Conservation Officer weekly report

[Lee Borgersen]

              Conservation Officer weekly report for Jan. 13
District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Dan Starr (Tower) monitored fishing and snowmobiling. Some perch and small walleyes are showing up. Snowmobilers are reminded to check registration before going out. Assistance was given to the State Patrol on an unsafe traffic situation, which resulted in violations for illegal operation of an unregistered snowmobile.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, spearers, snowmobilers, investigated a deer hunting after revocation case, a complaint of illegal deer possession, and registered otter and bobcat pelts at fur registration day. Enforcement action was taken on angling without a license, no license in possession, no shelter license; trapping without a license, fail to check snares daily, and snowmobile violations of registration, operation and speed. 

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking anglers and snowmobilers. High numbers of snowmobilers neglected to purchase current registration and trail stickers before heading out.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked fur tagging in Eveleth with a few otter and bobcats registered. One individual was found to have used his otter tag to registers another's otter. He received a complaint of found snares with a bobcat partially eaten by wolves. The snare owner was located and interviewed and found to be over limit on bobcat.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports much warmer weather arrived just in time for the weekend opening up a lot more of the area which many residents and visitors took advantage of. Snowmobile and fishing activity doubled with the temperatures and many of the trails have been worked hard. Violations included, unmarked ice shelter, no license in possession, aluminum beverage containers in the BWCA.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked fishermen and snowmobiles over the weekend. Lots of people out and about, and fishing was fair to good for many. Watch out for the bad ice areas and put your snowmobile registration on according to state law. If it's in the wrong spot, you will get stopped.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that the conditions for the upcoming trout opener should be close to excellent. There are some pockets of slush, but most of it is gone due to the frigid weather. Many of the lakes have 14-18 inches of good ice.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled GIA and state snowmobile trails. Deep snow off trail means that many four legged critters are using the trails to move about. A gray wolf seen by the officer was reluctant to yield the trail and take the plunge into the snow. Sled drivers are advised to watch for them as well as other sledders.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports a busy weekend with the warmer weather. Enforcement action was taken for felony fleeing on snowmobiles as well as other snowmobile, angling, and BWCA violations throughout the week. 

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent most of the working from his patrol snowmobile. The officer monitored snowmobile trails and check anglers on area lakes. Cross country skiers were checked, equipment maintenance was completed and trout lakes in the BWCA were monitored.