District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Vinny Brown (Northome) spent time helping at the conservation officer academy, checking anglers, and responding to TIP calls. Large numbers of anglers were out on opening weekend of fishing, with many reporting a slow bite. A group of people were found spearing suckers after sunset. Their fish were seized and donated to a local wildlife rescue to feed injured wild animals being cared for. Numerous fishing related violations were encountered over the weekend. One individual was found with a walleye in his live well before midnight of fishing opener. The fish was seized, and the angler received a citation for taking walleye out of season.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) Worked ATV?s, and fishing activities. He patrolled campgrounds and trails. Numerous game and fish questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) worked fishing opener, handled injured/ nuisance animal calls and monitored OHV activity. CO Fairbanks and his K9 partner Fennec also responded to K9 requests for a missing child and searched for a possible handgun tossed by a fleeing suspect. Enforcement action was taken for take walleye out of season, possess illegal length walleye, license issues and no throwable PFD.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked a very busy opening weekend with many noting that it was the busiest fishing opener they have ever seen. CO Sutherland worked mainly walleye anglers over the weekend with enforcement action taken for possessing an overlimit of walleyes, having more than one walleye over 20 inches in possession and for illegal party angling.

CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) worked a busy fishing opener. Success varied from lake to lake and was also dependent on the target species. The nice weather may not have been very conducive to high success rates but there didn?t seem to be many people complaining about it. Compliance rates were good with only a few violations having to be addressed. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, angling with an extra line, and driving motorized vehicles on non-motorized trails.

CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) worked a busy fishing opener in the Grand Rapids area. Time was also spent handling miscellaneous wildlife complaints and following up on open cases. Holt checked AIS compliance and monitored boat and water safety on area lakes. Enforcement activity involved boating safety and angling violations.

NE ATV officer vacant.

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