CO (Conservation Officer) Chad Thesing (Albany) reported muzzleloader deer hunting activity was low, but assistance was provided to the Sheriff’s Office when a deer drive resulted in a hunter’s slug entering the home of a residence through a window and passing through their television. Nobody was injured in the incident. CO Thesing continued field training with COC (Conservation Officer Candidate) Peterlin. Thesing and Peterlin are seeing a few area lakes starting to freeze over. Enforcement action for the week included fail to register deer as required and failure to display ATV registration.

CO Stephen Westby (Little Falls) worked area lakes and rivers for hunting and angling activities. Ice has started forming on many lakes and located early anglers. Please use extreme caution as warmer weather is in the future and many of the lakes have open water still. TIP report of deer dumped near Blanchard dam with little to no meat taken. Please contact Officer Westby or the TIP line with any information.

CO Tou Vang (Pierz) worked on open wetlands cases, followed up on deer cases, investigated various hunting related equipment left in WMAs, monitored ATV activity, and checked waterfowl and bow hunters. Enforcement action was taken for failure to register deer as required.

CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) spent time during the week following up on deer season cases. Calls regarding car killed wildlife were fielded. The busy holiday weekend was worked with many folks out seen enjoying the resources in one facet or another. ATV violations were addressed while on patrol and assistance was provided on a shooting call in the Paynesville station.

CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) completed vehicle maintenance and administrative tasks this week. The officer worked trapping, waterfowl, fishing, pheasant hunting and deer hunting activity this week. The officer also assisted the county sheriff’s office with an investigation involving a house that was shot by a muzzleloader hunter.

CO Trent Anderson (St. Cloud) focused on hunting enforcement for the week. Time was spent handling wildlife related calls. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms. Hunters are reminded to have an appropriate area to dispose of deer carcasses; dumping carcasses along road right of ways or on private property without permission is unlawful and makes a poor representation of the sport.

CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) spent the week checking hunters and trappers. Ice is covering some smaller lakes, but the bigger ones are still open. A road hunting complaint was handled.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) received several complaints regarding dumped deer and waterfowl carcasses around the area. These unfortunate instances reflect poorly on hunters and are not tolerated. Officer Goodman asks everyone to properly dispose of their waste and report those who dump theirs in ditches and public accesses. Additional time was spent monitoring the end of northern waterfowl season and beginning of muzzleloader deer season. The recent cold snap also brought out the first ice anglers of the season.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week following up on cases from the deer season. CO Swedberg also completed other reports from cases he assisted the county with and prepared for an upcoming court case.

CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for ATV, small game, and waterfowl hunting activity. Violations this week included no HIP certification while waterfowl hunting and a duck hunter operating a duck boat without a life jacket.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled for waterfowl and big game hunting activity in Cass and Hubbard counties. CO McGowan continues to train a new conservation officer from the last academy. Waterfowl season has come to an end. Numerous violations were encountered over the week.

CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) – Reports a cold and blustery start to the muzzleloader season. He attended K9 training at Camp Ripley and conducted equipment maintenance and prepped watercraft for winter. He reports seeing some early anglers out on the ice and would like to warn people to ensure their safety and the safety of others by being aware of changing ice conditions with heavy winds shifting the ice.

CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) found opening weekend of the Muzzleloader Deer season to be very uneventful. A couple ice fishermen were encountered who took their chances on a potential polar plunge to start the ice fishing season. A few of the area lakes froze over around Thanksgiving Day, but open water was still seen on some at the end of the weekend. Travel at your own risk.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) worked a rather quiet weekend with some small game hunters and muzzleloader and archery deer hunters checked. Large lakes are on the verge of freezing and some small lakes have ice. Extra caution is always advised as ice thickness varies and ice sheets freeze at different times. An injured eagle complaint was taken and work continues on gun deer season cases.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) received information and began investigation on a fishing violation. A potential deer hunting violation was also followed up on. One individual was cited for littering at a hunter walking trail parking area.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checking hunting and trapping activity. She responded to an accidental fisher caught, and a damaged ice house that was left in the roadway.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) continued field training with COC Jamus Veit and worked opening weekend of muzzleloader. Officers observed ice forming on area lakes and want to remind the public to use caution when traveling out onto thin ice. Enforcement action was taken for operating ATV during closed hours.

CO Tony Flerlage (Crosby) saw the end of the firearms deer season and the beginning of muzzleloader season. Both saw low number of hunters. Grouse hunting picked up again, with plenty of birds still being seen.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Pine River) spent his time patrolling for big game and waterfowl activity. He checked few waterfowl hunters as the duck season came to a close. A few muzzleloader hunters were seen braving the snow and cold. Ladzinski followed up with complaints of deer left hanging for multiple weeks and reports of late shooting after the firearms season had ended. Enforcement action was taken for federal duck stamp violations, failing to register deer, untagged deer, tags not validated, and ATV registration.

CO Victoria Griffith (Isle) followed up on ongoing cases in the area. Angling, muzzleloader, small game, and trapping activities were monitored. A reminder to keep cold water and ice safety in mind as the temperatures keep dropping.

CO Nate Benkofske (McGregor) checked small game hunters and anglers. Follow up investigations were completed for deer hunting violations. Reports of dogs chasing deer were investigated.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked trapping, small game hunting, and the muzzleloader season opener. Trespass issues continued to come up after the close of the firearms deer season. Trail camera pictures confirmed a bull elk near Milaca. Two days later the bull was seen 15 miles to the northwest. It was uncertain where the animal came from, but either way, members of the public cannot shoot the animal just for passing through an area.

CO Ryan Hanna (Milaca) has been watching area bodies of water in much anticipation of the upcoming ice season. Reminder about new laws in regards to trash on the ice and how it needs to be contained. Please review prior to the ice season.

CO Adam Stennett (Sauk Rapids) followed up on cases related to deer hunting violations during the firearms deer season. The end of the waterfowl season proved to be slow but hunters were checked afield. The muzzleloader deer hunting opener was also worked.