DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT Dec 3

[Lee Borgersen]

WEEKLY DNR ENFORCEMENT REPORT: Marten and fisher trapping, Early ice fishing, Muzzleloader season etc.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) Vollbrecht responded to a TIP complaint of an individual that shot a deer at 3 a.m. with the aid of a light while the deer was feeding from a corn pile. The 9-point buck was found in the garage with kernels of corn stuck on its lips. Charges are pending.


District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (Int’l Falls) reports the last two weeks as being very busy with deer firearms season ending and then onto Pine Marten and Fisher trapping season, wolf season, and muzzleloader deer season. Enforcement action included several gross misdemeanor big game violations, trapping, and fur registration violations. Several presentations were given at local church group meetings. Follow-up investigations and reports are currently being worked on between the phone calls and complaints.


CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports working on vehicle repairs and radio issues over the week, additional time was spent on computer and administrative tasks, free time was spent returning phone calls on a variety of outdoor matters.


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports following up on calls and complaints throughout the week. One ice shelter was seen on the west end of Lake Vermilion, on 3-inches of ice. The fisher and pine marten trapping season was monitored. Muzzleloader deer season continues along with the late season wolf hunt and trapping season.


CO Dan Starr (Tower) spent most of the week dedicated to a jury trial in which a guilty verdict was handed down. Some eager fishermen are out on the ice, but extreme caution should be used. FAS safety and snowmobile safety issues were also addressed.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked trapping and deer seasons and associated complaints, followed up on deer rifle season cases, tagged furs at registration day and was first on the scene of an injury car crash where one driver had to be extricated. A deer that jumped off a bridge because of oncoming traffic, and broke both front legs. The officer had to put the deer down. Enforcement action was taken on fail to validate otter and fisher/marten site tags and over limit of fisher.


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) checked fisher and pine marten trappers during the six day trapping season and registered furs during registration day. Some follow up work is being done on litter cases with enforcement action being taken. A few muzzleloader deer hunters were seen out and were checked. Equipment is being prepared for the upcoming snowmobile season.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt / Ely) reports assisting a trapper in releasing an incidentally caught wolf. Trappers were worked throughout the week with enforcement action taken for trapping violations. Wolf hunters and wolf trappers were doing well. The first ice fisherman checked this year received paperwork for possession of an illegal length northern.


CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked trapping enforcement. The marten/fisher season participants were reporting poor success and since the season is now a shorter season. There was a lot of frustration expressed where people felt that things happened too soon after deer season, overlapped the Thanksgiving Holiday family time and that there were too many people competing for the same time window. Ice is on the lakes, but the warm weather is making it very dangerous. Be careful.


CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) helped with DNR marten/fisher, and otter registration during the week. The number of animals registered and trapper numbers were down. The CO checked wolf hunters, muzzleloader hunters, trappers and anglers during the week. Some of the small, shallow lakes have 5-6 inches of ice on them, but with recent warm temperatures, caution is advised. Anglers that have ventured out, have found fishing to be slow so far. Enforcement action was taken for unlawful water trap sets, untagged traps and no fishing license. Approximately 40 traps were reported stolen to the CO during the week.


CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) followed up on cases from the firearm deer season and checked muzzleloader hunters. The Officer checked traps and found majority of trappers in compliance. A few traps were found set illegally, traps were seized and paperwork was issued. Wahlstrom registered furs with the wildlife manager in Finland.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy fisher/pine marten season; rumors of good prices brought out many trappers. The season also brought complaints of traps set in a state park, trap and fur theft and one dog caught in a trap. CO Manning also assisted the DNR Wildlife manager with fur registration. The officer checked a successful wolf trapper and sets of hopeful trappers. She continued to work complaints from deer season and prepare for seasonal equipment changeover.


Two Harbors - vacant.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) worked the start of the dark house spearing season on Lake Winnibigoshish, checking anglers, spearers, ATVs and bait. Unfortunately some of the ATVs and trailers fell through the thinner ice. CO Arhart assisted the sheriff’s office in responding to ATVs through the ice. No one was injured or delayed too long. Spearing success was better earlier in the week. CO Arhart also checked trapping and hunting activities along with assisting wildlife staff at the Deer River fur registration station. A road- killed deer was disposed of. Wetland Conservation Act restoration orders and recent court actions were tracked.


CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) completed a case from the firearms season. Area trappers and muzzleloaders were checked. Questions were answered in regards to the gray wolf season and car deer permits were issued. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms and littering.


CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) checked ice conditions on various lakes around the area. Lots of open water on many lakes with varying ice ranging from one to three inches in certain spots. She checked muzzleloader activity and netting activity. She also followed up on a public waters violation where enforcement action was taken. She received a couple trapping complaints, which will be investigated and also assisted wildlife with furbearer registration.


CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked with COC Belgard in field training status. They patrolled the Bigfork station for various activities including small game, big game, ATV, and fishing activity. They also assisted with fur tagging in Effie. Various trapping violations were encountered.


CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) had a busy week of checking trapping activity and assisting with fur registration at the end of the week for fisher/pine marten/ bobcat/otter takes. Numbers look down for both fisher and pine marten harvests. CO Sutherland also checked some early ice anglers and spearers with ice conditions varying on the small lakes.


CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked trappers and muzzleloader hunters. He also assisted with fur tagging and handled calls on an injured pelican, trespass, and trap tampering. Enforcement action taken for operating a snowmobile on the roadway shoulder and failure to display valid snowmobile registration.


ATV Rec. Officer - vacant.




District 8 - Duluth area


CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) followed up on complaints from firearm deer season. Trapping issues were investigated and Officer Schmidt attended fur registration in the Duluth area. Reports were completed from deer season and evidence was processed. Equipment maintenance was completed.


CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports the ice on local lakes is extremely thin and no travel is advised at this time. Time was spent wrapping up several cases left over from the firearms deer season. Pine Marten/Fisher trappers were checked. A complaint regarding wolf hunting was investigated. A few muzzleloader hunters were contacted. Complaints of deer carcasses being dumped are still being fielded.


CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) worked known trapping areas for trapping activity. Many traps were checked with law compliance being very good. Time was also spent at the area DNR Wildlife office during fur registration visiting with DNR staff and area trappers. Officer’s Duncan and Ter Meer investigated a possibly hunter harassment case that eventually turned into charges of hunting over bait within the city of Duluth while archery deer hunting. Officer’s Ter Meer and Duncan also investigated an illegal take of deer during closed hours. Wolf and deer hunters were also checked in the field over the weekend.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) continued follow up investigations and reports from firearms deer season. Complaints of trespassing and road hunting were received and investigated. CO Humphrey worked muzzleloader and trapping enforcement over the weekend. CO Humphrey spoke to a Snowmobile Safety class in Carlton.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) attended the Environmental Congress meeting in Duluth. Large turnout of folks who are concerned about the environment and what elected officials are doing to deal with it. Input was given to those in position to deal with the issues. A wetland violation was investigated with cease and desist order issued. Officer Scott assisted Officer Hanzal in investigation of a wolf hunter who had placed a large amount of deer parts and scraps from processing deer.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


Sgt. Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked muzzleloader deer hunters and trappers over the course of the week. Spent time at fur registration. Finished up month ending reports and paperwork. Followed up on a FAS field day for an area youth. Shore anglers along the North Shore checked in the Duluth area.


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked a few diehard trout anglers who got out on Superior at the start of the new lake trout season. Fishing was slow with a few trout and salmon reportedly being hooked. Marten/fisher trappers found very few animals in their sets this year; unseasonal weather did not help. A lack of tracks in the woods coincided with this slow trapping season. Warm weather knocked back the early snow, leaving snowmobilers to wait for another winter storm to begin their season. Enforcement action was taken for trapping and ATV violations.


CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) investigated an archery deer hunter hunting over bait, and investigated a deer shot in Hermantown by the airport after dark. If you have information contact TIP. He worked on finishing up deer season paperwork. He also checked traps, predator hunters, and attended furbearer registration. Some archery and muzzleloader hunters were checked. He attended some on-line training. Enforcement action was taken for hunter deer over bait, trapping, blaze orange, and ATV violations.