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00:00A Michigan conservation officer in District 7, and another in D9, check on waterfowl hunters in November.
00:11No life jackets. What are you guys going to do if you fall out of the boat?
00:14And a look at the state's efforts to provide public areas for hunters to pursue ducks and geese on lands they've deemed wetland wonders.
00:21Two Michigan conservation officers, one in District 1 and the other in D3, monitor deer hunters on the opening day of deer season.
00:29Conservation officer, anybody inside? Open the door back here.
00:33And they both encounter situations in which they work closely with other emergency response agencies.
00:38Have you had anything to drink or smoked any marijuana today?
00:42And a look at a dedication for a new DNR facility that's named in honor of two fallen conservation officers.
00:50Wild animals and wild places. They're more than a picture.
00:55Their inspiration, excitement, and adventure.
00:59Patrolling and protecting these natural resources is a first-class band of peace officers.
01:05These are the wardens, dedicated to the preservation of our great outdoors.
01:11Autumn in Michigan can feel like there's just too much to do for the dedicated outdoor enthusiast.
01:37White-tailed deer can be hunted throughout various seasons from the 1st of October through the 1st of January.
01:44Bear and elk can be pursued by hunters who are fortunate enough to be granted a tag through a draw system.
01:50Many species of fish are also readily available.
01:53Other animals that many people are passionate about trying to bag are ducks and geese.
01:58Michigan is typically one of the national leaders for number of Canada geese taken each year,
02:04and also has several duck species available to its hunters as well.
02:08In the state's District 7,
02:11Conservation Officer Carter Woodwyke is checking on waterfowlers set up on state land.
02:17Good morning.
02:27Good morning, how are you?
02:29Good.
02:30First bird of the morning it looked like?
02:34Yeah.
02:35Nice.
02:36State Conservation Officer, obviously.
02:39You guys had a pretty good mess of that flurry come in there.
02:42Man, I don't know how we didn't kill these men.
02:44Yeah, we should have had a lot more.
02:46Been doing pretty good out here this year.
02:48Yeah, we got quite a few ducks this week.
02:49Did ya?
02:50Mm-hmm.
02:51I got five last night.
02:52Nice.
02:53Very nice.
02:54Want to check my gun?
02:57Yeah, I'll check his license here for a second.
03:00You want to sell dinner out of it?
03:01You can pull them out.
03:02Here's there.
03:03Did you forget to plug this one?
03:05No, it's plugged.
03:06It better be.
03:07It's just a plastic unscrew the cap once.
03:08Well, let me grab three.
03:09Oh, you know why?
03:10Because it's only about this big around.
03:11What is?
03:12Let me show ya.
03:13Let's start with three of your shells at least.
03:14Hold on, I'll show you the plug.
03:15I thought it was going right around it.
03:16See right here?
03:17That's your shell.
03:18Oh, so my checker, oh, I see what you're saying.
03:19The checker is just going right around it?
03:20That makes sense.
03:21I've never seen a plug like that before.
03:25Yeah, I see.
03:26Hold on, I'll show you the plug.
03:27The plug is going right around it.
03:29See right here?
03:31That's your plug.
03:34Oh, so my checker, oh, I see what you're saying.
03:37The checker's just going right around it.
03:38That makes sense.
03:41I've never seen a plug like that before.
03:45Perfect.
03:50That works.
03:52Good.
03:52I figured with you guys being out in your spread,
03:56I'd try and quick do a check before more geese keep coming in.
03:59I almost had one of those ducks, it looked like.
04:01Yeah.
04:02The ducks have been just playing.
04:04They're not nice this year.
04:07I'll trade you.
04:09You ran her dry that time, too?
04:10No, I shot two of them.
04:13I'm going to close.
04:14I'm going to close.
04:16Awesome.
04:16Give you that back.
04:18First goose this morning.
04:19Awesome.
04:20Well, congratulations.
04:21Missed his, but those two we dumped,
04:25I got my who knows how many of them.
04:27Caleb got his first out of that one.
04:29Congratulations.
04:31Cool morning.
04:32On the other side of southern Michigan,
04:34from where C.O. Woodwike is working,
04:36in the state's District 9,
04:38Officer Joe Deppin is also checking
04:42on hunters pursuing ducks and geese.
04:44How'd you guys do out there?
04:45We're bad.
04:47It's not because we're playing with it now.
04:49You got any ducks?
04:50No, we got none.
04:51None at all?
04:52No.
04:52Real quick, you got your ID,
04:54licenses on you.
04:55I'll just check the firearms,
04:56and be all set.
04:59All right.
05:02Put that one away.
05:03Perfect.
05:04All right.
05:04I'm going to take a look at your bag real quick,
05:05just look at your ammo.
05:06Okay.
05:06You got a sandwich, huh?
05:14Yeah.
05:15You're not baiting, are you?
05:16No.
05:18I don't know if those folks are going.
05:20Oh, they might.
05:32No life jackets.
05:33What are you guys going to do
05:34if you fall out of the boat?
05:34I didn't realize he had it in.
05:38He keeps it on the island here, so.
05:41You ever fall out of the water in waders?
05:42What's that?
05:43Have you ever fallen out of a boat
05:44into the water wearing waders?
05:45No.
05:46It is.
05:46It's not fun.
05:48So I want to talk to you
05:49about the registration numbers
05:50and then the lack of life jackets.
05:52All right.
05:52Unless they're somewhere hidden
05:54that I can't find them.
05:56There's the ducks right there.
05:58All right.
05:58Do you have any life jackets
05:59for the boat or no?
06:00Yeah, there's life jackets.
06:00There's life jackets in there?
06:01Yeah.
06:01Okay.
06:02Now I'm hiding in the bag.
06:03All right.
06:03Yeah.
06:04I wasn't sure.
06:05It's the first time here.
06:06Now we're looking in here.
06:07There's one.
06:11And then there should be four in there.
06:12There's another one.
06:13Two there.
06:14Yep.
06:14Okay.
06:14Favorite.
06:15Want them all out?
06:16Nope.
06:16Thanks to those two.
06:17You're good to go.
06:17You put it on your hull ID.
06:18You don't need to put all that.
06:20So when you get home,
06:21just scratch those off,
06:23put those new numbers on there,
06:23and you'll be all set, okay?
06:24I was like,
06:25that's way too many numbers,
06:26but it's not too big of a deal.
06:28All right.
06:28Thank you, sir.
06:28Yep.
06:29No problem.
06:30Although C.O.
06:30Deppin is primarily keeping an eye
06:32on waterfowl hunters on this day,
06:34the day before,
06:35which was the first Saturday
06:36of the state's firearm deer season,
06:38he was checking on people chasing deer.
06:41Later in his shift,
06:42after the sun had set,
06:43Officer Deppin encounters a man
06:45who tells him that he's shot a deer
06:46and is about to go recover it,
06:48but hasn't tagged it yet.
06:49Since it's untagged at this point,
06:51you've already gutted it and everything,
06:52I'm going to go back there with you.
06:53Just take a look at it.
06:55There's a little bit of concern
06:56why the deer's not tagged yet
06:57after it's fully gutted.
06:58Well, I know, and then I had it with me,
07:01and I said, oh, s***,
07:02I'm walking up here to get this,
07:03and I'll tag it as soon as I go back.
07:05Okay.
07:05Is the firearm back there with your wife,
07:07or is the firearm here?
07:08They're both there.
07:09They're both there.
07:11Okay.
07:12You can just hand me the whole set.
07:15I'm going to go back there with you.
07:16Just take a look at the deer if you don't mind.
07:17Michigan Conservation Officer
07:19Carter Woodwake
07:20is working on the last Saturday of November
07:22and closely monitoring waterfowl hunters.
07:25He started his morning
07:26by checking on hunters on public land
07:28and continues to do so.
07:30State Conservation Officer.
07:32Just going to check licenses
07:33and firearms here a minute.
07:36Do you need the pad farm there?
07:38Yeah, if you got the permit right there.
07:42Cool.
07:43Looks good.
07:45I appreciate it.
07:46Take care, guys.
08:12Good luck.
08:14Yep.
08:21That's good.
08:22Yeah, that's good.
08:28Nice.
08:29I don't see more than many people
08:30out here with a 10-gauge.
08:31You don't?
08:32Not anymore?
08:33No, not anymore.
08:36Nope.
08:36It's all 12-gauge.
08:37Let you load up
08:38and we'll get out of your hair.
08:39Thank you very much.
08:40Not a problem.
08:41Take care.
08:42Good luck.
08:43You too.
08:43Always have a good day out here.
08:44Some days just better than others.
08:46Within the Elegant State game area,
08:58which encompasses over 50,000 acres,
09:01is the Fenville Farm Unit,
09:03a 4,100-acre area
09:05that's managed specifically for waterfowl.
09:08There are seven managed waterfowl hunt areas
09:11located in southern Michigan.
09:12Another managed waterfowl hunt area
09:15is the Neaquin Point State Wildlife Area.
09:18To bring attention to what's available
09:20and welcome hunters back prior to the season,
09:22the DNR holds open houses at some of its sites,
09:26including Neaquin Point.
09:27Neaquin Point State Wildlife Area
09:29is a special place in my heart.
09:30I grew up in the area not too far from here
09:33and had many opportunities to recreate
09:36throughout my teenage years.
09:38And I knew that I always wanted to be
09:40a part of this game area.
09:41I just didn't know what part I wanted to play.
09:44So I went to college, went to Michigan Tech.
09:46I came back to the area.
09:48It started out as a state worker four
09:50and then progressed into a seasonal wildlife
09:52assistant position
09:54and then became the technician.
09:55And I've been the technician for about 15 years now.
09:58We are situated on the western shore
10:00of Saginaw Bay in Bay County.
10:02With many public areas,
10:12the DNR works closely with other agencies
10:15to improve the area, including volunteer groups.
10:18We have work days here
10:19where their staff are unable to do it.
10:23So we take it over
10:25and we'll get a crew of 15 people
10:28and we'll work all day on something.
10:31There's different projects
10:32where we put up snow fencing.
10:34We put up coyote decoy silhouettes
10:38and we move them around.
10:39We do other projects, maintenance-wise,
10:41doing some stuff to the fields
10:43and the other areas.
10:45Our main focus is waterfall
10:46and waterfall hunting.
10:47But we also have spring migration for waterfowl.
10:51So our area is open to birdwatching.
10:53Birdwatching is probably
10:54the second largest activity at Neonquin Point.
10:56We have the largest population
10:58of yellow-headed blackbirds,
10:59which people come from all over the world
11:01to see these birds.
11:04They're just spread throughout the area.
11:06They've also migrated
11:06into some of our agricultural crops.
11:08So it makes it really easy
11:09for people to access those areas to see them.
11:12We provide other recreational opportunities
11:14in the way of hunting, deer hunting.
11:16We also allow trapping.
11:18They're great for duck hunting,
11:22waterfowling,
11:23and they have draw systems,
11:27a lottery-type system
11:29where you come in to hunt.
11:30So you're limited on the amount of hunters
11:33and they're real quality areas to hunt
11:36where you can really have a really good hunt
11:39and have a substantial number of birds
11:42that you can harvest.
11:43The staff at areas like Neonquin Point
11:45works hard to make the area appealing
11:47to the game that hunters would like to pursue there.
11:50We do intensive farming on some of our units
11:52and that is to provide a high-energy food source
11:56for migrating waterfowl.
11:58So we put in all of our own agricultural crops.
12:00We do a mixture of corn, buckwheat, millet,
12:03and then the corn serves also a secondary purpose
12:06to conceal hunters for hunting in the fall.
12:08So after all of that work gets done in the summer,
12:12then we use large-volume pumps to flood the area
12:16so that they have flooded corn to hunt out of.
12:18These areas here are real unique,
12:20especially Neonquin.
12:22It offers a very easy physical hunt.
12:27You don't need a lot of equipment.
12:29You can walk into a lot of areas
12:31with just a tub, a dozen decoys, and your gun.
12:36So the access is real, real easy
12:38compared to some areas.
12:40And a lot of older sportsmen, waterfowlers,
12:45like to hunt this because it's a lot easier.
12:47This is a great gem.
12:49It's a rural community,
12:51but I think, you know,
12:52coming off the beaten path,
12:54you know, from your town or your school
12:56or your little subdivision in Pinconning,
12:59which is not very big,
13:01but when they come out here,
13:02they feel like they're secluded.
13:04They feel like this is like wilderness.
13:07And I think a lot of people
13:08don't really know that it's here.
13:10And I feel like that's one of the things
13:12we want to focus on,
13:14just letting people know
13:15that there's more to this area
13:16than just waterfall hunting.
13:20Michigan Conservation Officer Carter Woodwike
13:23is checking on waterfowl hunters
13:24on the last Saturday of November.
13:26He's been steadily busy throughout the morning
13:28as he goes from one hunting party to another
13:31to ensure that they have the proper licenses
13:33and federal waterfowl stamp,
13:35as well as making sure
13:36that their firearms can hold
13:38no more than three shells
13:39and that their shells do not contain lead.
13:41Hello.
13:43State Conservation Officer.
13:45Hello, sir.
13:45How are you?
13:46Good.
13:46How are you?
13:47Having any luck over here?
13:49Shot at some high birds,
13:51but no, I haven't had anything.
13:52Yep.
13:53We're just going to check licenses
13:55and firearms here a minute.
13:56A couple hundred birds
14:03just piled up behind us
14:05right out in the refuge out there.
14:06Yeah, I see that.
14:09I'll give you your firearm back there.
14:11And then, do you have any other shots by you
14:24in a bag or in your pockets or something?
14:26We have shells in our pockets.
14:27Do the pockets and double-check the couple of those.
14:31Same ones.
14:32Awesome.
14:33Same ones.
14:33All the same stuff.
14:34Yep.
14:34Looks good.
14:36Very good.
14:36That works.
14:37I'll leave you guys to it then.
14:39Maybe a couple of these will venture on over,
14:41but hopefully.
14:42We'll see.
14:43Good luck.
14:43Later in his shift,
14:45after checking waterfowl hunters
14:46throughout the day,
14:48Officer Woodwyke shifts his focus
14:49to monitoring deer hunters.
14:51He's aware of some hunters
14:53who utilize boats
14:54to head to some public hunting land,
14:56so he waits at the spot
14:57where he sees the boat trailers parked
14:58to await their return.
15:00A reel?
15:01How's it going?
15:02Good.
15:05Got a little buck?
15:08Yeah.
15:08Nice.
15:11State conservation officer.
15:13You guys able to make it quite a ways up?
15:15We made it down.
15:16Down?
15:17Okay.
15:18Start it up and work your way down?
15:20Yeah.
15:21Nice.
15:22Very nice.
15:24There you go.
15:25Better seat.
15:27Firearms are all cased up.
15:28Yep.
15:29Wonderful.
15:30I'll start, I guess,
15:31with hunting licenses.
15:33Right.
15:33Start from right and go left.
15:35That way I don't get too mixed up.
15:38Whose boat is this?
15:39Mine.
15:40Yours.
15:44Cool.
15:45You said you got a tag on it?
15:46Yeah, it's already on it.
15:47That's the only tag I got right there.
15:49Okay.
15:50You have a doe tag or something
15:51that you put on it?
15:51Okay, perfect.
15:53Very good.
15:54Do that.
15:58Who ended up getting this one?
16:00One of the other guys.
16:01One of the older guys got that.
16:03Oh, he's coming right now?
16:04Yeah.
16:05There's more.
16:06Okay.
16:07Cool.
16:12Is it just this boat or then?
16:13You got another one coming?
16:15Two more.
16:17How you doing?
16:17Good.
16:24Where'd you do this boat?
16:26Do this boat?
16:27Do you see this one?
16:28Yeah.
16:29Did you guys see anything?
16:31I didn't see one tail.
16:33No?
16:34I'm pushing.
16:35Yep.
16:36Got another deer down there.
16:37We ended up getting this one.
16:40Um, this guy's coming in the next boat.
16:42He's still coming.
16:43Did you do this?
16:45Mm-hmm.
16:46Too late for us.
16:47Cool.
16:52So there's one more boat coming or?
16:54Yeah.
16:54Yeah.
16:55Okay.
16:55Awesome.
16:56You got the buck and doe here?
17:03Yeah.
17:03Awesome.
17:04Very good.
17:08Yep.
17:11That's a little doe in here.
17:12That one's yours?
17:14Awesome.
17:14Everything looks good with their life jackets in this boat.
17:18Yep.
17:18Right here.
17:19Right here.
17:20Right here.
17:20Right here.
17:21Right in the case for me.
17:22Perfect.
17:23Very good.
17:24Yeah, you guys got it all squared away.
17:26Good day.
17:36Officer Woodwike is in a parking lot for hunters using public land.
17:40We ended up getting this one.
17:41I did.
17:42You did?
17:43Yes, sir.
17:44Nice.
17:45And has a lot of vehicles and hunters.
17:47He stops to check and see if any of them have gotten deer.
17:50And if so, to make sure the deer are properly tagged.
17:54Cool.
17:54Very good.
17:56That one's good there.
18:00Yep.
18:00We had a pretty good day so far.
18:01Yeah, no doubt.
18:02I don't know how many deer there were there.
18:04One, two, three, four, five, five or six of them at least.
18:06I believe so.
18:07You did?
18:08Mm-hmm.
18:08Nice.
18:11Very good.
18:13There's a tag on there.
18:14What's your last name in the year you were born?
18:1842 on that one.
18:2042 on that one?
18:22Whose tag is this?
18:23It's my dad's.
18:23It's your dad's?
18:24Yeah.
18:25So why'd you put his tag on it?
18:26Because mine's sitting on my table.
18:29Okay.
18:29Do you have your driver's license with you so I can see if you actually have licenses?
18:34In this case...
18:35I did issue a citation for using the kill tag of another.
18:37Yeah.
18:37It's the Allegan District Court.
18:39It's their address and their phone number.
18:40You've got three to ten business days to get that taken care of.
18:42No problem.
18:42Whether it's pleading guilty, not guilty, setting up a court date, whatever the case is.
18:46Not a problem.
18:46This woman took her citation to a bench trial, and the judge utilized his discretion to dismiss
18:52the charges based on her testimony under oath that she was lying to Officer Woodwyke
18:57in the field when he asked her who shot the deer.
19:00She told the judge that her dad did actually shoot the deer, and she simply had it in the
19:05back of her truck.
19:06All right.
19:07Take care.
19:08Be safe.
19:08Michigan Conservation Officer Joe Dempin is also working during the month of November,
19:13but he's in the state's District 9.
19:18He's located a man who shot a deer and didn't tag it immediately.
19:22He was also hunting over bait.
19:24That's the one you shot a deer with?
19:25It's a 450.
19:27All right.
19:27It's on the safety.
19:30All right.
19:32I can get that one.
19:34All right.
19:34All right.
19:35So, man, this is yours?
19:38That's right.
19:39Okay.
19:39So, when hunting hours are finished up, you've got to unload.
19:43I'll be throwing them in the sled here.
19:48All right.
19:49We can pull back around the blind here, and we'll talk about what's going on.
19:53We've got a couple things going on here.
19:54So, initially, you're out there.
19:57You took the deer.
19:58We didn't initially tag it.
19:59Number two, taking the deer over a bait pile.
20:02You know the bait is prohibited.
20:04Yes?
20:05Yeah.
20:06Baiting is prohibited.
20:06Okay.
20:07I'm not hurting anything.
20:08The fact that you're honest with me, I do appreciate that.
20:11I'm not going to dig into any further as far as if the deer your wife shot was over bait or not.
20:17But as far as this one, this one's got to come with me.
20:20Okay?
20:21Hey, we shot it.
20:22Well, you can be waiting for them, but you've just got to be taken legally.
20:27You've got to be taken by motion for a minute.
20:28Yep.
20:29Okay.
20:30And so, like I said, I've got to seize the deer.
20:33I've got to write a report.
20:37And, essentially, you're shooting over bait.
20:39It's in legal deer.
20:40It's done by legal methods.
20:41So, I'm going to take the 12-gauge.
20:43I'm going to document it as part of it.
20:45What happens with that?
20:47That's going to be up to the court.
20:48I've just got to document it as the weapon that shot the animal.
20:50So, I'll give your wife a warning on the loaded after hours.
20:53I can understand that can be an easy mistake.
20:56You know, people get excited.
20:57But as far as the deer and the tagging and the bait is concerned, I'm going to deal with that directly with you, okay?
21:02In this case, for illegally taking a deer, since he shot it over bait in an area that's closed to baiting,
21:08this man paid a court-ordered fine of $2,000, which was restitution to the state of Michigan, for the buck.
21:14You can continue to hunt as long as all that is cleaned up.
21:17Well, I was going to ask you that.
21:18If I get all that bait out, if I run this out tomorrow, clean up all the bait.
21:22As long as all the bait is gone from all parts of the property, nothing left in this oil, nothing dug in the mud, then you can continue to hunt.
21:31Most Michigan conservation officers usually start out with a plan for what they want to do each day,
21:36both to follow up on information they already have, as well as to gather new information.
21:41However, they are also all too aware that their priorities can shift quickly and they need to focus on something else.
21:47This holds true even during the last 16 days of November when the state's firearm deer season is underway
21:53and when there are typically more hunters in the woods than any other time of the year.
21:58In the state's District 1,
22:00Officer Alex Van Wagner is checking deer hunters on the firearm deer opener.
22:07It's the opening day of firearm deer season in the UP here.
22:10It's probably the biggest day of the year up here.
22:12We're in Iron County in the UP of Michigan.
22:15We're at the Crystal Falls field office right now and we've got a couple things lined up and we're just going to check what's out there and see what we can find.
22:25There is a guy in this vehicle here, so I'm going to go up and contact him.
22:31Good morning, sir.
22:35Good morning.
22:35Conservation officer, how are you doing?
22:37Good, how are you?
22:37Good, what are you up to?
22:38Well, just kind of watching the pipeline.
22:41I'm not too serious about getting out and freezing my tail off.
22:45Okay.
22:47I've got my rifle back there.
22:49Okay.
22:50I just, you know, I have a CPL.
22:52Okay.
22:53And my...
22:55What do you carry?
22:56It's a 380.
22:59Okay.
23:00You got your CPL on you?
23:01I do.
23:01Okay.
23:02And it's in my little backpack over there.
23:05Okay.
23:10What are you shooting for a rifle?
23:13It's a Remington 30-06.
23:16Okay.
23:18All right, thank you.
23:19Do you mind if I check if it's unloaded?
23:21With the rifle, sure.
23:23Okay.
23:23Is it on that side or right here?
23:25You can open it.
23:25Okay.
23:26But wait.
23:31You got a stand over here or just hanging out?
23:35No, I'm just kind of hanging.
23:36I used to have a stand down this other pipeline.
23:42But my cousin, he hunts all the way down towards the end.
23:47Okay.
23:48And I believe there's a couple of...
23:50I think it was an Indiana plate that went by.
23:53I wasn't sure.
23:54It was a big plate, but I think there's some other hunters down there also.
23:59Okay.
24:00Mind if I check your license, deer license?
24:03Sure.
24:03Okay.
24:04Okay.
24:07Just got a single tag?
24:13Yep.
24:13Okay.
24:14Perfect.
24:15Well, I'll let you keep scoutin'.
24:16Okay.
24:27Approximately four and a half hours by automobile
24:30from where CO Van Wagner is patrolling in the Upper Peninsula,
24:33Officer Jack Gorno is also working on the state's firearm deer opener
24:37in the Lower Peninsula in the state's District 3.
24:43CO Gorno is working alongside Sergeant Mark Depew.
24:46They're patrolling an area that's close to baiting
24:48and know of a spot with a hunting blind that's overlooking a bait pile.
24:52They want to check to see if the blind is occupied.
24:55Giant pile, yeah.
24:56It was the biggest pile that we picked off.
25:00This is a rain, here's a blind.
25:07Conservation officer, anybody inside?
25:10Yep, open the door back here.
25:13How are you?
25:14Good.
25:15Good?
25:16Any idea why I'm here this morning?
25:18Bait pile.
25:19Okay.
25:21Okay.
25:22Do you live here?
25:22Is this your property?
25:24Okay.
25:24When's the last time you put bait out?
25:25Last Saturday.
25:27Last Saturday.
25:29And this is your property?
25:31I don't own this part of it.
25:33My house is right up there.
25:34Okay.
25:34It's my wife's grandpa's property.
25:36Wife's grandpa's, okay.
25:38So family then?
25:39Yeah.
25:40How's the season so far for you?
25:42I haven't killed anything yet.
25:43Haven't killed anything yet?
25:44I just bought my license yesterday.
25:46Obviously that's not a bait pile that you can remove by hand at this time.
25:50So this blind's done until it's gone.
25:52Okay.
25:52Okay.
25:53So grab your gun, keep it in a safe direction, and we'll walk you back.
25:58Since the first Michigan conservation officer went on the job in 1887, 16 officers have lost
26:05their lives in the line of duty.
26:07The state of Michigan has a memorial to these fallen officers at the Ralph A. McMullen Center
26:12in the Northern Lower Peninsula, where all present-day COs regularly attend training exercises.
26:19Two of these 16 fallen officers died during the same incident almost 100 years ago in Marquette County.
26:26When Michigan's DNR held a grand opening for the first shooting range in the Upper Peninsula,
26:31it was the initial opportunity for the public to see the range that was named in honor of two officers
26:39that were killed approximately three miles from the site of the range.
26:43Michigan conservation officers Arvid Erickson and Emile Skogland were working together on September 29, 1926,
26:51when they encountered an unlicensed hunter identified as Roy Nunn.
26:55During the course of the arrest, Nunn pulled a hidden revolver and killed Officer Erickson
27:00with two shots in the back of the head.
27:03Officer Skogland raced to the scene to assist and was killed with two shots to the face.
27:08The evidence eventually led to Nunn, who confessed to the crime.
27:12The officers' bodies were recovered, having been weighed down with bricks
27:16and dumped into Lake Superior from a pier in the city of Marquette.
27:20Nunn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
27:25I never knew my grandfather. I knew a lot about him, but not all the details.
27:30I saw Roy Nunn, the guy that shot Arvid and Emile.
27:38In prison, he used to play a lot of hockey and softball out there,
27:41and one of the guards pointed him out.
27:44He was a small guy, but never, no, never.
27:49I saw him, I had a chance to talk to him.
27:51You've heard the saying that freedom isn't free.
27:55Well, conservation isn't either.
27:57Conservation does mean the wise use of a natural resource,
28:01but it's the term wise that recognized years and years ago that there had to be regulations,
28:08there had to be controls to sustain our natural resources.
28:12And these officers were pioneers back in the day,
28:16fighting the same fight that our men and women do today.
28:19Big deal for DNR. It's a huge part of our mission here.
28:23Part of the mission, of course, is having folks be able to use firearms safely,
28:27and places like this allow that to happen.
28:30And also, a lot of these places house our hunter safety classes throughout the state,
28:36and I'm sure that this one probably will, too, on the field days that we offer for hunter safety.
28:41There are so many reasons that shooting ranges are important to the public,
28:45to law enforcement communities, to our groups that need to have the ranges to come and shoot.
28:51So, for us, shooting ranges is an opportunity to give back to the community of archers, firearms purchasers,
28:59folks that go out and purchase ammunition.
29:01Give back to that community and give them a place to come and recreate and enjoy a safe spot to target shoot.
29:08Relatives of the fallen officers were the first ones to utilize the pistol and rifle ranges at the new facility.
29:16Well, I think it's a beautiful range.
29:19It'll be used for many years, many generations, and a great way to honor these two great men.
29:25I was born and raised in Marquette, so I always knew this was a place where people came to shoot, not legally.
29:31So, the amount of garbage out here that you could find was more than you could ever imagine.
29:36So, then being able to team up with local organizations to get it cleaned up and get it a safe place for people to shoot.
29:42Speaking with DNR representatives, it's taken over 10 years to finally get this to kind of come to terms.
29:48So, it's really cool to see this project completed.
29:52It's nice to see a facility like this and a turnout like this.
29:56Yeah.
29:57It's something that Marquette County has needed for a long time.
30:00And I think they did an awesome job.
30:03It's been quite cool to work in the same county that he did.
30:07Although I didn't know him, it's played a large role in my career choice.
30:11Thank you to the DNR for getting this going.
30:12I know it's been a long time coming, so big shout out to you guys.
30:16So, I appreciate it.
30:16Thank you very much.
30:18It's hard to explain what that means to us.
30:20It's a very cool way of honoring the family, tradition of law enforcement, and honoring the fallen officers.
30:26Michigan Conservation Officer Alex Van Wagner is working on the opening day of the state's firearm deer season.
30:50I can slowly move up and see.
30:53I know where his stand is, so he obviously drove in here and made his own trail in here on the state land.
31:00So, we're just going to see what's up and see and maybe back out and wait for him.
31:06But we'll see what we can find.
31:16He's sitting, so I'm just going to back out.
31:20He's hunting in there, so we'll contact him when he comes out.
31:25CO Van Wagner has located an off-road vehicle in an area where ORV use is prohibited.
31:32He intends to catch up with this hunter later to address several potential violations.
31:37While Officer Van Wagner is waiting for this hunter to emerge from the woods,
31:41he receives a call to respond to a more pressing issue.
31:44So, we got requested by the local dispatch, there's a traffic crash on one of the county roads.
31:50And all the other units are tied up in the county,
31:53so myself and my partner in my county are heading to this traffic crash together.
31:57They were coming this way?
32:13Yeah.
32:14Okay.
32:15He was driving.
32:18She's complaining of back pain.
32:20There was an infant in the car as well.
32:22They didn't think the infant was hurt.
32:24Who's in the driver's seat?
32:25This is, that is a passerby who saw the accident or saw that you were up there, so.
32:35You need to go in.
32:37Darling, you get car insurance.
32:39That's what that's for.
32:40You were driving?
32:41Yes, sir.
32:42Okay.
32:42Did you already give her your information?
32:44No, she said one of you guys or one of the cops are going to come grab it for me.
32:47Okay.
32:48License and registration and insurance is all here.
32:51Okay.
32:52All right, so you're coming this way?
32:53Yes, we were coming this way.
32:55I was slowing down for the corners because the roads beforehand was all slushing and everything before.
33:01Okay.
33:02Step back here with me.
33:03Okay.
33:03So I was going about 15, 20, coming around the corner.
33:08I hit one of these slushy spots, started going in the opposite lane.
33:12I seen the truck way down there.
33:14I didn't know if it was parked or coming towards me, so I was trying to get back into my lane safely.
33:19And as you can see, I obviously didn't manage the safely part.
33:22Okay.
33:23But...
33:24And you have an infant in the vehicle, I understand?
33:25Yes, we had my little baby.
33:27Is that your wife, girlfriend?
33:30That's my wife and my daughter.
33:32Have you had anything to drink or smoked any marijuana today?
33:35Any other drugs?
33:36No, sir.
33:37Okay.
33:37Of course, with my baby, when I smoke, it's all at home.
33:41I don't drive when I'm smoking, and I definitely don't drink unless it's after work,
33:44and I have my one drink, go home, and that's it.
33:47All right.
33:47You haven't smoked today?
33:50I smoked this morning, and I was like, what time is it now?
33:54Like 9?
33:5610.36.
33:57Yeah, I smoked at like 8.30 this morning.
33:598.30?
33:59And what time is it right now?
34:0010.36.
34:0110.36?
34:02Okay.
34:03All right.
34:04Do you feel any effects of the marijuana anymore?
34:07No, sir.
34:07I don't.
34:08Okay.
34:17And then from the number 86, you're going to count backwards from 86 to 68.
34:3786 to 68?
34:38Yeah.
34:38Maybe, yeah.
34:3986, 85, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80, 79, 78, 77, 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68.
34:57All right.
34:58I don't think you're impaired, but I would definitely recommend not smoking before you drive.
35:04I know it was at this point four hours ago that you said you smoked.
35:08Yeah.
35:09But it could still be in your system.
35:11So I just left the traffic crash over on County Road 424.
35:15What happened was a male driver was in the car with his wife and infant,
35:21and he took a corner too fast over there and ended up rolling his vehicle into the ditch.
35:27And me and my partners arrived, and we checked to see that the guy was sober,
35:33ran him through sobrieties.
35:34And my partner ended up taking the report and the driver's going to be issued a citation related
35:43to the incident there.
35:45In this case for violating basic speed law, this man was found responsible and paid a
35:50court-ordered fine of $115.
35:53His wife and infant child did not incur any major injuries.
35:56Michigan Conservation Officer Jack Gorno is also working on the firearm opener for white-tailed
36:18deer season in the state's District 3.
36:20He's contacted a hunter who is hunting over bait.
36:27That bait pile, you can see from space.
36:30It's a big one.
36:32Just contacting a hunter over bait in an area closed to baiting.
36:37And it's still closed in the whole lower peninsula, right?
36:39Yep.
36:39Yep.
36:40Closed in the whole lower.
36:45Did you park at the house here?
36:47I lived right there.
36:48Okay.
36:48Okay.
36:48Follow you.
36:49I just walked back here.
36:50Okay.
36:50Follow you back then.
36:52What's the reason you put bait down?
36:54The way I've always hunted.
36:56Okay.
37:02Now I'm going to have to put a food plot in there.
37:04Yeah.
37:05That was my plan behind brush hogging it off.
37:08Okay.
37:09You do what you've got to do to pick all that bait up.
37:15Yep.
37:15Okay.
37:16So that blind's done until you pick all the bait up.
37:18Okay?
37:19Okay.
37:20It's going to be a baiting ticket today.
37:21So I'm not going to...
37:23Yeah, I figured you figured, and I'm not going to tell you something that make you wait around
37:30and think what's coming.
37:31In this case, for using bait for a deer in an area that's closed to baiting, this man
37:37pled guilty and paid a court-ordered fine of $327.
37:41Names, driver's license stuff's on the top, middle section's where we are.
37:45I just wrote you for baiting in a closed area.
37:48It becomes an issue if you don't contact them, and then you can advise what you want to do
37:51over the phone.
37:53So, okay?
37:54Yep.
37:54You have any questions?
37:55Any other questions?
37:55Okay.
37:56Later in the day, Officer Gorno is called to respond to a scene where a hunter has fallen
38:02in the woods.
38:03He meets the wife of the hunter and other responders at the hunter's residence.
38:12I just got up here.
38:13He's in the woods.
38:14Let me put the gun in.
38:15Okay.
38:15Is it loaded?
38:16Yeah.
38:16Okay.
38:17I can hold on to it.
38:18Or do you want to put it in the house?
38:19I'm just going to put it in the house right here.
38:21Okay.
38:22Did they say a name on the residence?
38:24I'll come up with it.
38:26This is what I don't think you'll get the truck through.
38:30It's right here.
38:31Oh, yeah.
38:32Does it get any narrower than this?
38:34A little at one spot, but I cut a lot of stuff back.
38:38We can get over this one.
38:41And I don't even take it down trees.
38:44And it's this way?
38:45Oh, yeah.
38:46Let's try it.
38:47You want me to just drive back there?
38:48You can try.
38:49You can make it.
38:50You want to just hop on the back?
38:52Okay.
38:53You know, what if your truck is...
38:55Yeah, we'll get it.
38:57It doesn't get any tighter than this, right?
38:59Well, there's a couple spots, but it's like...
39:02They are?
39:04I can just drive back there.
39:06It's wide.
39:06You can drive back there?
39:07Yeah.
39:08Then put them on the tailgate?
39:10Yeah.
39:10Okay.
39:11I'll walk with her.
39:11Okay.
39:12Yep.
39:12We're going to try to drive back there.
39:15Come on.
39:36It's right there.
39:42Do you guys think the truck's going to be okay to lay him down in?
39:47We're just going to take it nice and slow.
39:48Okay.
39:49Okay.
39:50Okay.
39:51Yeah, he crawled it here from the blind.
39:54Okay.
39:55Yes, he is.
39:57Okay.
39:57Although the EMS team does not believe their ambulance can make it through the woods and to the injured man,
40:03they do treat him at the scene and attend to his injuries as best they can
40:07before the team attempts to bring him out of the woods in the bed of C.O. Gorno's patrol truck.
40:13He's in good hands, man.
40:14We'll get him loaded up and right to the ambulance, okay?
40:16Okay.
40:17These guys are the best around, so...
40:19Appreciate you trying to help.
40:22It's all ready here.
40:23Yep.
40:27I'm just going to grab where he's grabbing right here.
40:31Yep.
40:33We got you.
40:38Right there, dude, guys.
40:39Right there.
40:39All right, going down.
40:40Going down.
40:41I'm good.
40:41Breathe.
40:42Yep.
40:42Yep, one of you guys want to hold this.
40:44It's just in case.
40:46You guys want to stay up there with him?
40:47Yeah.
40:47I'll hold the blue dive, so you can see it when the yellow dive comes in.
40:52Oh!
40:54Oh, sir.
40:54That's good.
40:55Like that.
40:56Yep.
40:56Yep.
41:06Okay.
41:06Thank you so much.
41:07Yep.
41:08And then he's going.
41:09Oh, my God.
41:10Oh, my God.
41:10Oh, my God.
41:10Oh, my God.
41:10Oh, my God.
41:11Oh, my God.
41:11Oh, my God.
41:11Oh, my God.
41:12Oh, my God.
41:12Oh, my God.
41:13Oh, my God.
41:13Oh, my God.
41:13Oh, my God.
41:14Oh, my God.
41:14Oh, my God.
41:14Oh, my God.
41:15Oh, my God.
41:15Oh, my God.
41:15Oh, my God.
41:16Oh, my God.
41:16Oh, my God.
41:17Oh, my God.
41:17Oh, my God.
41:18Oh, my God.
41:18Oh, my God.
41:18Oh, my God.
41:19Oh, my God.
41:19Oh, my God.
41:20Oh, my God.
41:20Oh, my God.
41:21Oh, my God.
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