Conservation Officer Report | Sports & Recreation | Central MN News

The Minnesota DNR provided the following summaries of recent activities by Conservation Officers:

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended a fur committee meeting in the Brainerd area and also spoke to a local college class about the hiring process and job duties of a conservation officer. Complaints of hunting over bait and trespassing are being looked into in the area. More training continues with K9 Schody.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked waterfowl, OHV, big and small game enforcement. CO Humphrey patrolled local Wildlife Management Areas, Carlton County managed land, and the Ditchbank’s area in the Fond Du Lac State Forest. A report of vandalism to a stand and theft of property on a bear bait station is under investigation. CO Humphrey worked a shining detail with CO Duncan and an 1854 CO resulting in two misdemeanor arrests. CO Humphrey followed up on bear registration and baiting violations. Wolf depredation complaints continued. Assistance from USDA Wildlife services was requested. A nuisance bear complaint was received. Deer baiting complaints are being reported. Big and small game violations were encountered throughout the week.
 
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) handled trespassing complaints, nuisance beaver calls, ATV complaints, and followed up on ongoing investigations.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent some time at Camp Ripley completing annual firearms and defensive tactics training. Station activity included continued monitoring of bear baiting activity, waterfowl hunting, small game hunting and a few archery deer hunters were checked. Burning activity was also monitored due to high fire danger in the area. Fire enforcement included citations and warnings for burning without a permit and burning prohibited material. Time was also spent near Mille Lacs Lake checking boats and trailers for invasive species.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) checked waterfowl and small game hunters during the week and seen limited success. A work detail for invasive species was conducted near Mille Lacs Lake and training was attended at Camp Ripley for fall firearms qualification.

CO Greg Verkuilen (Garrison) worked increasing hunting activity as leaves are starting to come off the trees. Boats and docks are getting taken out for winter but fall fishing is picking up. Verkuilen also assisted with the DNR confiscated materials auction.  

CO Chris Tetrault (Isle) reports increased hunting activity. Small game hunters hunting activity has increased but has not seen as much success. Turkey hunters have not been active this opener as well. Fishing reports on Mille Lacs Lake have been better as the water cools this fall. The officer investigated a report of a potential deer baiting site and a deer that was illegally taken. Hunting law related questions were fielded.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking small and big game hunters over the week and weekend. Some waterfowl hunters were out as well but most were reporting seeing light numbers of birds. The Officer also attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley where rifle, shotgun and handgun qualification was done. Lots of fishing, hunting and Aquatic Invasive Species law questions were fielded throughout the week. The Officer assisted at an Aquatic Invasive Species checkpoint in Malmo Area over the weekend. ATV traffic was monitored throughout the Malmo station over the week. Assistance was given to a neighboring Officer on a TIP complaint of someone taking a deer with a rifle out of season and assistance was also given to the Sheriff’s Office on a call of a property dispute.  Enforcement action for the week included various AIS violations.  

WREO Rob Haberman worked a roadside check with D10 officers near Malmo and Mille Lacs Lake. WREO Haberman also attended the annual aquatic plant management meeting in St. Cloud. WREO Haberman also worked on AIS enforcement and wetland conservation act cases throughout his work area.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked small game, bear, waterfowl and archery deer enforcement during the week. He also attended training.

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reported that activity included investigation of illegal trapping, ATV / dirt bike related trespass and operation complaints. Also, checking waterfowl, bow deer, and small game hunting activity, investigation of license fraud, and serving a restoration order and other work associated with an ongoing case involving a person who dug a channel to lower the water level of an area lake.  

CO Mike Lee (Crosslake) assisted with training at fall in-service held at Camp Ripley. All Officers throughout the state attend per the Minnesota Police Officer Standard and Training requirements.

CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) investigated calls of untagged deer, and deer baiting. Waterfowl activity slowed down considerably, but more grouse hunters are out. ATVs continue to use the Foothills State Forest with violations seen consisting of riders without required safety certificates, operating on public roads, and underage operators without helmets.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) worked migratory waterfowl enforcement. Some complaints of shooting too close to residences are being investigated. Other violations addressed including unsigned stamps and insufficient life jackets. Big game baiting investigations are beginning and hunters are reminded that hunting with the aid of bait is illegal and carries substantial penalties including potential revocation of hunting privileges. Officer Guida also coordinated with a non-profit organization leader to get a community archery program started.

CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) worked on fishing enforcement this last week. The bite is slow. The most cooperative fish have been the bass and sunfish. The walleye bite is getting better. Violations he found were not enough life jackets. He worked on complaints of aquatic vegetation cutting without a permit. He worked with WREO Haberman on AIS violations checking boats at various public accesses. Complaints of vehicles on closed trails in the Pillsbury Forest were investigated and he checked horse passes and camping registrations in the Pillsbury Forest.

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