MANKATO —

 DISTRICT 15 MARSHALL AREA

CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) worked a saturation detail with neighboring officers patrolling a coyote tournament. Overall, the violation rate was very low. There were a couple violations of shooting from a motor vehicle and transporting a loaded firearm. Event organizers said that they stressed following the rules and laws which helped with enforcement efforts. Extra attention has been given to complaints of snowmobile trespassing. 

CO Doug Lage (Marshall) reports assisting a DNR Wildlife manager with pheasant feeding. Deep snow has created a sharp increase in snowmobile enforcement activity compared to recent years.

CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) spent the week working fishing, snowmobile and coyote hunting enforcement. Another blizzard that dumped another 6-10 inches of snow along with 40 mph winds made for a tough week for outdoorsmen. Assistance was given with placing and refilling pheasant feeders. A special thanks goes out to all those people that have spent time placing feeders and spreading corn for the pheasants.

CO Craig Miska (Ortonville) spent time patrolling the local snowmobile trails. Recent snowfall and the local snowmobile club, have the trails in good condition in the Ortonville area. Fishing and predator hunting activity were also monitored, with fishing action being slow. A snowmobile safety course was taught in Ortonville. Infractions for the week: no fishing license in possession, no identification on fish house. 

CO Gary Nordseth (Worthington) focused on snowmobile enforcement and predator hunters.   On one of the evenings where the temperature fell to the -20 F range, the officer discovered an individual walking down a rural highway without adequate clothing. The individual was in extreme pain due to frostbite. The officer transported the individual to a local hospital where they were treated.

CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the week checking hunters and anglers and patrolling snowmobiles. A snowmobile was reported to have gone through the ice on Lake Shetek. An instructor certification training program was completed. Enforcement action was taken for operate snowmobile on inside shoulder of highway, speeding, no snowmobile safety certification, and license/registration violations.

CO Neil Henriksen (Benson) reports enforcement time was sent checking hunters, snowmobilers, and fishermen. The cold kept snowmobiling and fishing activity lower than normal. Questions and concerns of the public about feeding of pheasants was the number one topic of the week. Several illegal deer hunting investigations continue.

Madison - vacant.

Redwood Falls - vacant.

District 16 - New Ulm area

CO Jim Steffen (Willmar) spent the week checking snowmobiles, ATVs and fishermen. Time was also spent on snowmobile checking ice fishermen. The fishing has been slow and lake conditions are tough for vehicle travel. Fishing has been slow for the most part with a few walleyes being caught. Fishing pressure is still heavy.

CO Angela Graham (Hutchinson) checked anglers, trappers/hunters, snowmobiles, and spoke at a Snowmobile Safety Class. Officer Graham also assisted with a call that came in of a downed airplane, turned out that the pilot/co-pilot had to perform an emergency landing in a field and everyone was unharmed. A predator hunt in Renville County was also worked with several other officers, and resulted in various citations and warnings being given.

CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) monitored angling activity. Shelter identification and permits are common violations. Snowmobile activity continues to be strong. Recent severe weather put a damper on numerous days of recreational activity. Reports of fish over-limits were investigated.

CO Mike Gruhlke (Jackson) completed his radio program with KKOJ/KRAQ discussing topics including snowmobile safety and ice fishing.  Officer Gruhlke also worked snowmobile activity in the Jackson and Cottonwood county areas. More sleds began to appear on Sunday when the temperatures began to become more reasonable. The Des Moines River hosted most of the activity.  Gruhlke also worked ice fishing activity too. 

CO Wayne Hatlestad (Litchfield) checked angling and spearing activity. Additional time was spent checking snowmobile and ATV activity. Hatlestad also checked predator hunting activity, and spoke at a snowmobile safety class in Cedar Mills.

CO Jeff Denz (Willmar) received and followed up on multiple complaints involving predator hunters shooting from motor vehicles/snowmobiles, chasing wild animals with a motor vehicle/snowmobile, trespassing, and shooting within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling or livestock.  Enforcement action was also taken on transporting loaded firearms, operate snowmobile with expired registration, without a safety certificate, and angle with extra lines.  One arrest was made for operating an ATV while intoxicated.

CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) worked mostly snowmobile enforcement this past week.  Fishing has been slow in the area. CO Oberg and CO Graham responded to a call of a downed aircraft in McLeod County. Fortunately the pilots of the plane were both instructors and were practicing emergency landings; the plane was landed successfully without damage.  Officer Oberg also spent time checking predator hunters during the week.

CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) reports working on shooting from motor vehicle cases, meeting with a county attorney regarding deer cases from the past season, assisting District 17 officers with snowmobile enforcement work crew, and finding a lot of trail sticker violations along with registration and speed violations.

Windom - vacant.

District 17 - Mankato area

CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) worked area lakes checking ice anglers. Many anglers are reporting that the pan fish bite is picking up. Snowmobile trail activity continues to be steady as the trails are in excellent shape. Administrative duties were also attended to.

CO Brent Ihnen (Waseca) patrolled his station checking fishermen and snowmobile operators. Officer Ihnen also checked predator hunters. Several issues were dealt with including various registration issues and angling violations.

CO Tom Hutchins (Albert Lea) reports spending most of the week checking ice anglers and snowmobile operators. Time was also spent checking area state parks, public water access sites, and aeration systems. Predator hunters were also checked. Violations included no angling license, leave fish house at public water access site, and various snowmobile violations.

CO Julie Siems (Faribault) worked mostly angling and snowmobile enforcement. Taxidermy and aeration inspections were also completed.  Violations included no snowmobile registration, no safety certificate, no state trail sticker, speed, no shelter ID and unregistered turkey. 

CO Phil George (Mantorville) taught the laws and ethics portion of a firearms safety class.  He checked a coyote hunter that had a fox in the truck and no small game license and a loaded firearm.  He also assisted with a couple of work details in LeSueur County and Nicollet County that focused on snowmobile activity.

CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) spent much of the week on snowmobile enforcement. Angling, small game, and predator hunting activity were also monitored. Snowmobile trail conditions are as good as they have been in recent memory. Lots of snowmobile activity, in spite of last week’s cold weather. Two snowmobile enforcement work details were conducted in the St. Peter station. Numerous contacts were made, with enforcement action taken for a variety of snowmobile offenses, including safety certificate, speed, registration, and trail permit violations.

CO Bob Geving (Mankato) worked angling, snowmobiling and predator hunting activities.  Geving also conducted flights for a turkey survey and predator hunting detail. Enforcement actions included angling license not in possession, unmarked fish shelter, and snowmobile registration. 

Spring Valley - vacant.

District 18 - Rochester area

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports many injured wildlife complaints being received.  Most calls are deer with bad legs hanging around houses.  Snowmobile trails in the area are in good shape.  Hemker assisted on Lake of the Woods and found good compliance.  Violations found included use extra lines, take over limits of fish, unattended lines, along with various snowmobile violations. 

CO Dan Mc Broom (Rochester) spent the week on fishing, snowmobiling, predator hunting, and dogs chasing deer complaints. Fishing on area reservoirs has been slow. Snowmobilers are out in good numbers and enjoying the good trail conditions. Dogs chasing deer complaints are increasing. Dog owners are reminded that they are responsible for keeping their dogs under control and if the dog is caught chasing deer they may be destroyed, so please keep your dogs at home.

CO Joel Heyn (Plainview) worked anglers and snowmobiles during the week. Some anglers were doing very well on bluegills. Heyn also followed up on a deer case, and when he found the individual, the man was arrested on the 3 outstanding warrants. 

CO Tyler Quandt (Red Wing) reports spending most of the week checking fishing activity.  Time was also spent working on snowmobile activity and a deer case from the deer season.  Some fishing violations were detected.       

CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports checking snowmobile complaint areas, trespass being the most common complaint. A few injured deer calls are coming in and being dealt with.  Time was also spent checking coyote hunters and a few rabbit hunters.

CO Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) reports working ice fishermen and snowmobiles this past week and weekend. The area trails are in very good shape and were very busy over the weekend.  The bite has slowed a bit since first ice, but those with patience are still picking up a few fish.

CO Scott Moran(Wabasha) reports attending a meeting to discuss deer season results ideas for next year. A snowmobile safety class was attended in Wabasha to teach regulations. Ice conditions are good but fishing is a little slow. Snowmobilers are enjoying fair snow conditions for this part of the state.

CO Scott Fritz (La Crescent) reports snowmobile trails are in good shape. Fishing improved this past week. In the back channels there’s about 18 inches of ice. Sauger, northern, bluegill and crappie were being caught. He finished up on deer cases from this past fall. Enforcement included no angling license in possession, no Id on fish shelter, and expired registration on an ATV.