MN: Hunting Violations

November 15, 2010

DNR Conservation Officers' report: Moose poaching, Deer season enforcement etc.

Here is the weekly report from Department of Natural Resources conservation officers in northwestern Minnesota for Nov. 15:

District 1 - Baudette area CO Ben Huener (Roseau) continued checking deer hunters in Roseau, Marshall and Kittson counties. Duck hunting and trapping activity were also monitored. Many complaints have been received regarding road hunting. Road hunting has led to enforcement action for shooting from the roadway, transporting loaded firearms, trespass, and hunting/driving while intoxicated.

CO Larry Milbridge (Warroad) worked deer season activity and waterfowl hunting activity. Trespass complaints were investigated. Enforcement action for the week included big game violations.

CO Jeff Birchem (Baudette) followed up on a number of investigations from the start of deer season. A number of wetland violations were found over the week and a gravel theft is being investigated. Enforcement action taken for transporting loaded firearms.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) is investigating the senseless shooting and leaving of a healthy adult cow moose in the High Landing area of Pennington County. The shooting took place during the night of Saturday, November 13. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Turn In Poachers at (800) 652-9093. CO Woinarowicz also encountered an individual operating his ATV on public land in the closed hours during deer season. The subject was transporting his firearm loaded and after a brief interview it was learned that he had shot a 6-point buck on opening day. His unused resident firearms deer tag was still in his possession and he had not party hunted. An investigation revealed that he had shot the deer thinking it was larger, but then decided that deer was not big enough to use his tag. The hunter then transported the deer untagged home where he processed and packaged the deer. When CO Woinarowicz made contact with him, the man was on his way back to the same stand to find a deer "worthy" of his deer tag. His firearm and the processed deer were seized and multiple charges are pending. Other enforcement action for the week included shoot from roadway at big game, recreational trespass and pursue big game animal with motor vehicle.

CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) checked firearm deer season hunters and activity. Hunters reported some success with most parties at deer camps. Follow up on an ongoing recreational trespass case was conducted. Complaints of shooting from roadways and trespass were received. TIP complaints were numerous with investigations ongoing. Enforcement action included tagging and registration issues, shooting from roadways, and burning prohibited materials.

CO Keith Backer (Blackduck) continued working deer season activity. Complaints of late shooting, hunter harassment and shooting from the roadway were investigated. Trapping activity was checked and a complaint of trap theft was received. Those hunting late season ducks are finding little competition with other hunters. Enforcement activity for the week included transport loaded firearms.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck) monitored firearms deer hunting activity throughout the week. Hunting pressure appeared low throughout the week with hunters seeing more deer during the weekend. CO Vollbrecht responded to ATV, trespass and litter complaints. Hunters are reminded to properly dispose of deer carcasses after processing the animal.

...

CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) reports the firearm deer season continues to be about average. Complaints of trespass, shooting from the road, and late shooting were investigated. Duck numbers in the area are very low. The officer assisted a stranded motorist.

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) had college law enforcement students doing a job shadow during the final days of the firearm deer season. Deer and waterfowl hunters were checked. One hunter shot a buck deer with its antlers locked together with another deer. The second deer had been dead for some time. A cow moose was shot during the night hours and left in a field.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) checked deer hunters, waterfowl hunters and trappers. Complaints of deer baiting, trespass, shining and hunter harassment were investigated.

CO Stacey Sharp (Bemidji) reports deer hunters were met by wintery type weather, including snow. Hunters are still reporting seeing fewer deer than previous years, and the harvest seems to reflect that. Complaints of trespass, deer baiting, shooting from the road and operating ATVs during closed hours were investigated.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports fewer firearm deer hunters out and fewer deer taken during the second weekend of the deer season. The officer assisted local law enforcement with two hunting-related accidents. The first was an elderly man that fell from an elevated stand. The second was a hunter fatality. The hunter was reported missing when he didn't return Saturday evening. Searchers found the hunter's body Sunday afternoon. The officer spoke to the New York Mills Lions Club regarding the deer season. A college intern started his internship by riding with the officer. Violations detected: operate ATV on the road, fail to tag deer, fail to validate deer tag and shooting from the road.

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) reports a slower week for firearm deer hunters. The deer were holding tighter in cover and not moving much. Trespass and shooting from the road complaints were investigated. A report of a dead bull moose in a wetland was received. DNR Wildlife personnel responded and took samples from the animal to determine cause of death. Violations detected: trespass, shooting from the road, hunting in a refuge, possess rifle in the shotgun zone and chase deer with a motor vehicle.

CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) checked deer, waterfowl and small game hunters. Trapping and ATV activity was monitored. Complaints of trespass, late shooting and shooting from the road were investigated.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) investigated two trespass complaints. Charges are pending in both cases. Firearm deer hunters seemed to be more desperate during the final days of the season and made some poor decisions. A deer decoy placed by officers was shot at twice. Shooting from the road and shooting during closed hours charges are pending.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) checked firearm deer and waterfowl hunters. Firearm deer season activity slowed during the final days of the season. An accidentally taken fisher was turned in by the trapper. Complaints of shooting from the road/vehicle and over limits of ducks were investigated.

Water Resource Officer Traci Hanson attended the MNWISC Invasive Species Conference. The officer assisted with hunting-related complaints and activity.

Return to Hunting Accident Index

Fair Use Notice: This document may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. We believe that this not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

C.A.S.H.
P.O. Box 13815, Las Cruces, NM 88013
Phone: 575-640-7372
E-mail:

C.A.S.H. is a committee of Wildlife Watch, Inc.
a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation.
Contributions are tax-deductible.