MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

Published September 24, 2012, 04:17 PM
MN DNR Weekly Report

Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports opening waterfowl was uneventful with some people having a few ducks in the bag. Invasive species enforcement checks on waterfowl hunters found most hunters in compliance. Grouse hunters success has increased from opening weekend. A Firearms Safety Instructors Clinic in Int’l Falls was well attended by new and old instructors. Enforcement action taken for the week included no small game license, transport watercraft with drain plug in, and illegal ATV operation.


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports a few muskie anglers were fishing Lake Vermilion. A few grouse hunters were observed, but they did not have many birds in the bag. The waterfowl opener was very slow with only a couple hunters observed and no ducks.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked the waterfowl opener, other ongoing hunting seasons, angling, the state park, invasive species enforcement, and dealt with a road killed bull moose. It was refreshing to see that duck hunters did well with good numbers of birds being taken and seeing a low violation rate. The officer is looking for assistance in locating the suspects involved in the illegal taking and dumping of two large white-tailed deer bucks, a few miles east of Hibbing. The un-harvested deer had been shot elsewhere, the heads removed, and dumped near a road. Enforcement action was taken on taking waterfowl with lead shot in possession, no PFDs and no state park permit.


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking bear hunters and their baits, and also located some deer baits. Nuisance beaver trapping permits were issued and questions have started coming in regarding deer hunting zones and how many deer can be taken.


CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) wrapped up a bear hunting case with violations of hunting without a bear license, fail to register bear bait station, and baiting without a license. Waterfowl hunters had ideal weather, cloudy with drizzling rain. A few wood duck, mallards, and ring necks were taken. A nuisance bear was reported getting into dumpsters within town. A hunter has been contacted to try to resolve the problem.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked anglers and hunters this past week. CO Velsvaag received calls about deer hunting, spoke at a youth firearms safety class in Babbitt. CO Velsvaag took several calls on nuisance animals and checked waterfowl hunters.


CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked grouse hunters and ATVs throughout the week. Time was spent doing investigations, checking illegal baiting sites, and doing AIS work. Fishing has been slow and the weather has turned cold. Fall is in the air so remember to wear those PFDs if you venture onto the cold Minnesota waters.


CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) reports that he worked the waterfowl opener. Ducks were present and some hunters had good success northeast of Finland. He also checked grouse hunters, anglers, and ATVs throughout the week. CO Johnson attended training at Camp Ripley. He patrolled at state parks along the North Shore.


CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the waterfowl opener checking duck hunters and checking for AIS violations. Grouse, duck and moose hunters were out despite the snow and sleet. Complaints of low numbers of grouse in the area were common. The Officer responded with advice, “get off the roads and get into the woods.” The roads were busy with Tribal moose hunters and leaf lookers. The Officer also spent time at Camp Ripley teaching defensive tactics and armoring shotguns.


CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a few snow falls and big bulls on the move during the week. The moose rut is on. One person reports that he saw a bull moose mating with a cow. Moose tracks are also starting to appear more frequently on the back roads. Not many grouse hunters out so a few grouse are starting to come back to the roadsides once again. The few duck hunters that were out reported some success Lots of shooting taking place on some very remote lakes. Enforcement action was taken again this week for unregistered bears.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended annual training and firearms qualifications at Camp Ripley. The officer worked duck opener with neighboring officers; AIS enforcement was also a priority and compliance was found to be good. Grouse hunters were plentiful and reports of birds taken were mixed. Salmon are running in Lake Superior tributaries and anglers were also numerous. One angler checked was relieved when the officer walked into the river to retrieve a Rapala lure that he had hooked on a rock declaring, “You just saved me four bucks!” He was not so happy when she replied, “Well, not exactly,” and proceeded to explain regulations regarding single hook requirements and then provided him with appropriate paperwork. Another angler was cited for failing to release two fish he had foul hooked saying he didn’t think he should just let them go.


Babbitt - vacant.


Two Harbors - vacant.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) worked aquatic invasive species details, checked duck hunters, anglers, boaters and all-terrain vehicle users. Low water levels hampered some water fowler’s efforts. Blue wing teal, ring-necks, and wood ducks comprised most of the area hunter’s bags, with good hunter compliance. Enforcement action was taken for transport watercraft with plugs in. Angling success improved over the week. Arhart also attended the annual aquatic plant management meeting in St. Cloud and he closed wetland restoration cases.


CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) worked the area checking small game hunter and archery deer hunters. She also worked the migratory waterfowl opener. There was not much for a report of ducks on Saturday, but the wind played a role in that. She investigated a complaint of possible sewage discharge into a local lake. She also attended division training and worked invasive species enforcement, where action was taken for failing to remove plugs from watercrafts while transporting them on the public road.


CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) worked the waterfowl opener, checked anglers, responded to litter complaints worked AIS enforcement and monitored archery activity. Many different species of waterfowl were harvested over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for no HIP certification, insufficient PFDs, no license in possession and failure to remove drain plug.


CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) and COC Wichmann checked waterfowl hunters and AIS compliance. Enforcement action was taken no plug in shotgun, toxic shot, not having hunting license in possession, unregistered ATVs and youth operating ATV without helmet. An investigation was conducted on an individual hunting waterfowl while under revocation where enforcement action was taken.


CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATVs, small game and archery deer hunters. He also worked waterfowl opener and handled trespass complaints during the week.


CO Randy Patten (Northome) investigated calls on baiting deer, trespass, and wetland violations. Checked anglers, small game hunters, and waterfowl hunters. He assisted the sheriff’s office on a welfare check and followed up on bear hunting cases. Enforcement action taken for failure to display ATV registration and no license in possession while waterfowl hunting.


ATV Rec. Officer - vacant.


Hill City - vacant.




District 8 - Duluth area


CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) worked area lakes and rivers for waterfowl opener. A trespassing complaint and removal of beaver dam on private property was investigated. Officer Schmidt worked the Carlton County Minnesota Deer Hunter’s Association banquet. The officer also assisted with water survival training for the current Conservation Officer Academy.


CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports time was spent checking duck, bear, small game, and archery hunters throughout the week. An invasives species detail was worked with Officer Schmidt concentrating on educating waterfowl hunters about rules and compliance requirements to help slow the spread of invasive species. A Firearms Safety presentation was given to a small group of newly certified hunters.


CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) and COC Mueller assisted with the drown-proofing class for Academy 14 at Camp Ripley. Officers also spent the week investigating a possible fishing easement violation and possible deer baiting complaints. Both officers attended the Minnesota Deer Hunter’s Association’s banquet in Carlton and assisted with the TIP booth. On Saturday, the final moose orientation was given in Two Harbors. While working an AIS detail in Two Harbors, officers saw a pickup truck with a shopping cart in the back that was completely covered in zebra mussels. Upon further investigation, the driver had found the cart near a dumpster in the Duluth bay. He planned to transport the cart up the North Shore and then back home to North Dakota. The cart was seized and enforcement action was taken.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) conducted patrols in the Fond Du Lac State Forest for small game, ATV, and waterfowl hunting activity. Waterfowl hunters on opener reported fair success with some ducks being bagged despite the lack of wild rice on area waters. CO Humphrey signed a complaint on an ATV fleeing case. A work detail was conducted with officers from Districts 8 and 10. CO Humphrey assisted at the Carlton Chapter MDHA banquet staffing the TIP Wall of Shame. Violations for misc. OHV and taking small game without a license were encountered.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) spoke to a law enforcement class at Fond Du Lac College about the hiring process and duties of a Conservation Officer. A talk about new rules and regulations was also given at the Carlton County MDHA banquet in Carlton. The migratory waterfowl opener was fairly slow with few birds observed in the bag. All waterfowl hunters encountered were doing their part to make sure the weeds were removed from trailers, decoys, anchors, and that the plugs were out of their boats before leaving the accesses. Enforcement action was taken for insufficient PFDs and no HIP certification. A waters complaint was looked into where a person was doing some work to repair damage from the flood earlier this summer. He was referred to the area hydrologist for assistance.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) provided training for the new Conservation Officers Academy conducting water survival training. Officer Scott attended the 44th annual Conservation Education Days at the Carlton Forestry Center in Cloquet where all fifth grade students in Carlton County attended the event over two days learning about conservation efforts participating in different instruction form various conservation oriented people in the field. An AIS station was set up and students learned about the effects of AIS in the area as well as hands on for learning with multiple AIS specimens. Waterfowl opener was worked in the Duluth area with an above average number of waterfowl seen and bagged by area hunters. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, shooting at waterfowl from open water.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


Sgt. Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked river anglers targeting pink salmon, as well as archery deer hunters north of Duluth. Calls continue to come in on the upcoming FAS field days. He assisted with the TIP wall of shame set up in Carlton. Follow up on Lake Superior guide monthly reports. He met with the U.S. Coast Guard on upcoming maintenance issues.


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers taking advantage of a smaller-than-usual fall salmon run. Due to the floods in June, many rivers have a gravel bar stretching across their mouth that prevents any fish from entering the river. Archery deer season has begun, and with it the usual baiting and dumping of carcasses complaints. Enforcement action was taken for angling and AIS violations.


CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked small game, waterfowl, big game, angling, boating, and AIS enforcement throughout the week. Training was also given and attended. Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure you get all the required stamps when purchasing your licenses over the internet or at an ELS vendor. Enforcement action was taken for various violations.