Baudette man has 44 walleye over the limit in his possession

DNR Staff Report

A Baudette man recently was fined $3,500 for taking 44 walleye over the limit.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers ticketed Robert Allen Hansen, 67, on June 20. Officers said Hansen caught the fish on Lake of the Wood and stored them in a refrigerator freezer at his home.
DNR conservation officers Robert Gorecki and Jeremy Woinarowicz said they acted on an anonymous Turn In Poachers telephone call that Hansen had been fishing for several days and keeping a limit each day.
“I was notified he had been bragging to individuals about how many fish he had caught, and stated he was on his way to fish again while leaving the Zippel Bay State Park water access,” Gorecki said.
The conservation officers caught up with Hansen later that day with several walleye in his possession. Gorecki added that during the course of their investigation Hansen gave the officers permission to search his residence for any fish.
The officers discovered Hansen’s refrigerator freezer had 22 packages of frozen fish containing 77 walleye. Conservation Officer Woinarowicz said Hansen lived at the residence with his wife and two children so the family could only legally possess 32 walleye. The officers elected to fine Hansen for having 44 fish over the limit. The legal walleye/sauger limit on Lake of the Woods is eight (Not more than four can be walleye; only one walleye over 28 inches; walleye 19.5 inches through 28 inches must be immediately released).
Hansen plead guilty on Sept. 24, in Lake of the Woods County District Court to one charge of gross misdemeanor over limit of walleye. He was sentenced to one year in jail, stayed if no same or similar incidents, one-year probation, fined $3,000 dollars plus court fees, and ordered to pay $495 dollars in restitution. Due to a plea agreement, Hansen was allowed to keep his fishing privileges if he paid the fines and restitution in full.
The conservation officers say more people are coming forward to report illegal activities they see afield. They say eyewitness reports are among the strongest tools a CO has in combating code violations.
“A CO has only one set of eyes. I cover 650 square miles. If the public out here is concerned about natural resources, every person is another set of eyes that can help catch those violating the law,” says Gorecki.
Anyone witnessing a fish or wildlife violation is encouraged to contact the nearest conservation officer, law enforcement agency or the toll-free TIP hotline at 800-652-9093.