigated a trespass and conducted a taxidermy inspection. He also removed a dumped coyote from a road edge, and monitored snowmobiles, angling and shelter removal. On the way to teach laws & ethics at a snowmobile safety class a large moose crossed the road in front of the officer adding some variety to the week.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked anglers, marked shelters and returned calls for service.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) monitored angling activity and the progression of fish house removal. CO Vollbrecht attended airboat training in Winona and taught a snowmobile safety class. Snowmobile trails in the area were patrolled.

CO Brian Holt (Bemidji) monitored ice house removal, angling activity and area trapping activity. Time was spent patrolling snowmobile trails. CO Holt also assisted CO Vollbrecht with a snowmobile safety class.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports attending airboat operator training in Winona and monitoring fish house removal in the vacant Detroit Lakes station. Most shelters had been removed. A TIP of possible sunfish over limit is under investigation. CO Vinton received a call from the Detroit Lakes PD on deer heads dumped in town. Anyone with information please contact TIP or CO Vinton directly.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) worked two fishing TIPs of possible over limits. Shelter removal was monitored and miscellaneous wildlife calls and season/law questions were handled.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking fishermen, working on fishing tips and talked at the Rothsay firearms safety class about laws and ethics

Moorhead - vacant.

Detroit Lakes - vacant.