Conservation Officer Reports – District 10 (Mille Lacs Area)

District 10 – Mille Lacs area

Last updated: 2022-08-29

CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked lake activity and monitored pre-season hunting activity. Assistance was provided at the Enforcement Division?s confiscation auction and a hunter education class was held.

CO Nate Benkofske (McGregor) checked boating, ATV riding, and bear-baiting activity. Wild ricing activity was still slow. Training to become a field training officer was completed. Benkofske also spent time talking with the public at Jacobson Landing Days.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) continued to monitor nuisance-bear activity and authorize nuisance-bear permit validations. ATV activity was monitored along with bear-baiting activities. An ATV rider was observed riding at a high speed late at night right up divided Highway 169. The ATV rider was going over 60 miles per hour, passing cars, had a passenger, and was driving very carelessly. Upon stopping the ATV rider, Starr found a 15-year-old operator to be intoxicated and have a felony warrant. DUI charges are pending and the 14-year-old passenger was safely sent home.

Malmo vacant.