11/1/09 Report (Dist. 6-11)

[Woody]

District 6 - Two Harbors area
11/1

CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked duck and grouse hunters this past week. CO Velsvaag continues to investigate several trapping complaints as well as one on deer baiting. CO Velsvaag saw a small influx of ducks during the week.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) checked grouse and duck hunters during the week. Time was spent readying equipment for winter storage. Deer hunters are getting ready for the firearms deer opener and many could be found setting up the deer stands this past weekend.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked people hunting. Then he checked some people fishing in designated trout lakes the last day of the season. Trapping activity was also checked.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) answered numerous questions about the upcoming firearms deer season. More grouse hunters on foot have been contacted as well, which is a nice change from the high number of road hunters seen to date. Manning followed up on open cases, completed office work, and checked local lakes and rivers. Folks are reminded that it is illegal to store personal property, such as boats, on state forest land and boat accesses.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked small game hunter and beaver trappers. This past week was a bit wet as rain or snow fell almost every day. The snow-buntings are starting to migrate and the snowshoe hares are showing off their white winter coats. Bear bait sites were checked, some litter and signs were left at the site. Wahlstrom fielded calls pertaining to illegal operation on snowmobile trails and questions about the upcoming deer season.

CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) worked deer shining and baiting activities throughout the week, finding plenty of evidence of both. It seems people have been slow to adjust to the new hours in which shining of deer is illegal. CO Thomasen was a guest on a local Duluth radio station, trying to clarify the new uncased firearm law as well as taking general DNR law questions from listeners. Investigation continues into a pick-up truck which was found stuck on a snowmobile trail in the Finland-Isabella area this past week.

Babbitt - vacant.

Silver Bay - vacant.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area
11/1

CO Randy Patten (Northome) handled calls on baiting, trespass, license issues, and tree stands.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, checked waterfowl hunters, checked small game hunters, worked litter complaints and worked shining complaints. The late season crappie bite has been good. Waterfowl hunters have seen some new birds move in over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for Transport uncased firearm, ATV violations and Bough permit violations.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) took a report of an eight-point buck shot, out of season, in the Calumet area. The case is still under investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact her office or TIP. She also worked ATV and ORV enforcement.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) issued a Wetland Conservation Act Cease and Desist Order on a site that had run-off draining into a nearby wetland and creating a plume of silty water. Work was also done with small game hunters where enforcement action was taken with CO Jon Paurus on a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. Waterfowl activity seemed moderate at best with some birds around, but hunters were hopeful while waiting for the big push to come south before freeze up.

CO Jeff Koehn (Grand Rapids - OHV Specialist) patrolled for OHV activity. He gave an OHV law enforcement update to students at Vermillion Community College. CO Koehn wrote reports and completed documents for upcoming court cases. Time was spent locating and rescuing reported injured eagles, he also took a blue bill scaup duck that was found dead on Lake Winnibigoshish by a duck hunter. He also investigated reports of illegal deer baiting. Enforcement activity for the week included, operate ATV in roadway without a DL, youth operate ATV without safety certificate, operate ATV without a tail light and adult allow illegal juvenile operate of an ATV.

CO Jon Paurus (Hill City) followed up on baiting complaints and deer stands on Blandin property. Trapping and small game enforcement was conducted throughout the week. Duck hunters are still having difficulty finding birds.

Bigfork - vacant.

District 8 - Cloquet area
11/1

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to work night shining complaint areas. Archery hunters were checked and follow-up on complaints. Many calls are also being returned and taken care of. Officer Duncan worked grouse hunting and trapping enforcement.
CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) followed up on TIP complaints for baiting, shining, and trespassing. The officer followed up on a complaint that involved individuals shooting clay pigeons and the shot rained onto a house and barn. Numerous permits for vehicle struck deer were issued as the deer began the rut.

District 9 - Brainerd area
11/1

CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) assisted at Camp Ripley with an archery hunt where approx. 200 deer were registered after day 1. A deer shiner was reminded of the new shining laws requiring that there cannot be any possession of weapons capable of taking wild animals between the hours of 2 hours after sunset until sunrise. An individual was located and identified as the leader of a large hunting party who built a 100’ bridge over a creek/wetland to access county land in addition to building permanent deer stands and cutting many trails on the public land as well. He thought it was OK since it was county land and not state land. Enforcement action is pending. Follow up on baiting complaints will continue as we are now within the “10 day window” for hunters placing bait before the season opens.

CO Cary Shoutz (Crosslake) worked on several deer baiting complaints where corn had been placed by firearm hunters intending on hunting this coming weekend. He also checked trapping and bow hunting activity in the Crosslake Game Refuge and responded to a trespass call.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) fielded reports of scaup, redheads, and canvasbacks. Early shooting was also reported and Officer Guida teamed up with Officer Mlynar to investigate. The two Officers found the group of waterfowl hunters with numerous violations. Officer Guida assisted with the Camp Ripley special archery hunt.

CO Tim Collette (Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area) checked duck hunters who reported very slow action. Rain hampered most activities last week, although some anglers and bow hunters were out braving the weather. The weather did clear up enough to have a good showing for the annual rec area rifle sight-in day. Other activity included investigating an early trapping complaint, helping with the weekend Camp Ripley hunt, and working deer shining activity.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) took questions on the local radio station and spoke with a newspaper reporter on a baiting article. Litter and baiting complaints were worked on, as well as hunting and trapping activity. In one case, a married couple faces charges over their use of archery deer tags.

CO Chad Sherack (Pequot Lakes) checked anglers, archery hunters, and small game hunters. Officer Sherack also took complaints of poaching deer after hours with firearms. Officer Sherack took local complaints of possible suspects and other information.

District 10 - Mille Lacs area
11/1


CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) checked waterfowl and small game hunters throughout the week. He also monitored shining activity and is investigating a TIP complaint of baiting deer. He fielded several calls regarding the upcoming deer season regulations and patrolled the Solana State Forest.

CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) found a few trappers putting out sets for beaver, otter, and other species during the trapping opener. Far fewer trappers were out than in past years. Duck hunting activity in the area was minimal. Questions and complaints on deer hunting regulations and trespassing have increased with the approach of the deer opener. A bow hunter was dealt with after being caught hunting on state park land.

CO Dan Perron (Onamia) checked small game trappers and hunters during the past week. Grouse hunters have been seeing a good number of birds around the area. He took enforcement action for wetlands and trapping violations. He also dealt with a public access violation when an angler thought it was a good idea to park blocking clear access to the ramp and a boathouse. He said he didn’t think about it when he parked but was able to see that it wasn’t a good place and would use the parking area in the future. CO Perron also checked duck hunters and found that Lake Onamia was still producing some good hunts.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) checked fishing and hunting activity. Fishing has been slow on Mille Lacs. A few ducks have migrated through and it has been hit or miss with hunters. Croatt also handled calls on shining and baiting.

CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) handled calls of hunter harassment, trespass, nuisance bear and baiting complaints. She also completed reports.

CO Mike Lee (Isle) checked small game hunters and archery hunters. Some good success was reported by bow hunters. Officer Lee started receiving trespassing complaints regarding stand placements and property lines arguments. Officer Lee assisted Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Dept. with a domestic call.

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) took calls and questions regarding the upcoming deer season. He also answered questions about road-killed deer and other animals, spoke at a snowmobile safety class during the week, and worked on getting equipment ready for winter storage.

District 11 - Albany area
11/1

CO Robert Haberman (Little Falls) worked the Camp Ripley archery hunt over the weekend. Many violations were addressed. One hunter was injured, due to a fall, getting into a tree stand. One lucky hunter shot a 265-lb buck. CO Haberman also investigated baiting TIP calls and possible poaching activities throughout the week.

CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) accompanied officials from the county SWCD and Planning & Zoning to meet with a person that complained about numerous wetland and pollution-type violations not being properly addressed by local government. The complainant became confrontational at the meeting and it was ended without any further resolve. CO Kuske inspected WMAs this past week for hunters leaving stands overnight and preempting locations for the deer opener. Deer shining complaints were again reported this past week and surveillance of several areas continues.

CO Keith Bertram (Sauk Centre) spent the week checking hunters, fishermen, and trappers. Time was also spent working deer shining and baiting complaint areas.

CO Chad Thesing (Albany) spent the week working hunters, anglers and poachers. Poor weather kept many inside. Time was spent working the Camp Ripley bow hunt, where a near record 300-plus deer was registered. CO Thesing worked deer shining complaint areas and investigated deer bait sites for the upcoming gun season. Duck and pheasant numbers in the Albany area are still down.

CO Mike Martin (St Cloud) worked primarily waterfowl hunters and deer baiting issues during the past week. Officer Martin was working deer shiners in his station when he was called by a neighboring warden to assist in a deer shining case. While responding to the other officer’s call, CO Martin encountered two men shining for deer south of St. Joseph. Both men thought they could shine until 10 PM, but it was 10:30 PM when they were caught. Officer Martin would like to remind recreational shiners: without implements to take wild animals, from two hours after sunset until sunrise, no person may cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light on a highway or into a field, woodland or forest to spot or locate a wild animal. Enforcement action was taken for misdemeanor shining and litter.

CO Brian Mies (Annandale) checked anglers in Wright County and worked on TIP calls. CO Mies assisted on a work crew in Meeker County.

CO Rhonda Keniston (Long Prairie) reports low recreational activity overall. Equipment maintenance was done. APM, WCA, and Waters cases were worked on.