A Becker couple was fined $1,300 for hunting waterfowl over bait and shooting hour violations during opening day of the Minnesota waterfowl season.

Denise Ann Eidem, 43, and her husband, David Alan Eidem, 45, both of Becker, were observed by conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Oct. 1 hunting waterfowl over a baited pond on property they own near Halma in northwestern Minnesota.

A baited area is any area on which salt, grain or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered that could serve as a lure for waterfowl.

In addition to state regulations, federal rules apply to the taking, possession, shipping, transporting and storing of migratory game birds. Among the restrictions is taking migratory game birds by the aid of baiting. Also, opening day shooting hours begin at 9 a.m. State Conservation Officer (CO) Bob Mlynar walked onto the property owned by the Eidem's and eventually came to what appeared to be a fish shelter. A short distance away were several wood ducks along the shore of a small pond with cracked corn nearby.

Mlynar, joined by CO Chad Sherack, saw the Eidem's approach from the shelter carrying shotguns.

"Prior to 9 a.m., we observed five shots as the wood ducks flew from the water," Mlynar said. "One of the ducks dropped and we saw the female return to the shelter. A short time later, she walked to the pond with two dogs."

During this time, the officers observed David Eidem place decoys near the corn. They heard duck calling and watched the couple shoot and take ducks for about two more hours. Mlynar videotaped some of the shooting and the subsequent retrieval of ducks. Mlynar and Sherack then made contact with the individuals. Asked about the hunt, they were told that Denise Eidem had shot a limit of ducks and David Eidem had shot one duck.

When asked about the corn, the Eidem's said they knew it was illegal to hunt waterfowl over bait and this was the first time they had done so. A check of a cooler revealed two wood ducks, a mallard, and two hooded mergansers, which were seized along with two shotguns, and samples of the corn. Citations were issued on Oct. 27 for hunting over bait and shooting before legal hours. The Eidem's were fined $500 each for hunting over bait and $150 each for shooting before hours.

"Hunters are responsible for ensuring that an area has not been baited prior to hunting as well as knowing legal shooting hours," said the DNR's chief conservation officer, Col. Mike Hamm.

"Minnesota's abundance of wildlife is no accident," Hamm said. "It is the direct product of habitat management, and compliance with the law. When you follow the regulations you are on the trail to a safe, rewarding and successful hunt."

Media Contact:
Rich Sprouse
Minnesota DNR Division of Enforcement
(800) 366-8917, ext. 2511