Game Warden

[SouthernMNFisher]

I was out on Duck Lake yesterday for awhile and there were 4 DNR officers out checking houses. I couldn't believe there were 4 of them out on that tiny lake.

The guy who stopped me had some very interesting questions to ask. I have a feeling someone in the area has been over stocking their freezers.

[harvey lee]

There were 2 of them on Washington the other day when I was there.

I hope they keep checking everyone. I asked if they were out of New Ulm and they said no, Owatonna. Seems like 2 nice guys.

The way the fish have been biting since first ice, I am glad they are out checking. Wish they would check some freezers at thier homes also.

I have a smaller lake close to me that has been putting out walleyes like sunfish for the past 3 weeks. yes, most are from 9-12 but there are some nicer ones from 14-20.

I am sure there are a few who are taking more than legally allowed and I wish the CO would come and check.

Maybe they have as I have only spent 4-5 hours on the lake in two days. But I did ice 43 walleyes in those hours. So I am sure some are filling thier buckets.

Wish we had 2 times the CO's we have now.

[SouthernMNFisher]

I agree... This is the first time in a couple years that I have even seen them out. I wouldnt mind seeing them more at all

[Matt C]

I'd love to see more Patrols on the lakes. I respect what they do, and have a tough job with so many lakes and ice fisherman and under funded.

[harvey lee]

I'd love to see more home freezers checked.

[merkman]

Wish we had 2 times the CO's we have now.

+1 Amen!!!!

Good to see them out in the field making their presence known!!!

Excelent!!

.

[leech~~]

They may have been doing some new CO training and thats was why there was a "pack" of them all together?

[Cantfishenough]

Wish there was a speed limit they could enforce lake hanska has been nuts with people doing 30mpr or better on the lake water coming out of the holes wish people would slow down just hurting the ice

[JackPineGuy]

im not down with the DNR. super invasive, and lookin ta put the pinch on innnocent folks at times.

[Matt C]

im not down with the DNR. super invasive, and lookin ta put the pinch on innnocent folks at times.

? If innocent, then there is nothing for them to 'pinch'...

[lawnbuilder]

I agree more officers and more checks. I like having everyone checked since most are not "out to get" you. I am sure they have tough days and may not be as understanding at times.

[ThunderLund78]

I would also like to see more patrols, but I don't believe they check your freezer unless they have probable cause to do so. So more patrols would probably result in more freezer checks. But I would be against letting hem search your freezer just because you have a fishing license. Private property rights come into play at that point.

Not sure if that's what you're talking about Harvey, but I'm all for more Wardens on our public waters and lands.

[V-12 Merlin]

I agree, more CO's/game wardens. The DNR has been really trimmed down, and I'm surprised they have enough people to do much of anything.

[JackPineGuy]

the reason the DNR has really slimmed down is because Tim Pawlenty cut a large portion of there funding. Thats a fact. the republicans don’t want to spend a dime on taxes, fees or really anything ta benefit anybody but themselves. If your a sportsmen who cares for mn, vote democrat.

[Scott K]

I think they could take a few office folks out, and put a few more in the field. As ALL govt ran "businesses" they are ALL top heavy.

[ted4887]

the reason the DNR has really slimmed down is because Tim Pawlenty cut a large portion of there funding. Thats a fact. the republicans don’t want to spend a dime on taxes, fees or really anything ta benefit anybody but themselves. If your a sportsmen who cares for mn, vote democrat.

Please, just stop while your ahe.... nevermind. You're definitely behind at this point. Why do you feel the need to turn this thread into a political debate? Go start a thread in silly town if that's your only motive.

[Thulie]

Not true.

Happy to debate it with you somewhere else, but this is a fishing forum, not politics.

[Rippinlip]

Would like to see them more, I have never had an issue being "legal" and just seeing them out there may make the ones that are not so legal, think twice.

[zepman]

Keep/save the "TIP" number in your phone. We ALL can assist the wardens do their job.

Nothing I hate more than people "filling" their freezers from a particular hot bite or throughout the season for that matter.

[JackPineGuy]

I think they could take a few office folks out, and put a few more in the field. As ALL govt ran "businesses" they are ALL top heavy.

what's top heavy? Do u have any idea how much education thos position requires. I do agree there should be more COs affeild tho. I wish they would catch more drunk boat drivers and drunk drivers. I almost lost my life to a drunk boater on minnetonka along with my 7 year old daughter.The guy hit me with a freaking cruise ship, I was in an old 16 foot LUND which tore in half and the front flattened like a popcan. I threw my daughter to the bottom of the boat as I lay over her. Luckily we were in th very back next to the tiller and in an instance we were in the water but as thank God there was a henndpin co water patrol who witnessed it all and saved my daughters life. He said in 22 years in the veils he never wittnesed such a miricle and said he would forever enforce drunk while boatinglaws to there fullest extent... the guy who hit us had 15 passengers aboard who felt nothing more then a bumpy ride. Some them were so drunk they laughed over the whole thing........ my earlier post againts was a bad joke to one of the most under funded under rated agencys

[harvey lee]

im not down with the DNR. super invasive, and lookin ta put the pinch on innnocent folks at times.

If one has nothing to hide, then zero worries. Don't want to come acroos saying you are doing anything wrong at all, just saying.

I look at it this way, the CO's are out there checking to protect our resource. If they were not, I can't imagine what would take place for overharvesting and about every other law. We have many laws on the books due mainly to those who break every law out there or try to and new laws have been put in place to try and curb those issues.

I have zero issues with them checking me for anything including my freezer.

The nice part about them checking you is that if one is nice, they will typically let you know what is going on for a bite on other lakes also.

The last time I was checked on the ice, he checked for my license and then they noticed I did not have new tabs on my wheeler. I had forgot to put them on and they were expired for 3 days. I said they will be on tomorrow and they were , no ticket. I guess they were not out to just write tickets, they are human and do understand. The next guy may have given me a ticket and I guess I would have had it coming.

[ElyDan]

Wouldn't it be nice if all of the money generated from outdoor recreation stayed in the outdoors of the general fund...

[ElyDan]

*instead* of the general fund

[efgh]

My understanding of thePitman-Robinson act , put a tax on all hunting and fishing equipment, which was to go to the DNR., I wonder how mutch actually ends up there? I would guess it ends up in the general fund too.

[Eric_Kruger]

Heck I WISH I would get checked, I havent seen a DNR officer weather its hunting, fishing, or just driving around in 5 years in the area.....Ive been checked once in 15 years and that was a "got any in your bucket?, No, OK have a good day". didint even ask to see a license.

[harvey lee]

Boy Eric, I would guess I get checked at a minimum 4-6 times a year fishing open water and ice. Been checked twice this winter already.

Hunting not near as much but I do not hunt much in Mn.

[PerchSlayer]

I moved down to Owatonna in 2009 and am out on the lake almost every weekend from Sept 1 thru Mar 31 I have been checked three times. Phil George on Mazaska, Brent Ihnen on a duck lake, and Chris Howe on another duck lake. All three were nice guys and were conscious about my time afield. I would like to see them out more often as it's good for their presence to be known.

[Eric_Kruger]

Boy Eric, I would guess I get checked at a minimum 4-6 times a year fishing open water and ice. Been checked twice this winter already.

Hunting not near as much but I do not hunt much in Mn.

Must be all them no name, out of the way lakes I have to myself most of the time that I fish......lol

[simple1]

Ice fishing I have only been checked on LOW. I have never even seen a warden around French, Shield, or Mazaska during ice season.

[efgh]

A few years ago I fished on 3 lakes on the same day, German, Steel and Fish in that order. I got checked on all 3 lakes by the same warden, when he got to me on Fish he said oh it you.