MN DNR Weekly Report for Dec. 1,

[Lee Borgersen]

    MN DNR Weekly Report for Dec. 1, 2014

 Dec 1, 2014
 
District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports a slow week as cold temperatures and holidays kept most people close to home. Car kill deer permits were given to a few trappers for bait and several complaints in regards to trapping were handled. People are reminded to use extreme caution when venturing out onto the ice, remember no such thing as safe ice!


CO Jim Van Asch (International Falls) spent the week checking small game and trapping activity throughout the area. Time was also spent checking ice anglers enjoying their holiday weekend on the lake and working ATV enforcement. Service calls included a dog caught in a trap and a trespass investigation.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring angling, fisher, marten, bobcat trapping, wolf hunting and trapping, muzzleloader deer hunting, grouse hunting, ATV and snowmobile activities along with bough harvesting, and a commercial fur buyer inspection

CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports checking on trapping, fishing, and muzzleloader deer hunting activity. A few fish houses are starting to appear and up to 8 inches of ice has been reported. Some panfish are being caught but the walleye fishing has been slow.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) reports the regular firearm season ended with very few hunters still attempting to harvest some venison. The season was as expected, with lower numbers of deer harvested. The officer investigated a trespass complaint and deer stands on private property. Ice fishing on Lake Vermilion has picked up as the ice depth increases. The ice depth reports vary from 8 to 10 inches, and we are starting to see ATVs and snowmobiles venturing out on the lakes. Anglers seem to be catching fish, but the most are pretty small. Marten and fisher trapping season opened and much time was spent checking traps. The officer also had a special hunt for muzzleloaders in the Soudan Underground Mine and Lake Vermilion State Parks. The weather was warm on the opener and there was some success on the first day. Enforcement action taken for unregistered ATVs, failure to display registration, and angling with extra lines.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked the openers for muzzleloader deer, wolf and bobcat hunting and trapping, as well as fisher and marten trapping. Deer hunters were fairly scarce; however, a better showing was made by trappers. Gears are being shifted from hunting to winter angling as more folks are showing up on the ice.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) assisted researchers from UMD in locating a collared timber wolf that had died south of Eveleth. A necropsy is underway to determine the cause of death. Ice thickness on Virginia area lakes has reached about 10 inches on some lakes. One full- sized pickup was seen on an Eveleth area lake. A local trapper who hasn’t been seeing many fox in the area contacted CO Frericks when he located at least a dozen untagged and unchecked snares, one of the snares held what once had been a very nice sized red fox.

Ray - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports rain and warmer weather earlier last week did not hurt ice production and several lakes are showing 10-12 inches of ice. Permanent ice shelters are starting to appear on lakes that froze over early. Officer Williams has been warning many of the early ice anglers who are venturing further out that ice thickness can vary greatly in just a few feet and to use caution. Violations included failure to display ATV registration and unmarked ice shelter.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) reports that the ice is forming very nicely and ice fishermen have been walking out with some frequency. Muzzleloaders, wolf, and marten/fisher trappers started up right after Thanksgiving, so there were a lot of openers all at once. Snowmobile trails open December 1st, but there isn’t anywhere near enough snow yet for snowmobiles.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) saw a cross country skier out on a forest road during the week. A few people wandered out for some early ice walleyes during the week while most stayed inside and warm. The snowmobile trails open on December 1st, but check ahead for conditions.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) followed up on firearms deer season issues and handled seasonal maintenance. Calls were taken on wolf season, fur registration and hunting license purchases. The officer also checked beaver traps and checked for early marten and fisher trapping.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked with CO Murray on a trapping investigation. Anglers, muzzleloader deer hunters, wolf hunters, and trappers were all checked. Lots of people were on the water and in the woods during the warm weekend weather. Enforcement action included wanton waste of pine marten, fail to report incidental take of pine marten, no blaze orange while trapping, illegal body gripping trap set, fail to register deer within 48 hours, and too far from tip-up.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) checked angling activity in the area. Time spent on a trapping complaints and working the trapping opener.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked muzzleloader hunters, trappers and a few ice anglers. A very similar report for muzzleloader hunters as it was for rifle hunters, few deer seen in the woods. The officer responded to complaints in a state park and followed up on big game investigations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked trapping and fishing activity during the week. Enforcement action was taken for failure to report and turn in accidentally caught marten and wanton waste violations. Dark houses are starting to show up on area lakes and ice conditions continue to improve with the cold temperatures.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) wrapped up firearms deer season cases and checked trappers, anglers, and muzzleloader hunters. He also answered regulation questions on the wolf season, handled a trespass complaint, and worked a call on someone not checking traps at legal intervals.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked on big game cases from deer season. He issued a road kill deer permit. CO Hansen answered questions on wolf trapping

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored trapping activity and followed up on cases from the deer season. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession and OHV registration issues.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) attended annual POST Board training this past week at Camp Ripley. She also took a call of an injured swan, which was referred to DNR Wildlife staff. She answered questions concerning wolf trapping and the muzzleloader season.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked muzzleloader opener with some individuals successful over the weekend bagging a deer. Trapping activity was also monitored over the weekend with fisher, pine marten and bobcat seasons opening up.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked muzzleloader deer hunters, trappers and ice fishermen. He also responded to trapping and trespass complaints during the week.

CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) spent the week following up with deer hunting investigations. Officer Wichmann also took calls and completed paperwork.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) followed up on complaints of deer carcass dumping and solid waste violations. Spruce top complaints were also investigated. Interviews related to violations during deer season were completed and incidental trapping issues were handled.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports local anglers are reporting up to eight inches of ice on area lakes and lots of anglers are taking advantage of the good early season ice. The officer spent time checking anglers, muzzleloaders and trappers during the past week. Time was also spent doing some follow up work from cases made during the firearm deer season

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the first part of the week following up on calls received throughout the deer season. Time was also spent working trapping enforcement.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked angling activity on several area lakes throughout the week. Ice thickness varied from 2-10 inches. Several spear houses were out. Some anglers were using ATVs to get around and fishing has been reported as fair. CO Humphrey investigated two calls on commercial bough/spruce top harvesters. A burning complaint was investigated with charges forthcoming for burning prohibited materials. Muzzleloader deer hunters were checked in the area and CO Humphrey continued work on firearms deer season follow up.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) issued several road kill permits. The cold weather has made good ice on area lakes. Boulder Lake is reported to have 8-9 inches of ice. Anglers checked in the Duluth harbor are fishing on 6 inches. The walleye bite in the harbor has slowed over the last few days. Trapping enforcement took priority over the weekend and of the sites checked, all were found to be legal. Olson found very few muzzleloader hunters over the weekend.

CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked ice anglers and trappers. Early ice has anglers out in full force around Duluth, with many ATVs and snowmobiles seen pulling ice houses around. A reminder to anglers to make sure your machine’s registration is up to date before you head out on the ice. Some early traps were found before the open of marten season, including violations of the lynx management zone rules. Enforcement action taken for angling, trapping, and ATV violations.

CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) worked on reports and paperwork from the deer season throughout the week.