Weekly CO report
District 11 - St. Cloud area
Last updated: 2024-11-04
CO Stephen Westby (Little Falls) patrolled area lakes and rivers for boating, angling, and hunting activity. Several hunters were checked with mixed bags of waterfowl. Time was spent at Camp Ripley for use of force training and other trainings with the State Patrol. With cooler weather, many hunters were checked at the Camp Ripley archery hunt and a hunter complaint was investigated. Please prepare yourself for the upcoming deer opener by reading through the hunting regulations and getting familiar with the deer zones you will be hunting in.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) continued field training with COC Travis Cain. Time was spent checking waterfowl hunters, archery deer hunters, and anglers throughout the station. Enforcement action was taken on big-game and waterfowl violations. Multiple deer-possession permits were issued for car-hit deer.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked trapping activity and taxidermy inspections. Waterfowl numbers picked up a touch, with a few hunters having some success. ATV activity was also monitored.
CO Brett Fox (St. Cloud) spent the week patrolling for ATV, angling, and hunting activity. Time was spent patrolling for potential late-night violations leading up to deer season as well as investigating tips. Violations this week included hunter harassment, taking a deer with a rifle during the archery season, illegal transport of a big-game animal, and youth under 18 riding ATVs without helmets.
CO Adam Stennett (Annandale) continued training COC Chad Ziegler. They responded to a grass fire and assisted with the investigation. They found the fire was caused by the burning of prohibited materials. The investigation is ongoing. Duck hunters were checked, with few birds being harvested. Deer hunters have been out in force and the deer are on the move. Enforcement action for the week included waterfowl hunting without a federal duck stamp, possessing toxic shot while hunting waterfowl, and hunting pheasants without a stamp.
CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) spent the week checking hunters and anglers. Enforcement action was taken for failing to remove bear-baiting equipment from public land and unregistered bear bait. A deer-shining complaint area was also worked.