MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                          MN DNR Weekly Report

 Dec. 15, 2014




 


District 5 - Eveleth area



CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports little outdoor activity over the week. Forest roads and access sites were monitored. Weekend rain and temps in the 40’s further limited outdoor activities. Vehicle work along with administrative items rounded out the week. Deer remain scarce and fishing reports were poor.







CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports checking angling and muzzleloader deer hunting activity throughout the week. A few anglers and spear fishermen were observed, however none had much to show for their efforts. The warm weather made sitting outside quite comfortable.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) spent the week checking anglers on area lakes. The success seems to be sporadic, but some nice fish are being caught. The officer observed several walleye over 28 inches being caught while he was checking licenses. One angler had the unique experience of observing grey wolves hunting and eventually catching a deer out on an area lake. The muzzle loader season continues, however the number of hunters has declined dramatically. CO Hopkins assisted CO Frericks with a snowmobile safety class in Virginia, with a nice turnout of students. The officer took in an incidental fisher caught by a trapper, and issued two deer possession permits. Enforcement action was taken on the following issues: extra lines angling, unattended lines, illegal operation of ATV by juveniles, and no helmet on ATV.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked angling and hunting activity, complaints of dumped deer carcasses and wanton waste, and followed up on open deer hunting cases. A trapper tried to register a fisher and marten four days after mandatory fur registration day. On top of that, he didn’t obtain the required site tags until the day he brought them in (that were supposed to be validated before removing from the site of the kill) and claimed that they were reprinted. Unfortunately for him, the computer date and time stamp told otherwise. Follow up on the hunter that had been trespassing on the officer’s land during the firearms deer season, revealed that the hunter failed to register the deer. Enforcement action was taken on fail to register/site tag fisher and marten, fail to register deer, no spearing license and no angling license in possession.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke at two snowmobile safety classes and ran the students through the riding portion of the class. The biggest problem encountered with the riding portion of the class was lack of snow and overheating snowmobiles. Anglers on area lakes were checked. Enforcement action was taken for unattended lines and angling with extra lines. Reports of deer carcasses being dumped on public land continue to come in. In one case a site tag was found. When the owner of the deer was contacted he admitted to dumping the carcasses and also admitted that he did not register the deer. The person who dumped the carcasses said he did not know it was illegal to dump deer carcasses on public land. A citation was issued.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked fishing on area lakes and found a few folks out but little being caught. Fredin assisted Tower Wildlife with a couple wolf fur tagging. A litter complaint was investigated and office work completed.

Ray - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports fishing pressure seemed to level off on area lakes although most anglers were reporting fair success with both walleyes and crappies. The last weekend of the muzzleloader deer season was wet and overcast, and although the temperatures were above average very few hunters reported seeing deer. Violations included expired snowmobile registration, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unmarked ice shelter.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) reported the ice is in really good shape with over a foot being common on area lakes. The end of the muzzleloader season was more than quiet with thick fog and drizzle. Remember to be careful with the fish house heaters and the associated carbon monoxide issues they create.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that he took nuisance wolf calls during the week as hungry wolves came in amongst a farmer’s cattle while others went up on decks and took suet balls intended for birds. Information was passed onto a hunter from Mozambique who wants to put in for the bear license lottery.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports a slow week in the woods, made slower by the rain. The officer checked anglers, followed up on a couple trespass complaints, and tended to equipment issues.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked on investigations from deer and trapping seasons and checked anglers. Assistance was given at the Babbitt snowmobile safety class. Thanks to the volunteer instructors. Enforcement action taken for unlawful party hunting deer, untagged deer, fail to register deer within required time frame, obstruct an officer, unattended lines, more than 200 feet from tip-up, snaring violations, and driving vehicles on a GIA snowmobile trail.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling activity. Weather seemed to keep most folks off the ice.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent the week checking ice anglers and the last remaining muzzleloader hunters before the season closed. A few anglers were checked with some nice walleyes in the bag on a US/Canada border lake. Equipment maintenance was completed on trailers, patrol snowmobile and patrol truck.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers, trappers, and muzzleloader hunters. Answered questions on wolf inspection/tagging regulations and processed incidentally caught furbearers.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored spearing activity, worked trapping complaints and assisted with hunters wolf carcass inspections. The recent warmer temps and rain melted all the snow in the area. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and OHV registration issues.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) checked hunters and anglers this past week. Ice conditions are still fairly good in most areas despite the warmer weather. She took a couple calls regarding archery and muzzleloader license questions.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) attended a snowmobile safety class where area youth were given a law talk and introduced to snowmobile safe riding techniques. CO Sutherland also attended the “Shop with a Hero” event in Grand Rapids where area underprivileged youth shop with a law enforcement officer, EMT or military member to provide presents for their families during the holiday season.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVs, trappers and muzzleloader deer hunters. He also worked deer hunting and trapping violations during the week.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) spent time working local lakes for ice anglers. Trespassing complaints were investigated and one resulted in an untagged deer violation. ATV complaints on snowmobile trails were investigated. The officer checked traps and handled incidental catch reports.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reported good ice conditions remain on most area lakes despite the recent warm up, however the melting snow has made things very slippery. Lots of anglers checked throughout the week. Most having a least a few fish in the bucket. Several trapping violations were located and investigation continues. The lack of snow in the area has made snowmobiling nearly impossible.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent time working fishing enforcement on area lakes. Work on a control zone for wolf depredation was completed. Follow up on a trapping case was also completed and time was spent working on a trespass complaint. Officer Duncan also gave a presentation at a snowmobile safety class.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked angling activity on several area lakes throughout the week. Ice on area lakes has been averaging 12 inches. CO Humphrey followed up with an interview on a trapping case resulting in charges for unlawful taking of a fisher and failing to report an incidental catch. CO Humphrey completed a deer baiting case from muzzleloader season processing evidence. CO Humphrey, with assistance from CO Schmidt, responded to a muzzleloader trespassing complaint which resulted in a citation for an untagged deer. CO Humphrey spoke to a snowmobile safety class at Cloquet High School and gave a Conservation Officer Career presentation to Civilian Conservation Corps members at the Cloquet Forestry Center. CO Humphrey received two injured deer calls and an incidental fisher catch reported by a local trapper.

WREO Mike Scott checked season end muzzleloader hunters in the Duluth area; warm weather and dense fog kept most hunters out of the woods. Trappers were checked as well as several traps. Work on WCA issue for DNR Forestry is ongoing, as well as work with CN RR.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) worked on an ongoing trapping case and checked anglers in the Duluth harbor. The warmer weather during the week has depleted snow cover in the Duluth area, but ice depth remains for foot traffic on area lakes.

CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked end of season muzzleloader hunters and a few trappers. An incident involving a dog caught in a snare was investigated, with no trapping violations found. Fortunately the dog was unhurt. Ice anglers had some early season success but need to be cautious of deteriorating ice with the warm temps. Enforcement action was taken for angling and trapping violations.

CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) checked anglers and trappers during the week and worked on reports and evidence. Road kill deer permits were issued and an illegal trapping case was worked with some equipment and animals seized and enforcement action pending. Ter Meer also reports some boats are still going out on Lake Superior.