MN DNR Weekly report

[Lee Borgersen]

 December 26, 2012

 
 

    ........MN DNR Weekly report



District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) spent time on miscellaneous animal complaints. Other activity included checking ice fishing and spearing activity on Rainy Lake and Rainy River. A few wolf trappers were out trying to coax in a timber wolf. Snowmobile activity has increased with schools out for Christmas vacation; however trails still are in rough shape.


CO Troy Fondie (Orr) continued monitoring area lakes and public access sites. Ice conditions remain unsafe and little snow cover. CO Fondie began winter work planning. CO Fondie met with DNR forestry personnel over the week.



CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports checking ice fishing activity in the area. A few pan fish were being caught. Snowmobile and cross country ski trails were monitored; however there was not much activity on them yet due to lack of snow. Another meeting was attended in Tower about trying to find the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade a building site on state land to build a storage facility to house their two large firefighting/rescue boats.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked small game hunting, trapping, angling and spearing activity and snowmobiles. The officer handled a deer with a nearly missing hind leg, an injured bald eagle that was taken to a rehabilitation person and an accidental snare caught fisher was released. Another trapper turned in an accidental fisher. The officer was checking anglers and heard high powered rifle shots nearby. The first hunter located was aiming high in a tree with a 30-30, but did not shoot as he saw the officer approach. Another had just killed a Snowshoe Hare with his .223, but left it in the woods since it was shot up too bad. Two rifles were seized since both poor judgment hunters had no small game hunting licenses. The third hunter, using a more appropriate firearm avoided the same fate as he had a small game license. Enforcement action for the week was taken on no spearing license, unprocessed ciscoes for bait, no small game license, wanton waste and a few snowmobile violations.


CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked fishing throughout the week and saw some northerns being caught on tip ups. Ice continues to thicken allowing some smaller vehicles to be driven on the lakes. A few hardy grouse hunters were out.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) settled into his new station and checked ATV traffic moving ice shelters onto area lakes. While in Two Harbors a young traveler about five-years-old approached the officer and excitedly reported that he had just seen several of Santa’s reindeer along Hwy 61 while traveling north for Christmas. Much to his father’s delight the officer agreed that the sightings of the deer meant that Santa certainly could not be far away. A very Merry Christmas to all.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked ski passes at area cross country ski trails and checked area lakes. CO Manning also assisted volunteer instructors with a re-scheduled snowmobile safety field day to certify students before the holiday break.


CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt / Ely) Reports following up on big game cases, with a citation issued for a deer over limit. The individual who took the over limit asked the gas station clerk where he bought his license how many deer he could shoot this year, but did no further checking into the specific area where he was hunting. Other enforcement action for the week included expired registration on snowmobiles and an ATV, no shelter license, possess ciscoes without the preservation label, and improper deer registration.


CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked ice fishermen and found the ice to be building nicely. Snowmobiles and ATVs are safe on most lakes and some people are unsafely driving full- sized vehicles on a few lakes. Fishing has been good in places and people are reminded that they need licenses on shelters that are left on the ice unattended.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) began field training with COC Holt over the past week. Follow up on a past duck hunting case was performed while trapping enforcement work was also done. Ice angling activity was observed with numerous checks done on both anglers and spearers in the area. Success has been good for both sporting groups.


CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) started step II field training with COC Grewe. Officers checked anglers, trapping activity and snowmobiles. Enforcement contacts were made for no angling license in possession, fail to display snowmobile registration and operate a snowmobile without a safety certificate. CO Fairbanks assisted the Grand Rapids Police at a shooting. Walleye anglers at Winnie are having good success.


CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) followed up on a trapping complaint this past week, which resulted in enforcement action. She also received a call of an injured wolf on Jesse Lake and after checking the area, found that it appeared to be a healthy animal just playing on the ice. Anglers were checked in the area, some finding success. The First Annual Ladies Day on the Ice hosted by the Minnesota Dark House and Angling Association took place on Jay Gould Lake this past Saturday. The turnout was pretty good and there were many “firsts” had by the ladies that came to participate. Enforcement action was taken for angling and shelter violations.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart checked wolf and bobcat trapping and hunting activities, dark house spearers, anglers, ATVs, and bait. Arhart also attended an Eco- Services meeting and tracked Wetland Conservation Act and public waters cases. Snowmobiles and ATVs were worked on. Many hunters with hounds are in the woods. Litter dumping is being investigated. Anglers and dark house spearers had sporadic success. Some walleyes taken on Big Winnie and other area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for fish shelters set up too close to pre-existing shelters.


CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVs, trappers and wolf hunters. Area lakes have 5-8 inches of ice and fishing activity has picked up. He also handled various complaints during the week.


CO John Velsvaag (Region II ATV officer) checked ATV and angling activity on lakes in the Ely area. CO Velsvaag took questions on ATV operation in wetlands on public lands. Ice conditions in the area are rapidly improving.




District 8 - Duluth area


No report.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


No report.