WEEKLY DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT: Spring fishing, AIS issues etc.

Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwest Minnesota for April 16:

District 1 - Baudette area

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) patrolled area WMAs and presented the law and ethics portion of the Lancaster Firearm Safety Class. Fishing, boating, and invasive species work was conducted on the Rainy River with CO Gorecki and CO Hanson.

CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) worked a detail with CO Traci Hanson on the Rainy River. Equipment repairs and updates were worked on and a fire that got out of control was investigated. Northern pike anglers were doing well on the mouth of the Warroad River. Other anglers were out but the success was only fair. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) checked anglers and boaters on Lake of the Woods and Rainy River for compliance to rules and regulations. Several possible wolf depredations calls were investigated. CO Birchem met with Fisheries and commercial minnow dealers on AIS issues.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) taught the law and ethics portion of the Firearms Safety Class in Oslo and for the ATV Safety Class in Grygla. A wildfire was investigated, anglers were checked in an adjoining vacant station, and a gray wolf depredation was investigated. An interview was conducted on an individual concerning his ice shelter that was left on the ice of Lake of the Woods that sank upon ice break up. Enforcement action for the week included large amount of litter, leave shelter on ice past deadline, transport dressed sauger fillets, and no patch of skin on dressed walleye fillets.

CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) finished equipment maintenance and storage for winter activities. The law and ethics portions of the Firearms Safety Class in Karlstad and Thief River Falls were taught along with assisting at the field day activities in Thief River Falls. The Red Lake and Thief Lake Rivers were checked for angling activity and areas were monitored for fish run activity. Follow up was conducted on illegal wildfires. Boating safety was checked and information was provided on Aquatic Invasive Species. Complaints of illegal ATV activity in WMAs were worked.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) instructed at three Firearms Safety Classes and monitored spring fish run activities. A number of illegal fires were investigated while assigned to the Wildfire Investigative Team.

Blackduck #2 - vacant.

Karlstad - vacant.

Warroad #2 - vacant.

District 2 - Bemidji area

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked boaters, anglers, and leech trappers. AIS inspections were done on water related equipment. A trespass complaint resulted in a property dispute, stolen snares were recovered, and calls about two drained WMAs were investigated. Anglers are confused over the fishing opener, and questions about AIS laws were answered.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) checked ATVs, leech trappers, and anglers. Complaints of ATVs operating in a closed area, and calls regarding dead eagles were investigated.

CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) monitored spring fish movement, angling activity, and ATVs in the state forests. Boaters were checked and AIS boat decals distributed. Wildfire Arson Team duties were done.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports the sucker run is slowing, and anglers are reporting cold water temperatures and a slow panfish bite. Vinton, other Conservation Officers, and ECO-Waters Staff spoke at a public meeting in Vergas about AIS laws and local AIS impacts. Vinton also attended the EOT MDHA Chapter Banquet and answered questions. Vinton worked with officers from the Idaho Fish and Game Department on a big game case.

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) continues to investigate a case involving two juveniles shooting a variety of animals this spring. A complaint of a person shooting a pheasant was also investigated. Anglers and boaters were checked, and AIS boat decals and other AIS information distributed. Seefeldt spoke to the Glyndon Firearms Safety Class about laws, safety, and shooting ethics.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) focused enforcement efforts on illegal fires/burning, angling, boating, and garbage dumped on public accesses and public lands. Stattelman assisted with instruction at the Conservation Officer Academy.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted with instruction at the Conservation Officer Academy, and monitored fish run.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) checked anglers and boaters. AIS is a hot topic in both groups. A trapping complaint was investigated.

Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson (Northwest Region) attended the public meeting in Vergas on AIS issues. Hanson participated in the career day at Detroit Lakes High School. A public waters alteration complaint in Norman County was investigated. AIS and Boat & Water enforcement done on Rainy River.

Crookston - vacant.

Natural resources pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) flew wetland photo missions for Forestry Assessment and conducted training flights. Heineman also prepared the helicopters for the upcoming statewide goose survey.