Weekly DNR Reports

[Lee Borgersen]

Jan. 20, 2015

                                   Weekly DNR Reports








District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports two snowmobile safety classes were given in the Int’l Falls and Littlefork areas. Snowmobile traffic over weekend has increased tremendously, with one reported accident and two snowmobiles breaking through at pressure ridges in Kabetogama area. People are encouraged to slow down and use caution around pressure ridges and stay on the trails. Enforcement action for the week was mainly snowmobile registration issues.







CO Jim Van Asch (International Falls) assisted Voyageurs National Park staff in locating several radio collard wolves in the park’s surrounding areas. CO Van Asch also attended a snowmobile safety class with CO Kittelson at Littlefork High School that had a number of eager youths in attendance. Time was also spent monitoring snowmobile activity in the International Falls and Ray areas. The weather provided a few good days of riding with many hitting the trails and several contacts were made with people coming from all over the state to ride. The trail system became a bit run down by the end of the weekend and could use another snowfall. Enforcement action was taken for fail to display valid snowmobile registration and angling without a license in possession.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring angling activities, snowmobile trails are in very poor condition due to inadequate snow. Forest roads were checked as were timber sales, fishing reports overall are poor.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) reported that with increasing snow cover, snowmobiling activity increased. The past week also marked the trout opener for the remainder of the state outside the BWCA. The officer assisted Ely PD with local speed enforcement on sleds. The trout opener was spent with CO Williams working trout lakes in the Ely area. The walleye bite on Vermilion is still a little slow and sporadic, but trout anglers seemed to be having some success. Enforcement action: ATV in the BWCA, a number of extra line violators, no snowmobile registration, failure to display snowmobile registration, no angling license in possession, no trout stamp in possession, cutting firewood without a permit, motor vehicle on a snowmobile trail, snowmobile speeding, and no registration displayed on ice shelter.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, snowmobiles and the winter trout fishing opener. Trout fishing violations included no trout stamp; possess live minnows and angle with extra lines on a designated trout lake. An illegally taken wolf case is currently being investigated. An individual known to the officer as not legally being able to drive was stopped for driving after cancellation-inimical to public safety. The driver tried to switch places with the passenger undetected, however the officer saw the switcheroo when he caught up to the truck. The individual also had drug paraphernalia in possession. Other enforcement action was taken on unregistered snowmobile, no angling license in possession, and angle with extra lines.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) completed an investigation of a dog that was caught in an untagged snare by locating the trapper who placed the snare and issuing him a citation for the violation. An unlicensed ice shelter that CO Frericks found on a lake last season showed up again on the same lake this season. This time CO Frericks was able to locate the owner and issue him a citation for the violation from last season. Crappie and pan fish angling has slowed down considerably. CO Frericks assisted Ely area CO’s in checking trout anglers on Ely area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession and no trout stamp.   

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked in-land trout opener and found numerous groups of people out enjoying the nice weather; lakers, splake, and rainbows where being caught. Night time snowmobile enforcement was worked with little sled activity seen. Time was spent on equipment maintenance and office work. 

Ray - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy holiday weekend. Weather for the trout fishing opener was some of the nicest for the event and that brought out the anglers.  One angler should have stayed out longer, or had lunch on the ice. While he was out of sight inside his cabin, Officer Manning was checking his tip-ups and waiting for him to come tend his lines. Eventually the officer tracked him up to the cabin, explained the reason for the visit, and provided him with some paperwork.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked with other officer for the winter trout opener.

The nice weekend and great traveling conditions did not improve activity as it was down from previous years; however, violations were up. The officers encountered over limits, extra line, unattended lines, no fishing license/trout stamps in possession and snowmobile registration violations. The CO’s also encountered BWCA violations.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked the trout opener over the weekend and although it was relatively uneventful, the fishing was good. One group from Duluth possessed a bag of Lake Superior smelt on a pristine trout lake and had no idea about the hazard of transporting potentially VHS infected smelt to other waters. Luckily the fish were seized before any had been used. Another local party was busily trying to get an extra line out of the hole as the officer watched patiently. He then threw the line and plopped down onto a couch and crossed his legs as if he’d been there watching football on TV all day.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked with officers up the Gunflint Trail for the opening of winter trout season. Most anglers had a few fish and enjoyed the warmer temperatures but lake travel and trail conditions were extremely rough from drifting snow. Enforcement action was taken for licensing violations and excessive snowmobile muffler noise.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked angling enforcement throughout the week. Some additional weekend snow helped the trails out. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.

CO Sean Williams (Ely) winter trout season opener was very active, with villages of ice houses appearing overnight on most of the trout lakes in the Ely area. Success was fair to good, with a distinct morning and afternoon bite. Violations included taking trout during the closed season, angle with an extra line, and angle without license in possession.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked the trout opener. Weather was great, and CO Schottenbauer was surprised to see so few people out. Time was also spent working other fishing and snowmobile activity.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the trout opener with area officers. The weather was one of the warmest the officer remembers. A few anglers were happy catching their limit of trout. Time was also spent on US/Canada border lakes and other remote backcountry lakes. Enforcement action was taken for extra lines, live minnows on trout lakes, ATV registration and snowmobile registration.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers, investigated a trespass case on state land, and wrapped up firearm deer season cases. Enforcement action taken for trespass on state land, posting state land, no trout stamp in possession, possess live minnows on a designated trout lake, and possess small amount of marijuana.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked trespass complaints, trout opener, snowmobile activity, and gave a law talk at a snowmobile safety class. Violations included snowmobile on the roadway, possess a small amount of marijuana, angle with an extra line, angle more than 200 feet away of a tip-up, drug paraphernalia, trespass, no license in possession, no trout stamp in possession, live minnows on a designated trout lake, and non-preserved minnows on a trout lake.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, investigated trapping complaints, monitored snowmobile activity and attended K-9 training. Area panfish anglers are having good success. Enforcement action was taken for angle with extra lines and license issues.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ice anglers with pan-fishing activity heating up. Local lakes have come out of the mid-winter slump and are starting to produce limits of nice crappies and bluegills. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession and operating an unregistered snowmobile.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, snowmobiles and state trails. He also spoke at several school classes during the week.

CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) spent the week patrolling area lakes for fishing activity and following up on TIP reports.

CO John Velsvaag (NE Region ATV officer) checked ATV activity and trout anglers this past week. CO Velsvaag also checked snowmobilers as conditions have greatly improved. CO Velsvaag received several calls about the wolf relisting and a litter complaint around fish houses.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended court on a DWI arrest from last year and spoke to a group of Cub Scouts in Carlton about the job of a Conservation Officer and the K9 unit. K9 training was attended in Grand Rapids with other K9 units from around the region. Fishing and trapping activity was checked in the area. Not a lot of activity to report. Fishing is spotty and a lot of the trapping activity has declined in the area. A report of an owl that was hit by a car was responded to. The owl was captured and brought to a rehabber to see if they could help it.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) spent lots of time was checking ice anglers again this week as access to favorite winter fishing holes remains excellent. A few maintenance issues were dealt with. A presentation was given to a large group of students receiving their Snowmobile Safety certificates.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to spend time working on a trapping investigation.  Some fishing enforcement was also worked around the Duluth area. Several questions from the public were answered and several telephone calls were answered. An ATV trespass complaint was also completed. Officer Duncan spent several days in the Grand Marais area working the opening of winter trout angling on inland lakes.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked angling activity on area lakes throughout the week.  Anglers were reporting a slow to fair bite on pan fish. CO Humphrey checked several traps in the area for compliance. CO Humphrey assisted an area trapper releasing an incidentally caught timber wolf. CO Humphrey signed a criminal complaint on a big game case involving the unlawful possession and transportation of a fawn deer from this past spring. Violations for fish house identification, licensing, OHV registration, and untagged traps were encountered

WREO Mike Scott checked anglers on area lakes and with the warm weather many anglers were out enjoying the day. Fishing has slowed down some but plenty of northern pike were seen taken and several limits of crappies. Enforcement action was taken for no fishing license in possession, fail to display current fish house license, and fail to display current registration on ATV. Officer Scott was requested to conduct some training with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, Search and Rescue, and area K-9 on the best way to handle traps and deal with their K-9 partners should they become caught in one. Hands on training was conducted with those present after a short classroom training about how to release a trapped animal and the steps to take to prevent possible incidents. Minnesota Trappers Association provided packets with zip ties and instructions for releasing an animal should they get caught in a trap. Participants were very thankful for the information and hands on training provided. Officer Scott staffed an AIS booth at the Minnesota Green Expo at the Minneapolis Convention center where information was exchanged with vendors, contractors and others who are in the business of working around and in water as well as selling water garden supplies. The booth was sponsored by the Minnesota Sea Grant folks.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) checked and anglers and snowmobilers throughout the week. Some trout lakes were checked for the opener. Reports were also completed.

CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked inland trout anglers on an abnormally warm trout opener. Some lakes were very busy, but the fishing seemed to be slower than previous years.  Shore anglers were checked along Lake Superior with a few herring and salmon showing up.  Snowmobile activity is still very low due to poor snowfall. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.