11/09/09 Report (Dist. 5-9)

[Woody]

District 5 - Eveleth area
11/8

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) answered numerous questions prior to deer season and issued several ATV closed hours permits. Opening deer season brought surprise to several hunters as they where visited by the game warden and asked why they were hunting over bait. Enforcement action was taken for illegal ATV use, hunting over baited area, and no blaze orange. Lots of hunters commenting on the deer population.

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray/Kabetogama) worked the firearms deer season opener with neighboring CO Kittelson. Several people were cited and guns seized for hunting deer over a baited area. He also investigated a complaint and interviewed suspects who sprayed chemicals on trees, and cut down trees, to make numerous wide shooting lanes for their stands on state property. Investigated numerous complaints of ATVs operating in closed hours, hunter harassment complaints, and trespassing complaints. Officer Steen checked deer at a registration station and talked with Twin Cities’ hunters who wanted to register their deer first, before asking where the nearest hospital was. Inspection of the back of their vehicle revealed a prone hunter with multiple breaks to his leg, but a very good splint job done with rope and large balsam branches!

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports continued work on equipment and storage of equipment. Checks of public access sites were conducted. Outdoor activities continue to be monitored. Phone calls and questions continue, most answers to the questions are found in the hunting synopsis.

CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports preparing for the rifle deer season. The weather was quite nice. There were a few deer killed however. Most of the bucks killed appear to have been rutting. A few ducks showed up this week but no waterfowl hunters. Lots of phone calls and questions were answered.

CO Dan Starr (Tower) found a busy week with calls and questions regarding deer season. Harvest appeared to be down as were deer sightings. Enforcement action was needed on a many issues for opening weekend. Untagged deer, possess rifle before season, fail to validate kill tags, trespass, hunting over bait, ATV issues and hunting turf disputes were all handled. One case of illegal party hunting was found, in which a person in the Twin Cities had miraculously shot and tagged a deer near Tower. Numerous muskie fishermen are hitting lake in hopes of catching that state record fish.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) spent most of the week prior to deer season checking deer baited areas and working the opening weekend of the deer gun season. Success appeared to be down, however some nice bucks were taken. A radio interview on deer season law changes was done and a Twin Cities news reporter accompanied the officer for a story on deer baiting. Deer baiting was a problem again with a number of baited areas worked, hunters ticketed and a rifle seized. A large spread of several hundred pumpkins was hunted and the hunter apprehended. Other enforcement action was taken on no license in possession, discharge a firearm from a roadway, discharge firearm within 500 feet of a residence, operate ATV during the closed hours, OHV trespass and operate a motor vehicle on a state trail.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking deer hunters on opening day. A number of hunters received citations and had their firearms seized for hunting over bait. Other hunters received citations for transporting an untagged big game animal. Several trespass cases were investigated and dealt with to the satisfaction of the landowners.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) was at a local store on deer opener when a person drove in behind Fredin’s squad truck and parked. Fredin was out talking to another party who was registering a deer and when walking by the truck behind his squad, saw a rifle in the passenger side barrel pointed down and in an unzipped case where the stock was fully exposed. Fredin asked the driver if he could check the rifle to make sure it was unloaded and was told “sure.” The driver reached in and took hold of the rifle to pull it out and Fredin told him to just open the bolt to show it was empty. He then pushed the rifle back into the case and BOOM it goes off sending a 300 WIN MAG thru the passenger floor out towards the wheel. After getting his feet back on the ground, Fredin ordered him to the back of the truck and Fredin took the rifle and unloaded 2 rounds from the magazine and the spent round. Fortunately no one was hurt and the man informed Fredin he had not used the gun since last fall’s hunting season. He was verbally reprimanded and issued a citation for transporting a loaded firearm. Reports coming in of deer being shot from the roadway and the local deer processors reporting more deer than last year at this time being brought in.

I. Falls # 2 - vacant.


District 6 - Two Harbors area
11/8

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked on a waters violation and deer bait violations. One camp in particular had a bunch of stands surrounding the cabin where the deer feed was piled. When Stage began contacting the hunters and seizing all their firearms, he quickly found that the Illinois hunters hadn’t bought any deer licenses. Their rationalization was that they were just party hunting off the cabin owner’s license. Got bait? Lose your guns, and in this case, lose your hunting privileges for three years and pay a hefty fine.

CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) assisted the sheriff’s department with finding an overdue grouse hunter who spent a cold night in the woods. The hunter was prepared with the proper clothing, fire building materials and skills to keep himself safe and alive. The biggest key to this hunter's survival was that he knew his limitations and when to build a fire and hunker down for the night, rather than push on and exhaust himself in the dark. CO Thomasen spent the week leading up to the firearms deer opener checking on baiting and trespassing issues in his station. Once the season opened, numerous hunters were greeted in their stands to discuss their illegal use of bait for hunting deer. Enforcement action was taken for hunting deer over baited areas as well as ATV violations.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that he had a chat with a couple of deer hunters on opening day. Part of the conversation included where the CO lived. The next day these two hunters spotted a deer at the end of the CO’s driveway. They pulled their truck over and the passenger got out and shot the deer across both lanes of traffic and towards the CO's driveway. It didn't work out very well. They were quickly located, the deer and the rifle involved were seized and both individuals will be charged with gross misdemeanors. One should not shoot from the roadway anywhere, especially in front of a CO’s driveway.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) tested and conducted field shoots with adult Firearms Safety students trying to get done before deer season. Manning also addressed changes to the cased gun laws on local radio and with several hunters checked during the firearms deer opener. Officer Manning investigated a report of parties shooting from a vehicle and a case of illegal ATV activity and permanent hunting stand construction. Manning also worked areas of past illegal deer shining activities.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the very warm opening weekend of the firearms deer season checking hunters. The Officer investigated TIP calls on baiting and shooting from the roadway. Numerous phone calls were handled on gun case law changes and general deer hunting questions. Wahlstrom assisted in the location of a missing hunter in the Isabella area. The Officer worked with the Superior National Forest LEO on illegal activity within the National Forest. Wahlstrom worked a shining detail with area Officers.

Babbitt - vacant.

Silver Bay - vacant.


District 7 - Grand Rapids area
11/8

CO Jeff Koehn (Grand Rapids - OHV Specialist) patrolled for OHV activity. He instructed a law enforcement class from Vermillion Community College on operating ATVs. CO Koehn investigated a wetland damage case involving ATVs, a suspect was located and charges were brought forward. CO Koehn worked the firearms deer opener. He had contact with many hunters using ATVs to access their hunting locations. CO Koehn investigated a report that came from Turn In Poachers; the case ended with charges for shoot deer from the roadway with the dead deer being confiscated. Enforcement activity for the week included operate ATV in a wetland, operate ATV w/ youth passenger no helmet, hunt deer over bait, untagged deer, transport illegally taken deer, hunt deer without license in possession.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked firearms deer season opener. The hunter success was fair, hunter compliance was good and complaints were down.

CO Jon Paurus (Hill City) worked several deer baiting complaints and TIP calls relating to untagged deer. Most hunters were seeing some deer. A nuisance bear complaint was taken where multiple bear were lingering around a deer camp and were not too eager to leave with fresh venison hanging from the tree. A case of a hunter shooting multiple deer without a license is being investigated.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) took complaints of deer poaching and investigated several carcass dumping incidents in the area. She also investigated a possible waters violation up north. Firearms deer opener was fairly successful. Enforcement action was taken for big game and ATV violation. Remember to check your license after purchase to make sure it is the appropriate one.

CO Randy Patten (Northome) met with forestry on several issues, worked a shining detail, searched for deer baiting sites, and checked deer hunters. He handled calls on trespass, litter, bait, and shooting from a roadway. Enforcement action taken for untagged deer and hunting over bait.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked a busy deer opener with some deer being taken. Enforcement action was taken hunting deer over bait, untagged big-game animal, take big game animal without a license and failing to validate license. Remember to always validate your deer tag at the kill site.

Bigfork - vacant.


District 8 - Cloquet area
11/8

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cloquet) focused on complaints prior to the Firearms Deer opener. Deer hunters in the area were reporting mixed success over opening weekend. Lots of stand time but slower deer movement with the mild weather. Complaints were down; however, violations were similar to previous openers. Violations included hunting over bait, improper or no licenses, failing to validate licenses, transporting loaded firearms, careless discharge of a crossbow in a city park, illegal ATV operation, property disputes and hunter harassment. Hunters are reminded to review hunting regulations each season for changes and reminders.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the week answering many questions from the public. Several calls of land disputes were also looked into. Some TIP calls of bait were looked into and worked over the weekend. Officer Duncan completed television and radio interviews about the 2009 firearm deer season. Complaints of deer stands were also investigated. Officer Duncan also had the opportunity to see several nice deer that were taken by very happy youth hunters. One ten-year-old made the claim he will need to see a chiropractor after all the high fives and back slaps he received when returning to camp with a trophy 9-point buck.

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) followed up on reports of shining, deer baiting, and trespassing complaints. Several stands with bait were monitored for activity and the hunters were checked over the weekend. Trespassing and private property line battles were common complaints over the opener. Enforcement action taken for hunting over bait, hunt big game without a license, no license in possession, failure to validate license, and various ATV violations.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports illegal baiting for deer continues to be prevalent in the Duluth area. Several hunters were contacted opening morning, fined and had their firearms seized for hunting over baited areas. Most deny the allegations at first then eventually admit to becoming caught up in the commercialized world of using illegal attractants to gain the upper hand in hunting. Many hunters enjoyed the warmer weather allowing longer times in the woods and that may have contributed to high success ratios being reported at deer camps.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) spent the past week preparing for the firearms deer opener. Several property line disputes were handled before the opener and numerous regulation and law questions were answered. Several successful hunters were seen on opening day and despite the nice weather, several deer were observed moving throughout the day. Enforcement action was taken for hunting over bait, operating a motor vehicle on a closed trail, insufficient blaze orange, and ATV registration violations.


District 9 - Brainerd area
11/8

CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) TIP calls handled included: hunting over bait (corn), trespass, untagged deer and possession of firearms before the deer opener. Enforcement action included: loaded/uncased rifle on ATV, no blaze orange, illegal posting of public land/trespass and fail to validate big game site tag. Shoutz also assisted a neighboring officer with a taxidermy shop inspection. Confusion was observed regarding lottery area hunting/registration. If you are hunting in a lottery area received an antlerless permit in the mail, it means that you can only tag one deer in the lottery area.

CO Cary Shoutz (Crosslake) reports deer hunting success running about the same as last season with most hunters seeing deer despite warmer weather. Enforcement action was taken for illegal baiting, license violations, trespass, failing to validate site tags and illegal party hunting.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) concluded an investigation on hunting big game over bait with others still pending. Officer Guida spent time working complaints of trespassing, shooting from the roadway, and illegal party hunting. A hunter was reported being lost. The misplaced hunter had fortunate luck, only walking some miles for over an hour before finding his way back home. Unfortunately, the same lost hunter later in the evening also hit a deer with his pickup driving into town.

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reported checking numerous deer hunters and camps over the opener with success varying widely throughout the area. Several complaints of baiting deer were investigated. In one of the cases three individuals face fines in excess of $1,200 and confiscation of firearms for hunting over bait. Another matter investigated involved a truck that was accidentally shot in the engine area and disabled by a first time youth hunter as he shot his first deer. Another complaint resulted in locating and disarming a person out deer hunting who cannot legally possess a gun as per a court order. Deer shining work turned up two individuals’ head-lighting deer while in possession of an uncased high-power rifle and open containers of alcohol. The rifle was seized and charges are pending in the matter.

CO Tim Collette (Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area) checked late season duck hunters, archery hunters and firearms deer hunters over the busy opening weekend of season. Archery hunters were seeing success during the week as the deer were active. Opening day of firearms season saw good action in the morning and then was much quieter the rest of the weekend. The officer investigated a complaint of illegal placement of duck decoys and several reports of illegal deer baiting. Some violations were observed, but overall, compliance was good.

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) spent most of the week working on deer hunting issues. Enforcement contacts included untagged deer, hunter harassment, uncased handgun, false information to a peace officer and hunting over bait. One contact began with the officer thinking that a hunter lying on the ground had taken a fall. However it proved to be a young hunter who was too tired to stay awake an hour into legal shooting time. One hunter, who earlier was charged with hunting over bait on private property, was seen parked at a public land hunting area. The law requires a 10 day waiting period once the bait is removed before the area can be hunted.

CO Brent Speldrich (McGregor) encountered deer hunters who failed to validate their site tags, were found to be hunting over bait, shining, shooting from the roadway, trespassing, hunting without valid licenses and operating ATVs during closed times. He checked a few anglers that were out trying to catch fish after they filled their deer licenses. He worked on completing paperwork for charging and filed citations with the court administrator’s office.

CO Chad Sherack (Pequot Lakes) spent this past week following up on deer baiting, trespass, and illegal water crossings complaints. Officer Sherack was busy over the weekend checking firearm deer hunters and following up on complaints. Officer Sherack took enforcement action for hunting over bait, illegal parting hunting, take antlerless deer without permits, no license in possession, untagged deer, fail to validate deer tag, transport loaded firearm, operate ATV during closed hours, litter, and insufficient blaze orange. Officer Sherack also took a complaint from a local farmer that a calf was shot over the weekend. He took many reports from hunters that tree stands and ground blinds were stolen over the weekend.

CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reports that the deer opener went well. Numerous hunters were out and enjoyed the nice weather with mixed success. Some of the violations detected include shooting from a road and trespass and fail to validate site tag. He checked one hunter who was from Alaska who had complained that he had not seen any deer. CO Posner talked to the rest of his hunting party who explained that he did not see the 8-point buck that walked by him because he was sleeping. Duck and goose hunters are afield in the Brainerd area. The success for them has also been mixed. They report seeing ducks early in the morning and then things quickly slowing down. Ring bills and mallards seem to be the most numerous ducks harvested. Fishing is still fair on some of the area lakes. ATV complaints during closed hours also received some attention.