Weekly conservation report

[Lee Borgersen]

District 5 - Eveleth area - Nov. 7


•CO Darrin Kittelson (Int’l Falls) along with COC reports spending time in the early part of the week preparing for the deer rifle season opener.  Prior to the season opening they responded to multiple calls about trespassing and deer baiting issues.  One individual was found hunting over apples and corn with a bow prior to rifle season opening. CO Kittelson and COC worked with a group of neighboring officers on a large deer baiting case on opening morning that resulted in multiple citations along with firearms and deer seized.  Many hunters were found out in the warm weather and opening day harvest seemed to be good. There were also numerous anglers out on the Rainy River given the unseasonably warm weather. Enforcement action was taken for hunting deer over bait, prohibited ATV operation, taking fish without a license, transport without removing boat plug, and not registering a deer properly.
 
•CO Colleen Adam (Ray) worked small game hunters, fishing activity and firearms deer opener. Enforcement contacts involved illegal trail use, ATV registration and operation issues, deer and bear hunting violations.  Many hunters were disappointed with the lack of success, but expressed the true meaning for them was deer camp traditions.
•International Falls #2 - vacant.

•CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports the lowest number of hunters he can recall.  Hunting was poor, very few deer observed harvested. Lots of complaining about no deer and too many wolves. ATV activity was monitored, as were public access sites.
 
•CO John Velsvaag (Cook) checked deer hunters this past week and responded several complaints.  C.O. Velsvaag also checked grouse hunters and anglers.  Fishing has been picking up.  Hunting deer over bait continues to be very problematic.

•CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) worked the week preparing for the deer season.  The officer investigated an illegal taking of a deer out of season and enforcement action was taken.  A number of hunters were charged with hunting over bait and their firearms were seized.  The officer also investigated an untagged deer and enforcement action was taken.  A number of nice deer were taken in the area, and success appeared to be better than previous years.
 
•CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) continued field training a new officer and they spent a big part of the week leading up to the firearms deer season working deer baiting complaints.  Success on the deer opener was lackluster with warm temperatures limiting deer movement for hunters. Enforcement action was taken on hunt deer over baited area, no deer license in possession, take a doe without a doe permit, transport loaded firearm, and a couple of ATV violations.
 
•CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked deer opener and found hunter numbers in the area appear to be down somewhat.  Assistance was given to CO Bermel on a GM big game (deer) take out of season violation.  Reported hunting over bait was checked, issues of fail to validate license, and failing to register deer before being processed were checked out.  A public waters violation investigation was also conducted.
 
•CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) and COC primarily focused on deer firearms season. The unusually warm fall appears to be causing less movement in the area by the deer. Harvest has been slow on opening weekend. ATV enforcement accompanied the influx of hunters into the area. Arrest was made for driving while intoxicated on an ATV. Other violations observed included transport of untagged big game animal, failure to validate site tag, and no license in possession.