9/27/2026-10/10/2026

 District 1 counties of service: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon.

Sergeant Mark Leadman, Corporal Brett DeLonge, and COs Jeremy Sergey, Cody Smith, John Kamps, and Olivia Haerr assisted at the Ridge Fire north of Negaunee in Marquette County. The officers directed traffic, warned residents, and evacuated homes directly endangered by the flames. They remained on scene overnight to monitor nearby residences and protect the area, successfully saving a piece of equipment when fire breached a containment line.

District 2 counties of service: Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, Schoolcraft.

CO Matthew Bowser investigated a Delta County complaint of bullet holes in a garage and used calculated trajectory to trace the shot to a nearby residence. The homeowner confessed to firing from an ORV in a cornfield, prompting a report to the Delta County Prosecutor's Office for the careless discharge of a firearm causing property damage.

District 3 counties of service: Alpena, Antrim, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego, Presque Isle.

CO Andrea Albert interviewed a nonresident deer hunter after records indicated a multi-year pattern of poaching and tag fraud. CO Albert caught the suspect this archery season with an antlerless deer that had been illegally tagged post-harvest, resulting in the seizure of the processed venison. The subject confessed to taking three unlicensed deer in 2025, and further investigation proved he had used family tags for years to cover multiple harvests, including antlered bucks in 2022 and 2024. Charges are pending for the illegally taken wildlife and the reimbursement of several years of non-resident licensing fees.

CO Nathan Beelman assisted the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department in safely locating a missing ORV rider who had been unaccounted for six hours after leaving his home. Following a two-hour search of the surrounding area, CO Beelman and sheriff's deputies found the subject, whose vehicle had become stuck and suffered a dead battery. The rider had walked back to his house to retrieve a battery charger without notifying anyone but then became disoriented in the dark on his return trip. The officers successfully escorted him back home.

CO Duane Budreau assisted the Emmet County Sheriff’s Department in locating a missing hiker at Wilderness State Park who had become separated from a companion while both were allegedly under the influence of an unknown substance. After one fell down a hill, the companion waited hours nearby before leaving. He was later found slumped over his steering wheel on I-75 by Cheboygan County deputies, where he explained the situation. Meanwhile, searchers discovered a wildfire on the park's southern boundary alongside a prescription bottle bearing the missing hiker's name. A coordinated rescue effort involving Emmet County responders and park personnel culminated when an officer spotted the soles of the missing individual's feet sticking straight up from the crotch of a tree, where he was hidden from view. The subject was safely extracted, brought to the staging area, and returned home.

CO Duane Budreau responded to assist the Emmet County Sheriff’s Department in locating a female subject reportedly experiencing suicidal thoughts in the southern portion of Wilderness State Park. The subject was eventually located on a secluded section of beach. She was covered in sand after falling to the ground during an encounter in which a Good Samaritan intervened and wrestled prescription medication from her hand. The subject appeared highly intoxicated and was transported to the emergency room for a psychological evaluation.

COs Jack Gorno and Sidney LaLonde assisted the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department in safely locating a missing elderly motorist with dementia. While searching, CO Gorno contacted two dirt bike operators who reported seeing the subject's deeply stuck and unoccupied vehicle earlier that day. This critical information allowed law enforcement to narrow their search area and quickly locate the vehicle, discovering the missing individual a short while later sitting beneath a nearby tree. The subject was cleared by EMS on-scene and successfully reunited with family.

CO Evan White responded to a Presque Isle County domestic dispute, utilizing local knowledge to track down and detain the fleeing suspect on nearby state land. After securing the scene, ensuring the victim was uninjured, and conducting an initial interview, CO White searched a nearby two-track road where he discovered the suspect attempting to hide. CO White safely secured the individual and turned both the suspect and the investigation over to the MSP.

District 4 counties of service: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Wexford.

CO William Haskin issued several citations while patrolling the Homestead Dam in Benzie County after witnessing four anglers illegally fishing within 300 feet of the lamprey barrier. During the patrol, CO Haskin observed one individual repeatedly trying to snag a visible fish in the river. After those attempts failed, another angler in the group hand-netted the fish out of the water. The group received citations for fishing within the restricted 300-foot zone and for possession of an illegally taken fish.

CO Angela Greenway followed up on a Mecosta County baiting complaint, uncovering a case of theft by an individual impersonating a conservation officer. When contacted, the landowner claimed he found her note left on his property; however, CO Greenway clarified that she had not left one. The landowner explained that someone had entered his land, confiscated his bait blocks and trail camera SD cards, and left a note featuring the DNR logo with a handwritten message stating "baiting is illegal." CO Greenway advised the landowner that conservation officers do not confiscate bait or SD cards in this manner, and an investigation into the theft is currently ongoing.

CO Cameron Wright assisted the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department and MSP with successfully locating a juvenile who had wandered off from home and became lost in the woods.

CO Tim Barboza successfully intercepted a shoplifting suspect in Newaygo County shortly after central dispatch reported a larceny at a local big-box store. Utilizing nearby back roads, CO Barboza spotted the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop to assist the Fremont Police Department. The stolen property was recovered from the vehicle, and Fremont PD cited the individual for larceny.

District 5 counties of service: Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon.

Nothing to report

District 6 counties of service: Bay, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola.

COs Nick McNamee and Alex Arndt were checking waterfowl hunters on Saginaw Bay during the Zone 2 opener when they found an individual to be in possession of toxic shot while hunting. A citation was issued for the priority violation.

District 7 counties of service: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St Joseph, Van Buren.

CO Carter Woodwyk was patrolling the Allegan State Game Area on foot when he observed an archery deer hunter beginning to ascend into his saddle stand. After the CO announced his presence, the hunter immediately stated that his licenses were at his residence. A check with dispatch revealed that the individual was currently revoked from purchasing or possessing any hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses. The CO escorted the subject out of the woods to his vehicle where enforcement action was taken.

CO Zach Bauer responded to a report of a subject in cardiac arrest. CO Bauer arrived first on scene, immediately deployed an AED and continued CPR along with other arriving first responders. After several minutes, the patient regained a heartbeat and began breathing independently. The patient opened their eyes shortly before being loaded into the ambulance and was transported to the hospital by MedicOne for further treatment.

CO Matt Page observed a couple fishing with their children. He saw the male subject hook a salmon and hand the pole to his spouse; the fish was determined to be foul hooked. CO Page later saw the individuals place the fish in the trunk of their vehicle before continuing to fish. Upon contact, the couple initially stated that they had not caught any fish and were just beginning to fish. After being advised that the CO had observed the foul hooked salmon caught and placed in their trunk, they became cooperative and retrieved the fish. A citation was issued for retaining a foul hooked fish, and the fish was seized.

District 8 counties of service: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Shiawassee.

In Ionia County, CO Jeremy Beavers received a complaint that a person was baiting on state land. CO Beavers spoke with the complainant and learned the site was baited with shelled corn, and it was a large pile, with around 50 pounds. The complainant also stated there was a trail camera near the bait. CO Beavers met the complainant and was taken to the bait site. There CO Beavers discovered a large amount of corn, two trail cameras, and one unlabeled tree stand. CO Beavers was also provided with a suspect vehicle description. The complainant stated he was forced to move a tree stand because he did not want to be accused of baiting. CO Beavers checked the area after the season opened and the suspect vehicle was in the lot. CO Beavers walked to the baited location and found a hunter in the stand. CO Beavers contacted the hunter and initially the hunter denied knowing about the bait. He stated the stand and cameras were also not his. CO Beavers asked about the cameras, and since they are cellular, if they would come back registered him. At that time, the hunter admitted to baiting. The hunter was cited for baiting in a closed area.

COs Cody Simmons and Wesley Bulter responded to a call in Clinton County for an archery deer hunter who was struck in the chest by a stray bullet while he was sitting in his blind. The COs conducted a thorough investigation, collected evidence, and performed several interviews. As a result of their investigation, the COs believe that a stray bullet came from a neighboring property where people were target shooting without an appropriate back stop. Once the case is finalized, the COs will submit a report to the Clinton County Prosecutors’ Office requesting negligent discharge charges.

In Ionia County, CO Jeremy Beavers checked angler activity along Prairie Creek. During his checks, he spotted a vehicle parked near a bridge that is used to access the creek. CO Beavers checked the vehicle for anglers, but no one was seen. CO Beavers went under the bridge and saw three large coho salmon on shore. As CO Beavers looked around, he heard voices coming from downstream. CO Beavers returned to the top of the bridge and was crossing it when a person in the creek began walking in his direction. The person saw CO Beavers and quickly ducked out of view and went back downstream. CO Beavers then walked downstream along the shoreline where he saw two people in the creek hiding behind some deadfall. After a few minutes they began to walk upstream towards the bridge. At that time CO Beavers made contact and quickly noticed they did not possess fishing gear. CO Beavers asked if the salmon belonged to them and they stated yes. CO Beavers asked how they caught the salmon since they didn’t have fishing gear. They said they were catching them by hand or kicking them on shore. CO Beavers stated he assumed they knew this was illegal since they were attempting to hide from him. They admitted they knew it was illegal. The anglers were cited for taking salmon by an illegal method. The salmon weighed a total of 25 pounds, and the anglers face up to $250 in restitution for catching the fish by an illegal method.

District 9 counties of service: Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair.

Sgt. Keven Luther responded to a broadcast from Livingston County Central Dispatch regarding an individual who was reportedly shooting a pistol at a deer in the roadway on opening morning of archery deer season. Sgt. Luther arrived on scene to assist local officers. Upon arrival, it became apparent that the individual, who had fired his pistol in the roadway at an injured deer, was attempting to dispatch the same 9-point buck he had originally shot earlier that morning, approximately two houses away. The individual had taken the deer at first light and, while tracking it several hours later, jumped the wounded animal and fired at least three additional shots as it fled. The on-scene investigation determined that the hunter had hunted over bait, taken a deer using an unlawful method, and violated multiple safety zones around residences while attempting to dispatch the deer. The deer meat was donated to the Hunters Against Hunger program, and the 9-point rack was secured and entered into evidence. Formal charges will be submitted to the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office.

CO Jaime Salisbury responded to a complaint regarding several people taking ducks out of season in Lapeer County. CO Salisbury arrived on scene with about five minutes to spare and he was able to contact the two subjects as they came back to the ramp. They were in possession of two wood ducks and stated they had lost several more in the cattails during the hunt. CO Salisbury issued each subject a citation for taking waterfowl during the closed season and an additional citation for operating an unregistered watercraft to the boat owner.

District 10 counties of service: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne.

While patrolling near Belanger Park in River Rouge, Sgt. Purdy observed a truck pulling a boat trailer covered in seaweed. A traffic stop was initiated. The driver stated that he has never pulled weeds off his trailer and all the weeds were from various bodies of water. The driver was also unable to produce insurance for the truck. The driver was issued a citation for the AIS violation and warned for not being able to produce proof of insurance.

CO Andrew Werth conducted a fisheries patrol at Bishop Park in Wyandotte. CO Werth contacted an angler who said that he had caught one smallmouth bass. The CO looked at the bass and could visibly tell that the smallmouth bass was undersized. The CO verified that the bass was undersized and measured 7.25 inches where the legal requirement is 14 inches. The CO also asked to see the angler’s fishing license and the angler admitted to not having one. The CO seized the smallmouth bass and issued a citation for taking and possessing an undersized smallmouth bass and possessing fish without a license.

CO Andrew Werth found a discrepancy between a license purchase and harvest reporting time for one hunter. The CO went over to the hunter’s house to get the full story. The hunter originally claimed that he shot the 8-point deer in between the time of purchasing his tags and when he did the harvest report for the deer. The CO asked the hunter to start over, and the hunter admitted to shooting the deer the night before without any licenses. The hunter also admitted to shooting the buck over bait. It was also found that the hunter harvest reported a different tag than the one he attached to the deer. The hunter’s 8-point buck was seized, and both his combination tags were seized for the season. Charges for taking an 8-point deer without a license, use of bait in aid of harvesting a deer, and failing to immediately tag the deer are being sought through the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office 

COs David Schaumburger and Kris Kiel came upon a pair of perch anglers on Lake Saint Clair. The anglers said they had about 40 perch, but they were not using any sort of counter to keep track. CO Kiel counted the fish and found them to be in possession of 53 perch. The anglers were given a citation for over limit of perch.

CO Brandon Vacek received information from Station 20 about a licensed dog tracker reporting the start of a deer track in Monroe County. While DNR dispatchers were obtaining information from the trackers, it was determined that the hunter told the tracker that the deer tag that was intended to be used was left at work that day by mistake. DNR dispatchers were able to determine the identity of the hunter and that there were no deer license purchases made by that individual for the 2026 season. The CO was able to respond quickly to the location after receiving the complaint, meeting with the trackers and the hunter still on the scene. Interviews were conducted with all parties. It was later determined the hunter did not possess any deer licenses for the 2026 season but may have intended to buy one after harvesting a deer. There was also a moderate amount of bait used at the location in which the hunter had shot at the deer. The deer was never located during the investigation. Charges will be submitted to the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office for attempting to take deer no license and baiting deer.