The following is a weekly report issued by officials of the Department of Natural Resources Conservation of Northwest Minnesota and the Adjacent Areas of Northern Minnesota on Monday, December 13, 2021:

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) inspected the muzzle loader, trapping and fishing activities in the area. Fishing in Lake of the Woods is generally good, but unstable. Most ice layers are 5 to 11 inches deep. This week’s violations include possession of marijuana, failure to register deer, and possession of excessive leukoplakia and diphtheria.

CO Corey Sura (Baudette East) spent a few days checking on the anglers on Red Lake and Lake of the Woods. Average to good fishing success rates have been found in both waters. Violations encountered include bigeye/sauger overruns, overruns for bigeyes larger than 17 inches (on the upper red lake), fishing with extra fishing lines, possession of marijuana, and unregistered ATVs.

CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) spends most of his time fishing and snowmobile law enforcement. A report of a bobcat in a scratching trap was also studied. Some waters now have a lot of ice, but caution is recommended when taking risks. Some good successes have been observed among the anglers who went fishing this weekend.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) answered countless calls asking questions about the upcoming disease management deer hunts in permitted areas 261 and 262. He also inspected the anglers on the Red Lake and Thief River, and continued to monitor the deer hunting activities of the muzzle loader. Enforcement actions have been taken against the ice refuge’s lack of identification, lack of permits, and violations of refuge permits.

CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reported that in the past week, he has been fishing, trapping and the now closed muzzle loader deer hunting season. With the continuous improvement of ice conditions, the success rate of anglers fishing for bluegill, crucian and walleye in regional lakes is considerable. Violations encountered and resolved include phishing license and ATV registration violations.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) is engaged in fishing, ATV and snowmobile activities in Shanghong Lake.

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking ice anglers this week. On the last weekend of the muzzle loader deer season, take time to check small game hunters and deer hunters.

CO Tim Gray (Bagley) attended the training at Camp Ripley.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) examines the anglers of the lakes in the area. The snowmobile trail has been repaired, but the weather deteriorated at 40 degrees during the weekend.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports that ice conditions have improved, but anglers should check the ice thickness frequently when taking risks. Muzzle deer hunters were contacted, and activities in the regional wildlife management area were checked. The call of a swan that might be trapped in the ice was dealt with. Completed the required training.

CO Al Peterson (Osage) attended the training to handle ongoing cases and handle trap and hunt calls.

CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent a week engaged in sports fishing, mini games, goose and deer hunting law enforcement. It also took time to prepare and answer questions about the late-season CWD deer hunting activities in licensed areas 261 and 262.

CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) is engaged in small games and gun hunting activities. Patrols were carried out in regional WMA, waterfowl production areas and national forests. Ice fishing activities have begun to pick up, but the ice conditions continue to change, it is recommended to proceed with caution.

CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent a week inspecting pheasant hunters, deer hunters and ice anglers at Pelican Rapids Station. Anglers find 5 inches or more in most early ice areas, but it is reported that there are 3 inches or less in deeper waters and under snow. Anglers are looking for a good place for all species on the lake in the area. Enforcement actions were taken against unlicensed phishing.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent some time this week checking different numbers of ice anglers on the ice. Plautz works with deer hunters to retrieve the prey to neighbors’ property, accepts complaints about goose hunters, completes some departmental training, and arranges snowmobile safety courses with regional coaches. Proutz caught a fisherman who was accidentally taken away and carried out maintenance of snowmobile equipment. According to reports, a stag mule deer was seen in the area.

CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) reported that it was an active week, checking anglers and hunters. The success rate of muzzle deer hunters is still high, while fish and pheasants are not consistent. Goodman received calls about complaints about furriers accidentally taken away, injured and sick wild animals, and road hunting.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checks anglers and ATV riders. The thickness of the ice varies throughout the region, and some lakes have just frozen. Please be careful when venturing on ice. Bring safety equipment. The season of the muzzle loader deer ended without a loud noise.

CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) monitored ice conditions last week and observed human flow on several smaller lakes in the area. Anglers need to be very careful on the ice because the thickness of the ice varies from 8 inches to 1 inch, sometimes very close. Enforcement actions were taken against undocumented fishing, illegal length of northern pike, and illegal intrusion. Muzzleloader deer and pheasant hunters are also monitored throughout the area.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reported that the law enforcement of small and large games has been carried out throughout the week. Douvier also responded and answered many calls and questions related to animals.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reported that law enforcement this week focused on checking deer and pheasant hunters. Spend extra time checking anglers on lakes in several areas. Due to the light snow recently, it is difficult to see the newly formed ice now. Anglers are urged to be extra careful when venturing in regional lakes.

CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reported seeing anglers starting to go to sea in lakes and rivers in the area. He wants to remind anglers that the upcoming weather will affect the ice conditions, and be sure to check the thickness of the ice before taking the plunge. Calls from the public include trapping issues, injured animals, possession of a deer permit, possible pan-fishing over-limit reminder calls, and general hunting issues.

CO Calie Kunst (Remer) took the time to check the ice angler and follow up the big game case of the firearms deer season. Kunst took enforcement action to capture leukoplakia of illegal length. Some snowmobile riders are already riding on the trails in the area, but they lack snow and are in poor condition.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrols regional lakes for ice anglers. Take time to follow up the cases of the past deer season.

CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) inspected hunting and fishing activities and responded to the call of a lead poisoned eagle. She also reminded people to be careful when going out on the ice.

CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent a week patrolling local public land, hunting and trapping. Many illegal buildings in Huntersville State Forest have been recorded and will be demolished. I spent some time on snowmobiles, but the snow conditions in the area are very poor. Investigated a deer case.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) mainly inspects fishing and snowmobile activities. The ice varies from 1 to 13 inches and is still very uneven depending on the location. Snowmobile trails are fair, but they get worse as the weather gets warmer. Provided assistance when the eagle was injured and handled a large game case. Enforcement actions were taken against fishing, ATV and snowmobile violations.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrols the area and engages in hunting and fishing activities. As the week went on, Baum found that the hunting activities of the muzzle loader were less and less, but with little success. Baum has observed an increase in fishing activity and ice conditions have become more consistent. He continued to urge ice anglers to check the situation when they go out to ensure a safe ice. Baum used the initial good trail conditions to get in touch with many snowmobile riders. He wanted to remind people to go out on snowmobiles to check the equipment and registration of their machines. Baum has taken enforcement actions against various violations related to snowmobiles, from expired registration to lack of an out-of-state pass.