Conservation officer Ben Huener of Roseau says some bear hunters have been successful, but says “it’s hard to find bears with all natural food in the landscape.” Huener says the week’s violations included waterfowl hunters who shot early, killed wood ducks out of season, killed seagulls and a tern, possessed lead while hunting waterfowl, hunted with an unplugged shotgun and hunted without a license. small game and/or state and federal waterfowl stamps.
Conservation Officer Jeremy Woinarowicz of Thief River Falls says enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm, failing to register bear bait, failing to display bear bait, leaving equipment in a Wildlife Management Area , angling without a license, catching small animals without a license, no life jackets on boats, as well as boat and ATV registration violations.
Blackduck Conservation Officer Demosthenes Regas reports that while on patrol he came across a captive white-tailed deer that had run off with the wild herd. Efforts are underway to locate the deer and determine where it may have come from. Violations include unregistered bear baiting and a group of ATV drivers operating on a state highway to avoid a muddy section of trail designated for ATVs.
Conservation Officer Corey Sura of Baudette last week investigated a complaint of bear hunting trespass.