- 6 weeks ago
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00:00A Michigan conservation officer in District 1 monitors deer hunters on the opening day of the firearm season.
00:17I mean, seven pumpkins is quite a bit over two gallons, do you agree?
00:20Yep.
00:21A D7 officer patrols in the early fall.
00:24The Michigan State Park hosts a large number of weekday visitors during a unique astronomical event.
00:31A Michigan conservation officer in District 3 looks into a case of a capsized boat.
00:36I do drink beer.
00:37Okay, are you sure it's just two or three?
00:39D9 officers check on vessels during a summer boat party
00:43and to look at a spring survey by the DNR's fisheries division to analyze a variety of fish species.
00:50Wild animals and wild places.
00:54They're more than a picture.
00:56They're inspiration, excitement, and adventure.
01:00Patrolling and protecting these natural resources is a first-class band of peace officers.
01:06These are the wardens dedicated to the preservation of our great outdoors.
01:12White-tailed deer are the species most often pursued by hunters in Michigan.
01:38With a variety of seasons throughout the fall and early winter,
01:42outdoorsmen and women typically have ample opportunity to chase these wily animals
01:47as the weather gets colder throughout the season.
01:49The state's firearm opener for white-tails has more conservation officers and hunters in the woods
01:55than any other day on the calendar.
01:57In Michigan's District 1,
01:59CO Alex Van Wagner is on patrol on this busy day.
02:05Going back out then?
02:06Oh yeah.
02:07Okay.
02:08Sounds good.
02:09Yeah, it's not too bad.
02:11Even a shack or a tree stand?
02:13A shack.
02:14Okay.
02:15Perfect.
02:17Anything yet this year?
02:19No.
02:20You just got a single deer tag in the antler list?
02:23Deer, antler list, base license.
02:25All right.
02:26Perfect.
02:27Yeah, you need that.
02:28Let me see a combo.
02:30I haven't got one yet this year, I see.
02:32No, we didn't.
02:33We didn't hunt birds.
02:34You don't bow hunt or anything?
02:35No.
02:36No.
02:37Okay.
02:38There it is.
02:39Okay.
02:44All right.
02:45Thank you, sir.
02:46Yep.
02:47Well, yeah.
02:48You got a tag for him and everything and you're with him, so.
02:50Yep, and it's in his name.
02:51Okay.
02:52Hello, conservation officer.
03:06I believe I just talked with you.
03:09Hey, I just talked with you.
03:12I was wondering, did you post the, put the posted sign there?
03:17No.
03:18Where you were hunting?
03:19Yeah.
03:20Okay.
03:21You know that this is state land, correct?
03:22This is, uh, state.
03:23It's owned by two people.
03:24Yeah, by the state and?
03:25The state and, uh, my boss's, uh, father-in-law.
03:28There's a lot of bait out there.
03:30Or when I checked yesterday, there was.
03:32Did you bait again today, too?
03:34No.
03:35Okay.
03:36No, all I did is put some tanks out.
03:37Okay.
03:38Okay.
03:39Because there was quite a bit yesterday.
03:40I grabbed some pictures and, you know, with the pumpkins and stuff.
03:43Do you have your name on this?
03:45It is public land?
03:46No.
03:47No.
03:48Okay.
03:49A month and a half before Michigan's firearm opener for deer hunting is the state's archery opener.
03:57Although it's not a day that is usually as busy as the firearm opener, dedicated archers can still be found in the woods.
04:04In the state's District 7, Officer Jeremy Beavers is working the archery opener.
04:13He started his day by checking on hunters on public land where he was already aware of some potential issues.
04:19Now it's early afternoon and he's still on the lookout for white-tail hunters.
04:24Later during the patrol at a different, uh, part of the county south of Portland in the Portland State Game Area,
04:31I encountered a group of hunters, um, and one had stated that he shot a nine-point buck, uh, that morning.
04:38And he showed me.
04:40How long were you out?
04:43Long ago when I shot it?
04:44Yeah.
04:458.30 this morning.
04:46Okay.
04:47Yeah.
04:48All right.
04:50Everyone's hunting?
04:51Yeah.
04:52Licenses, IDs.
04:54Thanks, man.
04:55Yep.
04:56Deer was properly tagged, validated, and everything was good to go.
05:10They were having lunch and they were going back out.
05:12You're not going to take this anywhere until...
05:14No, I'm just going to leave it in the car because I don't...
05:16You should go get some ice, man.
05:17Yeah, I don't feel like driving 30 minutes home, so...
05:20I wouldn't get some ice.
05:21You should go right to town.
05:23Hopefully it'll be all right.
05:24Whew.
05:25Yeah.
05:26It's supposed to be 78 degrees today.
05:28Yeah.
05:29That's why we're not out there yet.
05:31Yeah.
05:32The majority of the people I encounter day in and day out, they're doing the right thing.
05:36Later in his shift, CO Beavers checks a couple of bodies of water to see if there's any fishing
05:42activity.
05:43Can I pull the cooler out and look at it?
05:45Yeah.
05:46Pretty dark or...?
05:47It was chrome.
05:48It's kind of hard to...
05:51Oh, yeah.
05:53Nice.
05:55It's legal.
05:56What's that?
05:57It's legal.
05:58Okay.
05:59How do you judge it?
06:00Let me ask you that.
06:01Three-eighths of an inch.
06:02Three-eighths of an inch?
06:03From point to shank.
06:04Okay.
06:05Salmon are running, so I checked the dams throughout my patrols, even in the deer season.
06:10I was told by an angler today that there was some fish at the dams, so I checked the dams.
06:15He's fishing beyond the end of the triangle.
06:18Yeah.
06:19It might be kind of tricky if it swims underneath and his kayak tries going that way if he hooks
06:23one.
06:24Did he come from over there?
06:25I don't know.
06:26I just walked out.
06:28Let's hear it.
06:30The only reason I came in is because my kayak's taking a lot of water.
06:34I don't know.
06:35You got a...
06:36License?
06:37Yeah.
06:38Right there.
06:39No, no, no.
06:40Not that one.
06:41You got a legal one.
06:43Huh?
06:44You got a legal one.
06:45Legal one?
06:46That is legal.
06:47No, that's not legal.
06:48It's not a Coast Guard approved Type 4 personal flotation device.
06:53It's not that one.
06:54Coho?
06:55Yeah.
06:56Coho.
06:57Pretty dark.
06:58Huh?
06:59Pretty dark.
07:00A little bit dark.
07:01A little dark.
07:02Not too much.
07:03Cool.
07:04All right.
07:05So you got to have a PFD.
07:06So we're going to walk to the top.
07:07Okay.
07:08You mean like a vest that you wear?
07:09Yeah.
07:10Well, you don't have to wear it.
07:11It has to be just...
07:12It has to be something you can wear.
07:13It has to be the Type 4 throwable seat cushion, which is not that.
07:14It's Coast Guard approved.
07:15It's got to have the Coast Guard approved stamp on there.
07:16Okay.
07:17It's got the two handles on the side.
07:20You know, stitched right to it.
07:21So you need a throwable hand of something?
07:22No.
07:23Just a Type 4 throwable.
07:24One or the other.
07:25Just on a canoe or a kite.
07:26Orange one will work, man.
07:28Okay.
07:29Orange one?
07:30Orange one will work, man.
07:31Okay.
07:32So we would have to right out here and we would have to be just the type 4 throwable
07:35If you wanted to walk to the top.
07:36I'm going to go back to the top.
07:37Just a type 4 throwable seat cushion.
07:38Okay.
07:39You got to have to go back to the top.
07:40Well, you don't have to wear it.
07:41It has to be just...
07:42It has to be the type 4 throwable seat cushion, which is not that.
07:43It's a Coast Guard approved stamp on there.
07:44On a canoe or kite.
07:44Orange one?
07:45Orange one will work, man.
07:47Orange vest that you wear.
07:48Yeah, you don't have to wear it.
07:50This angler is an avid fisherman
07:52and a man that C.O. Beavers is quite familiar with
07:54from running into him previously.
07:56Not a valid driver's license.
07:57No, yes, no.
07:58This I do know, you drive.
08:00Yes, I do.
08:01I'm in the process of writing my license
08:06and everything switched over.
08:08It's taken so long and my wife and I
08:11are actually getting pretty set up about it.
08:16During the check, I noticed he didn't have
08:19a proper personal flotation device.
08:22He thought he did.
08:23It was not a Coast Guard approved.
08:26So I'm gonna cite you for no PFD.
08:28Okay.
08:31That's good.
08:32I gotta get one.
08:36That's fine.
08:38And no, you don't have a driver's license.
08:40Okay.
08:41So I can't see, I can't see you driving, man.
08:44I got you.
08:44So from here on out.
08:45I got you.
08:46I mean, just before you never, you were never fishing.
08:48So we never had.
08:49Any issues, right?
08:50Yeah, never had to check you.
08:51It was always just like, how's,
08:53we were just checking for fish.
08:55Right, right, right.
08:56So.
08:59That's cool.
09:00Very cool guys.
09:01So I'm not really.
09:03They're like one of the greatest DNRs around here.
09:08So I'm not gonna give you any trouble.
09:11In this case, for not having a life jacket with him while using a kayak, this man admitted
09:17responsibility to the civil infraction of failure to provide a personal flotation device
09:22and paid a court ordered fine of $130.
09:25He even admitted that his kayak was taking on water and it's a huge safety risk.
09:32I mean, he's got a lot of equipment.
09:34People, people can say they're strong swimmers, but every summer we have people dying from
09:40capsized kayaks and canoes with no PFDs.
09:43When I see you, don't be driving.
09:45Absolutely not.
09:46All right, man.
09:47All right.
09:48Well, fish won't be up too much longer anyways.
09:50Yeah, don't say that.
10:01William C. Sterling State Park in Michigan's Monroe County is on the shores of Lake Erie
10:05and one of the state's southernmost parks.
10:09With this prime location, it has a lot of activity from people who are interested in
10:13taking advantage of opportunities for fishing and utilizing the beach.
10:17If you like outdoor activity, Sterling State Park is the place to be.
10:21The walleye fishing here is fantastic.
10:24People travel from all around the state and all around the country just for the fishing
10:28alone.
10:29Sterling State Park is the only state park on Lake Erie, Michigan State Park.
10:34Our beach is a mile long.
10:36We're the largest Michigan beach on the Lake Erie shoreline.
10:40When a solar eclipse occurred in portions of the eastern half of the United States, Sterling
10:44State Park receives significantly more visitors than it usually does for a weekday in early
10:49April.
10:50The event we're here for today is a solar eclipse.
10:55Sterling is not in the path of totality, but we're the closest state park in Michigan
11:01to the solar eclipse.
11:03We're around 98 percent totality.
11:07It's a fantastic thing that we can get the whole community together for an astronomical
11:11event.
11:13It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing that we'll get to see it here in Michigan.
11:18So I've been very excited about it.
11:19We worked very hard to have this event.
11:21It's going to be a good time.
11:22Although a solar eclipse is not a common occurrence in Sterling State Park, having an appealing
11:28outdoor space where visitors can recreate is what park staff aims to achieve year-round.
11:33That's what we're here for.
11:34We're here for the community, you know.
11:36We're here for the families that come to the park, the park users.
11:39We want to provide a clean atmosphere for everyone to make long-lasting memories, you
11:45know.
11:46We have two of the largest boat launches in the state.
11:48Our boat launch here at the park can launch ten boats at a time.
11:52It's a great place to picnic.
11:53It's great for the family.
11:54Park rangers who work at Michigan State Parks strive to serve the community in whatever
12:00capacity is necessary.
12:01For them, no job is too small.
12:04We do a little bit of everything here.
12:06We do everything from maintaining the tractors, planning the events, doing the law enforcement,
12:12all the way down to cleaning the toilets sometime.
12:14Nobody gets out of that one.
12:16We do it all.
12:17Michigan Conservation Officer Alex Van Wagner is patrolling on November 15th, the opening
12:29day of the state's firearm deer season.
12:32He's in an area of the state that does allow baiting.
12:35However, he's discovered a hunting spot that has more bait than the two-gallon limit.
12:40He's already met the hunter, and they're walking together to take a look at the bait.
12:44I knew you were going to be in here.
12:46I'm not trying to ruin anybody's hunt, so I figured I'd get in here right away.
12:49I knew you came in because I had two deer in.
12:51Okay.
12:54How much bait do you think was here?
12:56I mean, you don't know how much you put out.
12:57I had, I think, seven pumpkins, and maybe that much of a five-gallon buck and a quarter
13:07from the top.
13:08Okay.
13:09So, I mean, seven pumpkins is quite a bit over two gallons.
13:11Do you agree?
13:12Yeah.
13:13Yeah.
13:14Okay.
13:15And like you said, the deer cleaned it up and you didn't.
13:16Oh, I got a black bear that comes in every night from my camera right there.
13:21Where at?
13:22He comes in right there.
13:24Oh, okay.
13:25He comes in at 20 after 10, and he's here until 310.
13:28I can show you a picture of him.
13:29He's got a big white V on him.
13:30Okay.
13:31Okay.
13:32About what you said is correct, but I mean, with the amount of bait, and you're still
13:36probably over two gallons here now, you know.
13:39They don't really eat the rest of the pumpkins.
13:40They'll just eat the stuff that's in them.
13:42Yeah.
13:43I understand.
13:44The other thing that I wanted to talk to you about is just with the amount of bait with,
13:48you know, like a kid.
13:49We want to teach them how to do it the right way.
13:51I know you just got a license for him, but do you understand where I'm coming from?
13:54Yeah, he hunted last year, too.
13:55Okay.
13:56With that, did he get anything last year?
13:57He got a doe last year.
13:59Okay.
14:00Yeah.
14:01I just wanted to address that.
14:02You know, we want it being done the right way.
14:03He's a young kid.
14:04We love to see kids out hunting, but we want to, you know, make sure it's done the right
14:07way.
14:08Not that I'm saying you have any bad intentions, but.
14:11So I thought it was a five gallon bucket.
14:12That's not the case.
14:13It's two gallons of bait.
14:16Yeah.
14:17Okay.
14:18But with seven pumpkins and you already said you basically had about two gallons of bait
14:23of corn plus seven pumpkins.
14:25I mean, how much do you think that is about 10, 15 gallons?
14:29Yeah.
14:30If you, well, I suppose if you grind it up.
14:33Yeah.
14:34But still, I mean, that's still, you know, well over.
14:36Yeah.
14:37You know what I'm saying?
14:38So, I, like I said, it is what it is.
14:44I wanted to talk to you about it and we'll just handle it.
14:47We'll go back to the blind and I just wanted to, you know, verify and ask you if you baited
14:51more today just to see.
14:52Nope.
14:53Not yet.
14:54I have no tracks here.
14:55Okay.
14:56Yeah.
14:57I seen, I just seen they were going around the front of the blind, but you said you put
14:58tinks out.
14:59So.
15:00So this, these two people we just contacted, I had found this yesterday.
15:05There was quite a bit over two gallons of bait and some other things.
15:10And the guy had been in contact with one of the landowners.
15:13He was hunting with his kid.
15:14We just went ahead and issued some verbal warnings to this guy and thanked him for taking his kid
15:20out.
15:21And we always like to see that kind of stuff.
15:23Earlier in the day, C.O.
15:24Van Wagner took a peek at a tree stand that he knows is occupied and where he believes
15:28there are some issues that need to be addressed.
15:31While he was waiting for that hunter to emerge from the woods, he responded to a car crash
15:36to which he was called.
15:37At the scene of the wreck, he and his partners interviewed the driver and filed a report documenting
15:42his activity.
15:43As nightfall approaches, Officer Van Wagner has returned to where he was earlier in the
15:49day to see if the hunter he spotted prior to the accident is about to emerge from his
15:54hunting stand.
15:55Nothing at all?
15:56The whole day?
15:57Not a deer.
15:58Okay.
15:59All right.
16:00Is that unloaded?
16:01Yes, sir.
16:02You mind if I check?
16:03Not at all.
16:04Okay.
16:05I can turn it off if you want me to.
16:06Okay.
16:07I'll just grab it from me if you don't mind.
16:09Not at all.
16:10Okay.
16:11Do you want to just show me that it's unloaded?
16:12Yes, sir.
16:13Okay.
16:14All right.
16:15Sounds good.
16:16You got some old stickers on here?
16:17You can throw that back in the case before anything else.
16:21You know, I don't know if I do on this one.
16:24Okay.
16:25I don't think you do because I might have checked it already.
16:29Okay.
16:30Yeah.
16:31I don't know if I do.
16:32I usually, I don't think I do on this one.
16:36Okay.
16:37And you don't have a helmet either, I see?
16:38You left that at the truck or didn't take one?
16:40No, I didn't take one, yeah.
16:41Okay.
16:42All right.
16:43Sounds good.
16:44You got some old stickers on here, I believe, correct?
16:45Yeah.
16:46Okay.
16:47Like I said, I use this thing like once a year.
16:49Okay.
16:50Where are you from?
16:51Illinois.
16:52Okay.
16:53We got a camp down to Kelso Road.
16:54Kelso?
16:55Yeah.
16:56So I'm only up here a couple times.
16:57Okay.
16:58So.
16:59Okay.
17:00Sounds good.
17:01Do you mind shutting that off for a second?
17:02Sure.
17:03Okay.
17:04Do you have your hunting license on you as well?
17:05Sure.
17:06Okay.
17:07Sounds good.
17:08All right.
17:09Okay.
17:10Do you have your license on you as well?
17:11My driver's license?
17:12Yes.
17:13That may be at my truck.
17:15Okay.
17:16Just because I don't want to lose it.
17:18I think it's at my truck.
17:19It is at your truck.
17:20Yeah.
17:21Okay.
17:22Okay.
17:23Sounds good.
17:24Yeah.
17:25Anything to drink or anything in the sand today?
17:26No.
17:27No.
17:28Okay.
17:29No.
17:30All right.
17:31I'm making sure.
17:32Okay.
17:33Sounds good.
17:34Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to follow you back to your truck.
17:36Okay.
17:37Okay.
17:38And since you don't have your license here, we'll take care of it there.
17:40Okay.
17:41Okay.
17:42Okay.
17:49Michigan conservation officer, Alex Van Wagoner, is working on November 15th, the opening day
17:56for hunting deer with firearms.
17:57He is working in the state's district one.
18:01Earlier in the day, he responded to an automobile crash.
18:07Prior to receiving the call for the crash, he noticed an off-road vehicle that was on
18:12public land in an area that's closed to ORV use.
18:16Now that daylight is fading, he returns to the same spot to see if he can contact the
18:20operator of this ORV as he heads out of the woods for the day.
18:24This road actually is open to ORV travel, but are you aware that you're not supposed
18:28to drive through the clear-cut right here to get over all that stuff to get to your blind?
18:33No, I saw the trail on that, so I just drove down, but I did not know I couldn't go off
18:38to this trail.
18:39Okay.
18:40All right, sounds good.
18:41Well, you can agree that it's not a very well-established, it might be a, you know?
18:45Right.
18:46Okay.
18:47I just went down a little bit and then I walked all the way.
18:48Okay.
18:49Yeah, I just, I mean, I seen that you were in there to probably set your stand up too and
18:52probably brought it all the way in the other day?
18:54Yeah.
18:55Okay.
18:56All right.
18:57All right.
18:58Well, Ollie, we'll meet you back at your truck.
19:00Okay.
19:01Are you parked right by the berm there?
19:03Yes.
19:04Okay.
19:05Yeah.
19:06How much bait did you put out yesterday?
19:07I know it was over two gallons, but I don't know, just a rough estimate.
19:10Oh, I don't know.
19:11I just threw out some, I had like a block and I threw out some beets and a little bit
19:16of corn.
19:17A little bit of corn.
19:18Okay.
19:19Yeah.
19:20Okay, sounds good.
19:21And you know about putting your name and address on the sand?
19:22I did not know that.
19:23Not for ladder sand.
19:24I thought it was for like a box blind, like a...
19:26Okay.
19:27If you're leaving it out overnight on public land.
19:29Oh, okay.
19:30Which this is state land, I'm sure you know that, right?
19:31Yeah.
19:32Well, that I knew.
19:33I didn't know that though.
19:34Okay.
19:35I understand.
19:36Okay.
19:37Again, I didn't see a case on your four-wheeler, so I thought maybe you might be driving
19:40back without it cased.
19:41Oh, on that thing?
19:42Yeah.
19:43Yeah.
19:44Oh, no, no.
19:45I always do that.
19:46Okay.
19:47So, just like I said.
19:48I try to follow your laws.
19:49Yeah.
19:50Okay.
19:51Sounds good.
19:52Well, I'll take your license and I'll be right back with you.
19:53Okay.
19:54We were following up on a complaint received from one of our foresters.
19:58The guy we were kind of interested in had a few things going on.
20:02He didn't have a helmet.
20:03He didn't have an ORV sticker.
20:05He was operating through a clear cut off the state land road.
20:10And he also didn't have a name and address on his tree stand.
20:16And he also had a little bit of over bait yesterday.
20:18So, there was a few violations ahead of time that I knew of.
20:21In this case for using an ORV where it wasn't allowed, this man was found responsible
20:26for operating a wheeled vehicle in an area not designated for such use and paid a court-ordered
20:32fine of $248.
20:34He was issued warnings for not having his ORV licensed and for not having his name and address
20:40on his tree stand on public land.
20:42Here is your copy of the ticket.
20:44Okay.
20:45This is something I pay and send in?
20:47Yep.
20:48So, right there it says you have contact the court within 10 days.
20:51It's the court in Crystal Falls, Iron County here.
20:53And then that's the phone number.
20:54Okay.
20:55So, you can just contact them and everything should be handled over the phone.
20:59You can talk with them and…
21:00And then they'll tell me…
21:02Tell me the…
21:03Yep.
21:04Okay.
21:05So, you can call them and take care of it.
21:06Sure.
21:07The most important thing was obviously having your rifle case and everything like that.
21:12Sure.
21:13So, like I said, that's what you're looking for.
21:14Okay.
21:15So, there's a few violations and take care of it.
21:19But good luck with the rest of your season.
21:22Yeah.
21:23Okay.
21:24Michigan has a lot of water and a lot of people that like to get out and enjoy recreational
21:28activities on the water, including the Great Lakes, inland lakes, and rivers and streams.
21:34The Great Lakes state also typically has long winters that may deter some people from utilizing
21:39the water as much as they might in other states with milder climates.
21:43As a result, many people strive to take advantage of the summer weather as often as they can.
21:48In the state's District 9, conservation officers Brad Salori and Martin Lawrence are patrolling an
21:57extremely popular lake party in mid-August.
22:00They've already extensively surveyed the boat revelers, and as the activities start to wind down,
22:05they begin to head back towards their dock.
22:07Along the way, they monitor some watercraft that are not being operated how they should be in this area.
22:13Come here.
22:18Come here.
22:19Come here.
22:20Come here.
22:21Come over here.
22:22Are you familiar with the...
22:24Turn it off.
22:25Turn off the radio.
22:26I'm not talking over the radio.
22:27Sorry.
22:28Do you know your boating laws or no?
22:29I do.
22:30Okay.
22:31Do you know how far you have to be from a seawall to operate above idle speed?
22:43No.
22:44No.
22:45No.
22:46No, I just bought this.
22:47You just bought it.
22:48I didn't bring my second time out on it.
22:51What's your birth year?
22:5272.
22:5372?
22:54Okay.
22:55You have to be 200 feet away from anybody's dock, shoreline, seawall.
23:02So when you're going by those people and you're revving it up and you're pushing wake, you can't do that.
23:08Okay.
23:09So that you're rocking all their boats that are sitting there doing damage to them.
23:12Would you want your jet ski to be sitting there and getting slammed against the seawall because people don't know the rules?
23:18Absolutely.
23:19Okay.
23:20So open the guide.
23:21Look at the rules.
23:22Make sure you understand them before you come out again.
23:25What's that?
23:26The weight runner suit.
23:27No weight complies with the weight runner suit.
23:29Yes.
23:30In fact, you're double the distance that a boat has to be on a jet ski.
23:34Okay?
23:35Take a boat or safety class if you haven't, then you'll know the rules.
23:38Okay?
23:39Because otherwise you're going to get ticket after ticket if you don't know the rules out here.
23:43Okay?
23:44And then if you cause damage to somebody or kill somebody, then you're looking at, you know, going to prison.
23:49So before you come out again, you need to look at all the regulations.
23:53Okay?
23:54The boating guide.
23:55Okay?
23:56Okay.
23:58Take care.
23:59No, this green one just blows it.
24:09Set it down.
24:10Is it a no weight?
24:11Yeah.
24:12Oh, I'm so sorry.
24:13I didn't know it was a no weight.
24:14Okay, if you slow down, you could have seen the signs, ma'am.
24:31Ask her for a motor safety card.
24:32Let me see.
24:33Say what?
24:34Motor safety card.
24:35Let me see a motor safety card.
24:36I only have my license on me.
24:38Mommy.
24:54With its pristine beauty and a wide array of outdoor activity opportunities,
24:58Michigan's conservation officers are typically busy throughout the year.
25:02They enjoy seeing hunters and anglers experience success in their endeavors
25:06as long as they are following the rules.
25:09Even more important than enforcing fish and game regulations, though,
25:12is to try to ensure that citizens and visitors are as safe as possible.
25:17In the state's District 3, Officer Dan Listenfeltz has received a call to respond to an emergency situation.
25:28Everyone's accounted for.
25:29Everyone's accounted for.
25:30We just want to try and get the boat out of here.
25:31All right, so I'm good.
25:32You all right?
25:33I'm doing okay.
25:34All right.
25:35Three other guys in the boat, or?
25:36Two.
25:37Two?
25:38Yeah.
25:39Oh, I got it.
25:40Okay.
25:41Me and this guy coming right in.
25:42I got you.
25:43Okay.
25:44He was just holding on to the boat.
25:45In the boat?
25:46Yeah.
25:47Okay.
25:48She was coming out of the water.
25:49She was in the boat with you, right?
25:50Yes.
25:51I'm sorry.
25:52Three.
25:53There was three.
25:54There's two right here.
25:55Okay.
25:56I do apologize.
25:57I'm still going to have to do some stuff, right?
25:59That's okay.
26:00I get it.
26:01That's just kind of how it is.
26:02I'm freezing my ass off, though.
26:03I know.
26:04I'm sorry.
26:05I'm sorry.
26:06I'm sorry.
26:07I'm sorry.
26:08I'm sorry.
26:09I'm sorry.
26:10You need somebody to just get a towel, possibly.
26:11Do you need to be seen by EMS or anything?
26:12You're perfectly fine?
26:13I'm perfectly fine.
26:14Just see if we can get a blanket.
26:15Oh, I got to have to do that.
26:16No, I'm fine.
26:17Are you sure?
26:18Yeah, please.
26:19Don't go out of my way.
26:20Are you sure?
26:21No, I'm fine.
26:22Are you sure?
26:23Yeah, please.
26:24Don't go out of my way.
26:25So.
26:26Are you sure?
26:27No, we can.
26:28Don't.
26:29Something silly happened.
26:30It's me.
26:31I'm just going to run through.
26:32It's just because it's okay.
26:33Michigan conservation officers Brad Solori and Martin Lawrence are working from their
26:42DNR boat on the third weekend in August.
26:45They pulled over the operator of a jet ski who was going too fast in a slow, no-wake zone.
26:50Here's my license.
26:51Okay.
26:52Have you taken border safety before?
26:54Yes.
26:55Back in seventh grade.
26:56Okay.
26:57I just graduated.
26:58Okay.
26:59So you don't know the rules though?
27:00I like do know the rules, but I didn't realize that it was a no-wake through here.
27:05I'm sorry.
27:06Okay.
27:07This is only my second time out on this side of the lake.
27:09Okay.
27:10All right.
27:11Where are you heading to right now?
27:12To my boyfriend's mother's house over on Anchor Bay Drive.
27:15Okay.
27:16All right.
27:17Well, you're going to get a citation today for violating the wake law.
27:20Okay.
27:21You have to be 200 feet away from any dock or shoreline or sea walls.
27:25Right.
27:26So go ahead and just putz right up there and I'll be with you in a second.
27:28Okay.
27:29In this case for not obeying the slow, no-wake law in this area, this woman was found responsible
27:35and paid a court-ordered fine of $70.
27:37We wrote you a ticket for the wake violation.
27:39Right.
27:40It's just a civil infraction.
27:41So I gave you a break on not having your boater safety on you.
27:43You're required to have that.
27:44Okay.
27:45So technically we could impound your machine if you didn't have that on board.
27:48Okay.
27:49It may say you have it.
27:50I'll make sure I have it.
27:51Next time.
27:52Get your boater safety and your registration on board, okay?
27:53Okay.
27:54I will.
27:56And then make sure you know where you've got to slow down, okay?
27:57All right.
27:58You got it.
27:59Thank you so much.
28:00All right.
28:01Have a good day.
28:03In addition to checking on busy lake parties that they're usually well aware of for months
28:07in advance, Michigan conservation officers also will conduct patrols in spots where they
28:12haven't been informed of anything specific taking place, but where they still want to
28:16monitor the activity on waterways in the areas where they work.
28:20In the state's District 6, officers Dan Robinson and Adam Schiller are watching anglers
28:28and other recreational boaters when they spot a vessel about which they're curious.
28:36I don't think so.
28:37Well, I don't think they are.
28:39I don't think they are either.
28:40I mean, it's worth a swing around.
28:41Yeah.
28:42COs Robinson and Schiller are trying to determine what the occupants of the boat
28:46are up to, and if they need assistance, they begin to navigate towards them to investigate.
28:51Hello, state conservation officers.
28:53Are you guys stranded?
28:54Yes.
28:55Yes.
28:56Yes.
28:57We're waiting for somebody to give us a boat in the lodge.
28:59Did your motor just stop working or what?
29:01Oh, my battery died.
29:02It must be the alternator or something.
29:04Oh, okay.
29:05Yeah.
29:06We were just waiting for the next person to come along.
29:11We should keep you guys.
29:12With all of the activity that they've observed on the lake during their patrol, they decide
29:17to assist this boat in returning to shore.
29:20I think we'll tow you in.
29:21We'll at least get you up that way, you know.
29:23Okay.
29:24How long have you guys been out floating here?
29:26A couple hours we've been out here.
29:27Oh, geez.
29:28Oh, no one stopped over?
29:29Well, they probably thought you were fishing.
29:30No.
29:31We didn't know we quit until we come around this far.
29:34Oh, okay.
29:35Well, we were trying to decide what you guys were doing.
29:36We're like, are they fishing?
29:37I'm like, no, I think they're just sitting.
29:38We were.
29:39Maybe they're just chilling reading books.
29:40Well, did you have any luck fishing?
29:42No.
29:43Did you have any luck fishing?
29:44No.
29:45No.
29:46Not a few little ones.
29:47Okay.
29:48I was about at.
29:49I'm going to flip it over your patrolling motor there, sir, so it doesn't catch.
29:52Yep.
29:53Whatever way you are.
29:54There we go.
29:55There we go.
29:56There you go.
29:57You think we're ready?
29:59Yep, we're good.
30:00I get compliments on this all the time.
30:02Yeah, that's in great shape.
30:03It looks nice, yeah.
30:04It just needs to run better.
30:06Yeah.
30:07Going great.
30:08What's that?
30:09I said going great.
30:10Okay.
30:11We were out doing our marine patrol and some folks flagged us down.
30:17We thought maybe they were fishing, sitting, reading books.
30:19We weren't sure what they were doing, but they flagged us down and then let us know that
30:23they were stranded.
30:24And this lake has been fairly busy today.
30:26There's a lot of activity about where they were in that particular loop of the lake.
30:31And so we decided after just a short discussion to tow them out of there and get them back to
30:36the docks so they could get there safely.
30:38They had said they tried flagging down other boats and nobody had stopped.
30:41So we made a decision to tow them out of there just for their safety sake and other boats
30:45so they weren't a navigation hazard.
30:47So that's what we're doing right now is getting them back to the dock and getting them back
30:51where they can get their boat loaded up and take a home and work on it.
30:54And the trolling motor just gave out too?
30:55Did you guys float all the way down here then?
30:57No.
30:58Okay.
30:59You know, we had just finished up issuing a ticket for fishing without a license and
31:02then ran across these folks that were stuck.
31:04You really just don't know.
31:06It could, you know, we could be needed at any time when we're out here.
31:11You just don't know.
31:12And sometimes it's something simple like this and other times it could be a medical emergency
31:16or whatever.
31:17But it's nice when folks see us and flag us down and realize we can give them a hand
31:21while we're out here.
31:22Thank you very much.
31:23Yes, you're welcome.
31:24I'll get you on the other side here.
31:28They were stranded.
31:29They don't have any power.
31:30So I was going to try to get them up to this other side of the...
31:33I think that'll be fine.
31:35I was just trying to get them close enough that they could paddle up to the edge of the
31:38dock here.
31:39Are they getting hooked at them?
31:41Yep.
31:42Ready?
31:43Yep.
31:44Alrighty, we're good to go.
31:45Thank you very much.
31:46You're welcome.
31:5212, 11.
31:59The Fisheries Division of Michigan's DNR goes to great lengths to continually gather more
32:05information to help make decisions regarding regulations for sport fish.
32:09We use it to determine if our regulations are working, if there's any management actions
32:14that might need to occur on a particular lake.
32:17We can also use it to compare region to region, just to kind of monitor across the state how
32:25our lakes are maybe adjusting to climate change, to development, things like that.
32:31Northern Pike, 19.9.
32:35As well as other species.
32:37So for the non-game species, we only do inch bends because we're not collecting aging data
32:42for them.
32:43But you'll see with the game species, we're a lot more particular about our measurements.
32:48One important method for gathering info is to conduct surveys on various bodies of water
32:53throughout the state.
32:54Not too dramatic of a catch.
32:56Today we are conducting a status and trends survey.
33:00So we do this across the state.
33:03Each unit does their own and their coverage area.
33:06And we use the same gear, same protocol, so that we can make comparisons from a lake here,
33:12to a lake in the UP, to a lake by Detroit.
33:15And it is to look at the whole fish community.
33:19So we're kind of getting a community-wide assessment by doing this protocol.
33:24Big ol' carp.
33:35We use this to age them back in the lab.
33:37Well, they do anyways.
33:38Oh yeah.
33:39For this survey, several different methods are utilized to collect the fish.
33:45So we have pike nets, trap nets, gill nets, small mesh pike nets.
33:52So those are set for like baby bluegill, darters, minnows, things like that.
33:57And then we have our electro fishing that we do at night.
34:02Black crappie, 10.2.
34:0513.
34:0714.
34:1231.7.
34:15Another bluegill, 5.9.
34:2119 on the dot.
34:23Both of those had...
34:25Yeah.
34:26You want scales?
34:28Yeah.
34:29The three DNR employees performing this survey work closely to gather these fish,
34:34measure them, and collect samples from them, as well as to record the data that is obtained.
34:3927.
34:40On the dot.
34:4243-inch northern pike.
34:43That was actually a recap from yesterday.
34:44It was pretty wild to see.
34:45And then a brown trout.
34:46The lake is hydraulically connected to the Cedar River, which does have brown trout.
34:57There's a brown trout!
34:59They're following me!
35:00What in the world?
35:01In itself, not a trout lake at all.
35:02It is shallow.
35:0390% of the lake is 15 feet.
35:04The deepest spot is right here in front of the dam at like 25 feet.
35:20It's very vegetated, not cold.
35:23So, it was pretty crazy to see the brown trout here, but they definitely make their way into
35:28these impoundments sometimes and just kind of poke around.
35:30So, that was pretty cool.
35:31Although not many determinations are made immediately, these surveys are extremely
35:36beneficial long term in drawing conclusions as to how the populations of different specific
35:41species are doing.
35:42This data can be used to inform regulators about whether or not changes to rules concerning
35:47angler activity should be recommended.
35:49We typically use it, in my case anyways, as kind of a red flag indicator.
35:56This would be where northern pike is a great example on the lake because it does have the
36:00special pike reg.
36:01So, in our last status and trends survey in 2009, they saw that pike were growing well
36:07below the statewide average.
36:08And we know that again because we use the same protocol here that we use in every other
36:12lake so we can make those comparisons.
36:14And because it was growing below the statewide average, we did a discretionary survey that
36:19targeted northern pike when they were spawning, so when they're inshore, to verify that slow
36:24growth rate and then make a management recommendation of having the special pike reg of five pike,
36:29no minimum size limit.
36:30Michigan conservation officer Dan Listenfeltz is responding to an emergency to which he was called.
36:45He's in the midst of a situation where a man's boat capsized.
36:48Since we're here doing this, alright?
36:50It's always best to be just straight up, forward, honest with me, okay?
36:53Yeah.
36:54I do this all the time, okay?
36:55So, just tell me how many beers you had to drink tonight, what exactly you had to drink,
36:58how long ago it was?
36:59Before we came out.
37:01Okay.
37:02How many did you have?
37:03We were prepping the boat, I live right here in Austin Ake, prepping two or three beers.
37:07Okay.
37:08Two or three?
37:09Two or three, somewhere right there.
37:10Okay.
37:11Did you have anything else to drink?
37:12Nope.
37:13Any liquor, whiskey, nothing like that?
37:14Nope.
37:15What were the beers?
37:16Bushlock.
37:17Bushlock, talls, shorts, regular?
37:18Cans.
37:19Regular cans?
37:20Yep.
37:21Do I drink often?
37:22Yeah, like, I mean, do you drink like every day or just on weekends, especially?
37:24Every other day.
37:25Every other day?
37:26Yeah.
37:27Alright.
37:28I do drink beer.
37:29Okay.
37:30And you're sure it's just two or three?
37:31Yeah, why?
37:32I just don't want to get to the point where I find out differently and then you're lying
37:35to me because I don't like that, okay?
37:36So, now would be the time to tell me if it's different before we get really into this.
37:40Okay.
37:41Okay.
37:42So, it's still just two or three?
37:43Yes, sir.
37:44Okay.
37:45Alright.
37:46Take your left foot, place it in front of your right foot, just like this.
37:47Okay.
37:48Right now.
37:49Place it in front of your right foot so the heel is touching the front of your toe.
37:52Okay.
37:53So the heel is touching the front of your toe.
37:55Okay.
37:56Directly in front, dude.
37:57I do apologize.
37:58I've been in the water for a while.
37:59No, I understand that.
38:00Okay.
38:01I'm trying to work with you, okay?
38:02I can see you're soaking wet, alright?
38:03Yeah, you're shaking.
38:04Alright, I understand.
38:05So, what I want you to do next is leave your hands at your side and stay in that position
38:08until I tell you otherwise, okay?
38:10Okay.
38:11Okay.
38:12What you're gonna do, starting with your right foot, is you're gonna take nine hill to toe
38:15steps down.
38:16Okay.
38:17To your ninth step, you're gonna plant your left foot.
38:20Using a series of small steps with your right foot, you're gonna turn around 180 degrees
38:24and take nine heel to toe steps back.
38:26Okay?
38:27It's gonna be just like this.
38:28Watch, go ahead and watch me, okay?
38:29It's gonna be just like this.
38:31One, two, three, four, five, six, all the way to nine.
38:36When you get to nine, leave your left foot planted.
38:39Using a series of small steps with your right foot, come around and take nine heel to toe
38:43steps back.
38:44Okay.
38:45Just like this, okay?
38:46I want you to count your steps out loud and leave your hands at your side, okay?
38:47Okay.
38:48Whenever you're ready.
38:49Take this little one fair, sir.
38:51One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.
39:00Yep.
39:01Okay.
39:02I do apologize.
39:03I'm shaking.
39:04I see that.
39:05I see that.
39:06I'm working with you, okay?
39:07What's the number between 13 and 11?
39:0812.
39:09Okay.
39:10That's good.
39:11I was like, is that a trick question?
39:12Not a trick question.
39:13Not a trick question, okay?
39:14All right, next thing what I want you to do, okay?
39:16Come back with your feet together.
39:17Yes, sir.
39:18Just leave your hands at your side, okay?
39:19Just stay like that until I tell you otherwise, okay?
39:20What I want you to do is take either foot, either one that you're more comfortable with,
39:23okay?
39:24And you're going to raise it approximately six inches off the ground.
39:251001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 10010, 1009, 1009, 1009, 1009, 1009, 1009, 1009.
39:54Okay, go ahead and stop.
39:55Go ahead and stop.
39:56What you're going to do is you're going to take each of your fingers and touch them to
40:00your thumb, okay?
40:01Okay.
40:02By doing so, you're going to count.
40:03It's going to look just like this.
40:04I want you to watch my fingers, okay?
40:05It's going to be like this.
40:06One, two, three, four, four, three, two, one.
40:10So you're going to go up and then back down.
40:12And I want you to do that three times, okay?
40:14Are we ready?
40:15One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four.
40:22Okay.
40:23Take a big breath.
40:24I want you to seal around the straw, both steady but not too hard, okay?
40:26Okay.
40:27All right.
40:28Keep going just like that.
40:30Okay.
40:31All right, you're just under the limit, okay?
40:45I mean, you're close, so.
40:46Should be.
40:47Okay.
40:48I know, but you're very close, all right?
40:49Where am I at?
40:50Oh, 07.
40:51All right.
40:52I can still take you for impaired, okay, but you were just in an accident at the same
40:56time, so I'm going to take that into account, all right?
40:58Appreciate you.
40:59Okay.
41:00All right.
41:01So I'm not going to arrest you.
41:02Okay, but we do have some follow-up to do.
41:04You're okay?
41:05Are we okay?
41:06What's that?
41:07Me and you?
41:08Yeah.
41:09Yeah, we're fine.
41:10Oh, okay.
41:11You're not going to jail, so.
41:12Okay.
41:13So, next question.
41:14Where is your jurisdiction with letting me get my boat out?
41:17You can get it however you need to get it.
41:19Yeah.
41:20Actually, the local boys have offered that.
41:22I'm Chief, too, from Sanford.
41:23Yeah.
41:24Dan Liston-Poltz.
41:25Good to meet you.
41:26Hey, my idea is we call, I was thinking of bringing our brush rig in here with a winch,
41:30but how about if we call Francis, and he's got a longer cable?
41:33However you guys want to do it.
41:34I don't really deal with this all that often.
41:35I'm over at Montmorency most of the time.
41:37I'm sure you don't want to leave that boat in the water, I'm sure.
41:39Nope.
41:40I'll deal.
41:41In this case, the boat was removed from the water without incident.
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