11/29/09 Report (Dist. 6-11)

[Woody]

District 6 - Two Harbors area
11/29

CO John Velsvaag (Ely) followed up on deer season investigations and complaints. CO Velsvaag also checked trapping activity, which is down from previous years. CO Velsvaag received calls on trapping and received some information on illegal fishing.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked trappers and muzzleloader hunters. The warm weather is nice, but not the best for some outdoor activities. Kids riding ATVs on roads continue to be common. One disturbing observation was all the litter that was left behind by hunters at camps and other areas after the deer season. This definitely creates a poor image of hunters.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) followed up on investigations from the firearms deer season. The Officer worked muzzleloader hunters and checked traps on the opener.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports that during opening weekend she checked trap sets and muzzleloader deer hunters. CO Manning also took calls after the fact on deer baiting, road hunters and trespass, and answered questions on the uncased gun laws. The officer also worked on seasonal maintenance issues and patrolled state parks, WMAs, and SNAs.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a very slow pine marten/fisher season so far. Not many trappers out for the opener. Grouse have come out in a big way, but they are pretty spooky. If you don't like the crowds, now is the best time to be in the woods. A few ATVers are getting their last rides in before the snow hits.

Babbitt - vacant.

Silver Bay - vacant.


District 7 - Grand Rapids area
11/29

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) followed up with investigations from firearm deer season over the last week. CO Sutherland worked muzzleloader deer season opener along with fisher, pine marten and the bobcat trapping season openers. CO Sutherland also worked duck hunting activity with moderate success had by area hunters.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) worked waterfowl enforcement, trapping enforcement, angling enforcement, ATV activity, investigated possible take deer out of season and returned calls of trespass laws. The recent cold has brought some birds down into the area. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations and transport aquatic vegetation.

CO Jeff Koehn (Grand Rapids - OHV Specialist) patrolled for OHV activity. He spent time completing in-service training. CO Koehn focused on muzzleloader deer hunters using ATVs as well as trappers using ATVs to access areas.

CO Jon Paurus (Hill City) completed follow up investigations on the firearms deer season and took more complaints of baiting for the muzzleloader season. Time was spent on trapping enforcement and phone calls in reference to the gun case law and road hunting were received.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked trappers, ATVs, muzzleloader deer hunters and state parks. He also responded to several hunting and trapping complaints during the week.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) checked muzzleloader deer hunters and trappers. She investigated a report of damage to property on commercial forestry lands. CO Sindelir responded to various calls from the public.

Bigfork - vacant.


District 8 - Cloquet area
11/29

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cloquet) reports follow up from the firearms deer season continued last week. Incident reports were completed and submitted to the county attorney. Several complaints of dumped deer parts were reported throughout the area. CO Humphrey worked the muzzleloader deer and fisher/martin/bobcat trapping opener over the weekend. The continued mild November weather had folks out and about. A few anglers were observed. ATV activity was moderate.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) spent time catching up on outstanding calls and reports left over from the firearms season. Calls of illegal dumping of carcasses are numerous. A few muzzleloader hunters have been checked afield. Pine marten/fisher trappers are being checked, and so far no violations of the newly implemented trapping laws to protect lynx have been found.

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) continued follow up on cases from the firearms deer season. Interviews regarding a hunter harassment were completed. Equipment maintenance was also completed.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) was called out after midnight because people were observed shooting deer from the box of a truck while driving down a road. The individuals involved were not located. Several calls were returned about trapping season and misc complaints.


District 9 - Brainerd area
11/29

CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) handled questions from hunters on muzzleloader season which opened Saturday. Fisher and bobcat seasons opened on Saturday. You have until Dec. 6 to trap fishers.

CO Cary Shoutz (Crosslake) reports muzzleloader hunters finding success very slow as deer movement has declined significantly. Shoutz continues work on a hunter harassment complaint and trespass. He also received several calls on nuisance beaver and illegal deer carcass dumping.

CO Tim Collette (Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area) saw the nice weather bring out a variety of outdoor enthusiasts, including trappers, anglers, as well as duck and deer hunters. TIP calls of destroying cattails without a permit and unattended fishing lines were handled. Enforcement activity included trapping without a license, unattended fishing lines, burning without a permit, and trapping without a small game license.

CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reports the deer muzzleloader opener went well. Some hunters checked said because of the nice weather the deer were not moving and report not seeing many deer. Some of the violations he observed were deer hunters without blaze orange and fail to validate deer tag. Goose hunters are afield in the Brainerd area and report poor success. Anglers were also out on some lakes enjoying the open water and nice weather. Posner worked on a complaint of small game hunters out on public land without enough blaze orange and muzzleloader hunters.


District 10 - Mille Lacs area
11/29


CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) finished up interviews and case work from deer season that involved illegal party hunting, trespass, hunter harassment and theft of deer antlers. A good number of geese were moving through the area which brought an increase in goose hunters that were checked. Several ATV violations were handled and a commercial taxidermy inspection was done.

CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) reports checking small game and muzzle loader hunters throughout the weekend. A few grouse were seen taken but the deer hunting was slow. Calls of illegal dumping and ATV complaints were fielded during the week. Follow up and reports from the rifle deer season were completed. Patrol was also done in the Solana State Forest and on the Soo Line Trail for ATV traffic. A few fishermen were checked but they reported a slow bite. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV violations.

CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) received complaints of illegal burning, dumped deer carcasses and hunter harassment complaints. She also received questions regarding muzzleloader licenses.

CO Mike Lee (Isle) checked muzzleloader hunters, but not many hunters were observed this past weekend. The hunters encountered were reporting very poor success. Officer Lee followed up on cases from the firearm season. Officer Lee also worked on equipment storage and maintenance.

CO Greg Verkuilen (Garrison) checked muzzleloader hunters and answered several questions during the week regarding new restrictions on harvesting does during muzzleloader season. Several muskie anglers were out on Mille Lacs making use of the warm weather. Verkuilen also followed up on cases from firearms season and answered questions regarding beavers doing what beavers do.

CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) took calls of deer carcasses being dumped. He took calls on questions regarding trespassing issues, and finished up reports from the deer season.

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) checked for waterfowl activity which was slow and also worked on finalizing firearm season investigations.


District 11 - Albany area
11/29

CO Robert Haberman (Little Falls) investigated several baiting TIP calls throughout the past week and weekend. A trespass complaint was investigated and several suspects interviewed. An individual was cited for transporting a loaded firearm over the holiday weekend.

CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) investigated several road-hunting complaints during the opening weekend of muzzleloader season. CO Kuske worked on agenda items for an upcoming deer committee meeting. Thanksgiving weekend brought out a number of pheasant hunters, but they had poor success due to the amount of corn that remains in the fields.

CO Keith Bertram (Sauk Centre) spent the week checking hunters. Enforcement action was taken for license violations. CO Bertram also assisted Sauk Centre Police Dept. with a call.

CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) reports working fishing, hunting and trapping. Phone messages were received for hunting too close to a residence and snowmobile safety courses. He also completed various administrative tasks.

CO Chad Thesing (Albany) checked pheasant, duck and deer hunters in the Albany area. Time was also spent on wetland/shoreline violations and deer shining complaints throughout the week. Muzzleloader success seemed to be the same as the firearms season, slow. Enforcement action for the week included no license in possession.

CO Mike Martin (St Cloud) assisted another officer on a trespass and hunting at a public access issue. Officer Martin worked on deer baiting complaints and instructed at a snowmobile safety class.

CO Brian Mies (Annandale) checked pheasant hunters this past week. CO Mies also spent time checking waterfowl hunters. CO Mies also worked on TIP calls and several dumping/litter complaints.

CO Rhonda Keniston (Long Prairie) checked hunters. An occasional angler was out. It was a quiet muzzleloader opener. Ice is starting to skim over some of the ponds. Waterfowl are scarce. CO Keniston assisted the Todd County Sheriff’s Office with a call.