Weekly DNR Report

[Lee Borgersen]

       Weekly DNR Report


Written By: MN DNR | Aug 20th 2019 - 12pm. 


 District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) spent a busy week at Camp Ripley instructing sport fishing enforcement to Academy 19. An AIS check station detail was worked over the weekend at the U.S. Customs Port of Entry in International Falls. Enforcement action for the week included transporting unidentifiable/uncountable fish, overlimits, and failure to drain water from a livewell.





CO Shane Zavodnik (International Falls #2) spent time working boating and angling enforcement on Rainy Lake with National Park rangers during the past week. Angling success varied throughout the lake, but most people seemed to catch enough for a meal or two. Time was also spent working a detail at the U.S. Customs Port of Entry. Compliance regarding transport of water-related equipment was very good, with only a handful of encounters that required enforcement action. Other violations encountered during the past week included transport of uncountable/unidentifiable fish, failure to remove a boat plug from water-related equipment while in transport, overlimit of fish, and failure to have life-saving devices on board a watercraft.













CO John Slatinski (Ray) spent time monitoring bear baiting activity. With limited amounts of berries in the area, conditions are favorable for people trying to lure bears to their baits. State forest campgrounds were patrolled with enforcement action taken for various violations. Wild animal-related concerns were heard and brought to resolution. Division training was attended and an aquatic invasive species check point was worked along with AIS inspectors at the International Falls Port of Entry. A multitude of violations were encountered including transporting aquatic macrophytes, failure to remove drain plugs, transporting fish not countable/identifiable, and an overlimit of fish.





CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes for boating and angling activity. Area forest roads were checked for activity. Public access sites monitored and equipment work was completed. Fondie assisted DNR Forestry.





CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, boaters, and OHV riders. He also attended training in the Twin Cities. While working from a boat, Bozovsky observed a completely unclothed person, in full view of the whole world, walking in knee-deep water. The person was contacted and encouraged to use better decision-making in the future as the nearest dock of another cabin owner was only about 100 feet away. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession, OHV trespass, no state park vehicle permit, and indecent exposure.





CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) completed annual training requirements and patrolled the Virginia area for bear-baiting activity. While looking for bear baits near a snowmobile trail, Frericks noticed fresh ATV tracks going directly past two signs prohibiting ATV traffic. Three ATV riders were eventually located and issued citations for operating on a snowmobile trail. Frericks worked with other area COs at an AIS check stations\ in International Falls. Numerous violations were encountered and dealt with.





CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring angling and ATV activity. Angling success continues to be limited. Broughten fielded calls regarding bear baiting and bear hunting. He also attended training in Baxter.





Cook – vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the bear-baiting season is off to a good start in the area of the Echo Trail. Bear foods aren’t as plentiful as in past years, but berries are still available. Most of the baits inspected showed a lot of recent bear activity for the first weekend and a high level of compliance was observed.





CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers this past week and followed up on a boating complaint. He also checked bear-baiting activity and took several calls on trapping and bear-baiting regulations and AIS concerns. Velsvaag also patrolled several special regulation lakes.





CO Mary Manning (Hovland) followed up on an illegal camping complaint, checked ATV riders, and checked bear-bait registrations and bait sites.





CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) attended training, attended court, worked on cases, answered questions about bear-baiting regulations, and checked anglers and boaters on station lakes. In one instance, two anglers who claimed they had licenses left after the check and purchased licenses 30 minutes later at a local bait shop. Enforcement action included several instances of fishing without a license and a couple instances of no PFDs.





David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and ATV activity this past week. Time was spent working on equipment as well. Bear baiting started, and he spent time checking area baits.





CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking anglers on inland lakes and Lake Superior. He monitored bear-bait activity and followed up on complaints. Wahlstrom also attended mandatory training in Brainerd.





CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked bear-baiting activity and investigated a report of nuisance wolf activity. Angling activity slowed down on Lake Superior this past week partly due to strong winds and thunderstorm activity in the area. A report of an abandoned vehicle on a state trail is also being investigated.





Grand Marais #1 – vacant.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) worked bear baiting, checked anglers and gave a law talk at a firearms safety class. Fairbanks and his K9 partner Si also provided K9 demonstrations at the Itasca County Fair. Muskie and walleye anglers had excellent success this past week. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and operating an OHV in a closed area.





CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked angling, ATV and bear-baiting activity over the past week. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license in possession. Multiple road-killed deer calls were taken, a result of pre-fall deer activity on the rise.





CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working angling, big-game, ATV, boating, and AIS enforcement. Van Asch assisted at an ATV safety class hosted by the Range Riders ATV Club in Nashwauk. Bear-baiting activity was also monitored. Enforcement action was taken for several angling and AIS violations.





CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) reports a high number of recreational boaters and a low number of anglers in the area. Hochstein began to monitor bear-baiting locations and spoke with several people who are excited for the upcoming bear-hunting season. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and angling violations.





NE ATV officer – vacant.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) saw heavy boating and angling activity this past week. Willis responded to a medical emergency at a public access. The patient was transported by ambulance. Multiple landowners were spoken to regarding illegal fires. Enforcement action was taken for no Type IV PFD, burning prohibited materials, no burning permit, and an unattended fire.





CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) spent the week working on wetland and public waters complaints. Beaver- and bear-related complaints have been coming in steadily. Schmidt handled an ongoing complaint of a person camping in a closed area. He also attended the Kids, Cops and Cars event in Duluth.





CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) conducted site visits with a DNR Waters hydrologist on public water-related investigations. Humphrey also followed up on a wolf/livestock depredation complaint in Kettle River. Patrols were conducted in and around the Sawyer WMA and Fond du Lac State Forest. Humphrey attended a Division training seminar in the Brainerd area. Several calls/questions about licensing and upcoming hunting seasons were answered.





CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended training in the metro area. Time was also spent assisting with interviewing new possible K9 handlers for the Division. An inspection was conducted on local minnow dealers where a license violation is under further investigation. Some recreational vehicle work was done near the Nemadji State Forest with enforcement action being taken for operating an off-highway motorcycle on a public highway.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked Lake Superior in the Duluth waters. Reports of large walleyes getting caught on the south shore have spawned reports of overlimits being taken. Chinook salmon also are being seen with lake trout. Olson worked the lakes north of Duluth and responded to a medical emergency on Island Lake resulting in the patient being transported by ambulance. Bear-hunting and -baiting questions were fielded. Olson also attended the Duluth Police Department Cops, Kids and Cars event at Bayfront Festival Park with fellow district officers.





CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked boaters and anglers on Lake Superior. Follow up was completed on commercial netting investigations and boat-maintenance items were handled. A bear that was shot while doing damage to a landowner’s property was seized and gifted to another person. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.





Lake Superior Unit – vacant.