DNR conservation officer report - July 9

District 9 - Brainerd area

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked ATV, angling, boating, and AIS activity during the week. An advanced Forkhorn class was addressed at Long Lake Conservation Center. An AIS road check was also worked.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd #2) worked a busy holiday week. Numerous boaters were contacted on area lakes and safety equipment and license violations were detected. Officer Guida worked with neighboring Officer McGowen as part of Operation Dry Water. The officers worked a fireworks detail on the Whitefish Chain with an emphasis on impaired boat operation. Numerous boating violations were addressed.

CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) worked area lakes for high boating activity this holiday week and weekend as well as ATV activity. She also handled several issues of wild rice being pulled/destroyed without a permit for dock and swim beaches. CO Ladd responded to an area lake after receiving information that two young adults were operating a jet ski through a flock of geese. She conducted follow up and identified the males. After interviewing them it was discovered one operator drove through the geese then they fell off the PWC. They switched places and the other male then operated the PWC through the geese. No injured geese were located, enforcement action was taken for both operators.

CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reports that he worked on fishing enforcement this past week. The anglers are out and the walleye bite continues to be slow. The pan fish have been most cooperative fish to bite. He worked on aquatic invasive species prevention on Gull Lake. Boating enforcement was also a high priority; violations observed were no lights after sunset gunwale riders, and expired registration. He worked on a report of loud boats on Gull Lake. He worked with neighboring officer Tim Collette on Crosslake to help with boating traffic and light issues during firework show.

CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) primarily focused on boating safety enforcement this week with many contacts made. Enforcement activity included not enough life jackets, youth under 10 without life jackets on, allow riders on boat sides and transoms, load boats, and personal watercraft operation after legal hours. The officer also did a site visit with the local government unit on a property where the landowner had rototilled up aquatic vegetation and then covered it with sand to expand his beach area.

CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) worked a busy boating weekend on Crow Wing County lakes. CO McGowan also patrolled for ATV activity and assisted local law enforcement agencies with calls for service. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating violations.

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports activity this week of patrolling area lakes, the Crow Wing State Forest, and Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area. Issues of nuisance bear, shoreline alteration, and an abandoned sunken boat were handled. Enforcement contacts were made for illegal ATV operation, watercraft registration, and fishing with extra lines.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports working boating and fishing enforcement throughout the week and weekend. ATV traffic was monitored and the Solana State Forest was patrolled for ORV and OHM traffic. A call regarding an AIS violation was investigated and the officer participated in an AIS check station over the weekend. A call of a cow possibly killed by a wolf was investigated and many outdoor law related questions were fielded. Assistance was given to a local agency with several calls for service. Enforcement action for the week included various AIS and fishing violations.

CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) worked an AIS detail on Mille Lacs Lake. She also worked Operation Dry Water. Violations encountered were PWCs operating within 150 ft of docks and boats at a speed greater than slow no wake, fail to display watercraft registration, operate a watercraft with expired registration, no throwable lifesaving devices, no fire extinguishers, no sound producing devices, and no fishing licenses in possession. The most frequent violations observed were paddleboards and kayaks greater than 10 feet in length without registration and without PFDs. Officer Speldrich assisted the Aitkin County Sheriff's Office with a burglary in progress. The suspects were caught and were arrested.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent the week patrolling area lakes and ATV trails and dealing with nuisance animal calls. While approaching one boat, a pair of anglers dropped their rods, sat down in the boat and told CO Grundmeier they were not fishing but just hanging out and enjoying the day. It took an explanation of the fishing activity that was observed through binoculars before the pair admitted to fishing and not bothering to purchase a license. Another angler that was found using multiple lines made the statement, "are you actually going to write me a ticket? It's not like I'm out here poaching huge numbers of fish!"

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) spent the week answering nuisance animal calls and investigated a wolf depredation complaint. He spent time working boating and angling enforcement on area lakes with CO Bret Grundmeier. Violations encountered included no license in possession, registration issues, no angling licenses, and lack of adequate PFD's. Officers also worked OHV activity in the St. Croix State Forest and areas near the Chengwatana State Forest. Violations there included operating OHM's on roadways, operating ATV's without lights on, and lack of safety certificates. One OHM operator was also arrested on outstanding warrants.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) patrolled area state forest and WMA's. Assistance was given to surrounding law enforcement agencies on various call of service ranging from fleeing suspects to DUI's. Time was also spent checking fishermen on area lakes and checking boats for invasive species violations.

District 4 - Walker area

CO Duke Broughten (Longville) spent the week monitoring angling, boating, AIS, and ATV activity. Anglers continue to have poor success. CO Broughten observed a moderate amount of boating traffic, however ATV activity remained high. CO Broughten arrested one ATV operator for DWI. Enforcement action included angling, boating and ATV violations.