Weekly conservation report

[Lee Borgersen]

  MN DNR Weekly Report......

Oct. 29, 2018

District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports outdoor activities have slowed as weather has not cooperated, unless you were waterfowl hunting. Complaints about animals are still coming in – mainly beaver issues. Most people were out getting ready for the upcoming firearms deer season. People are reminded to keep safety at the foremost of their mind for this weekend.


CO John Slatinski (Ray) reports ATV use in the area remains one of the more prominent activities with deer hunters entering the woods to get ready for the upcoming firearms season while small-game hunting at the same time. Calls related to concerns of animals causing damage were once again fielded. Now that the trapping season has opened for more species it may help to become friendly with the neighborhood trapper and ask for their assistance to help control them. Slatinski and Voyageurs National Park rangers checked whitefish netters who reported their catch numbers were down but they still were enjoying their annual trip. Grouse hunters have been reporting an uptick in birds gathered.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports small-game and ATV activities continue as grouse hunting remains poor. Illegal trail cutting and illegal deer stands have been reported and coordination with DNR Forestry on the matter was completed. Equipment work was completed. He fielded numerous phone calls and questions over the week relating to the upcoming deer season.

CO Duke Broughten (Cook) spent the week monitoring ATV and hunting activity. Fewer hunters were observed in the field. Many of the hunters contacted were making their last preparations for the upcoming firearms deer season. Broughten found many bough harvesters still hard at work. He also followed up on a trespassing complaint and investigated a timber trespass.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked ongoing hunting seasons, a special archery season in an area within the state park, opening of water mammal trapping, and ATVs. Bozovsky investigated a deer-taken-out-of-season case. The deer was shot in the backyard with a rifle. He seized the deer and rifle used and now the “hunter” faces gross misdemeanor charges. A trespass-on-state-property case was concluded with an interview of the suspect who was caught on camera. A wolf incident was investigated, a deer stuck in the fence was removed and a trap-tampering complaint was reported.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) and COC Jake Swedberg investigated reports of baited deer stands. These stands and the bait in front of them were photographed and documented. The owners can look forward to meeting the officers on opening morning. Two separate wetland cases were investigated. In one case, a landowner was making plans to build a house in a Type 7 tamarack swamp. First, they had to haul in 900 yards of fill. The COs and county officials advised it might not be such a good idea to try that.   

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked trapping throughout the week and received a complaint of possible early trap setting. Deer are on the move and more car/deer accidents are occurring, which in turn brings the bald eagles to feed on the carcasses, resulting in them being hit by passing cars. Deer-baiting complaints have been received and will be checked on throughout the week.

International Falls #2 – vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports cool and rainy weather over the week made for slow hunting activity. Success was limited but promising compared to the beginning of the season, when almost no grouse were shot. Williams and CO Velsvaag also investigated a TIP call in which a bowhunter had, after wounding a deer with an arrow, returned and shot the deer several times with a handgun. They interviewed the suspect who admitted shooting the deer with a firearm.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked hunters and trappers this past week. Duck hunting dwindled quickly and grouse hunting was tough, too. Velsvaag took several calls on whitefish netting and the upcoming deer season.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked whitefish netting activity, small-game hunters, remote designated trout lakes, and dealt with a waters complaint.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) answered numerous questions about nuisance beavers as well as the state park deer hunts in Cook County, particularly with regard to the use of bonus tags. She provided classroom instruction for an ATV safety class, seized an accidently caught otter, attended a Use of Force planning meeting at Camp Ripley and checked ATV operators.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) and COC Lerchen report charging out a spruce top theft case on state tax forfeit land. One individual was apprehended for hunting deer over bait within the city limits of Ely, which is an area closed to hunting. The individual was set up within sight of houses and decided to sweeten the pot with an illegal bait block. Additional enforcement action was taken for obstructing a public access and litter.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area hunting and ATV activity. Time was spent at Camp Ripley reviewing the past year’s training and setting goals for next year.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked small-game hunters and ATV riders. He also checked a few brave anglers on the rough and cold waters of Lake Superior.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked big-game baiting investigations and trapping activity this past week. Hunters are reminded that all deer feed must be completely removed 10 days prior to hunting. Watercraft were prepared for storage and winter equipment was checked for operation.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and hunters, responded to multiple calls of eagles killed by cars, investigated a livestock depredation complaint, and patrolled for timber theft related to boughs and spruce tops. Most time was spent documenting baited deer stands.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) checked anglers, worked ATV activity, checked small-game activity, waterfowl hunters, and worked AIS enforcement. Numerous calls about wildlife were answered. He also patrolled state parks and campgrounds.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked hunters, worked baiting complaints and attended meetings at Camp Ripley. The angler success in the area was good this past week. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and possession permits were issued.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) spent the week monitoring angling, small-game, trapping, and big-game activities.  Many individuals were encountered completing last-minute preparations before the firearms deer season. Van Asch also completed follow-up investigation for ongoing big-game and angling cases. 

Hill City – vacant.

NE ATV officer – vacant.

District 8 - Duluth area
CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) attended a training meeting at Camp Ripley and spoke with many hunters in the field in preparation for the upcoming deer season. Commercial pine bough cutting was monitored and enforcement action was taken for failing to carry written permission from the landowner while harvesting. There was also angling activity with some success in the area. 

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) spent the week field training COC Tony Flerlage. Time was spent working with ATV riders as well as duck and grouse hunters. Calls were received concerning beavers, bears and birds. They transported an eagle to get rehabbed from possible lead poisoning.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) spent the majority of the week working small-game and archery deer enforcement. Other activity included following up on trespass complaints, deer stand issues on state land, and ATV enforcement. Night deer-shining complaint areas were also worked. Several complaints of possible deer-hunting violations were received and will require attention during the upcoming firearms deer season.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked small- and big-game hunting activity. An OHV complaint was received and investigated with assistance from CO Schmidt. Several calls were received about the upcoming firearms deer season.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) spent extra time checking areas where decorative forest items were being harvested. Enforcement action was taken for not having required paperwork and permits. A safety talk was given to a youth ATV safety class in the Esko area. Other time was spent checking complaints on trespassing and possible baiting for the upcoming firearms deer season opener.

Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked nights in prior shining complaint areas in and around the Duluth area. Olson checked small-game hunters and trappers north of Duluth during the week. Kamloops anglers were also seen fishing the French River area, with some reports of coho salmon have been heard of also. The weekend saw many people in the woods building and tending to deer stands and camp chores. The woods are soggy and wet from the recent string of rain. ATV violations were detected and enforcement actions resulted.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked shore anglers and duck hunters. Deer hunters are in the woods preparing for the upcoming season. ATV use was monitored on area trails and enforcement action was taken for ATV and big-game violations.