MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                    MN DNR Weekly Report 



District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) spent time checking grouse hunters and archery deer hunters in the field. Numerous calls were handled in regards to nuisance animal complaints. Waterfowl hunters are seeing a few more ducks in area with the recent weather changes. Assisted with local firearms safety class during their field day event. Possible waters and wetland complaints were also investigated with Koochiching SWCD technician.


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports a lot of people in the area getting their hunting shacks and deer stands in order. Quite a few leaves have fallen and the grouse hunting is improving somewhat. A few muskie anglers were fishing Lake Vermilion and a few fish were caught and released.


CO Dan Starr (Tower) worked waterfowl migration with some hunters finding success. A moose season situation was also monitored, along with some bear issues. A case of road hunting was investigated with charges filed for shooting a bow off a roadway. Hunting is generally not allowed in state parks except during special seasons. Plan your hunt then hunt according to your plan to ensure the area you are hunting is open. Firearms safety issues were also looked into. A few grouse are showing up.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked archery, small game and waterfowl seasons, night time hunting activity, dealt with an injured bald eagle hit by a car, testified in an invasive species administrative hearing, and attended the local MDHA banquet with the TIP Wall of Shame. The officer seized two shotguns, a crossbow and a bow, during two incidents occurring on one day. One incident involved two small game hunters who had no licenses and the other, a TIP call that resulted in violations of hunt deer over bait, an invalid license, and possess a crossbow without a permit. The officer was called to rescue an archery hunter who was afraid to leave his stand as wolves were under his stand. The hunter was ill prepared in the first place, not even having a flashlight. He was found safe and sound. Other enforcement action was taken on unsigned federal duck stamp, an aquatic invasive species violation, no archery deer license in possession and no small game license in possession


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke at a Firearms Safety Class in Virginia and spent time following up on trespass and litter cases. Reports of deer being found without heads have started to come in as well as reports of deer being shot from the roadway. CO Frericks urges the public to call the TIP line if you learn of or witness this activity or activities like it. Duck hunters have been doing better on Virginia area lakes and ponds. While very few limits have been seen most duck hunters have been found with at least a few ducks in the bag. Numerous young waterfowl hunters have been neglecting to purchase their federal stamps while at the same time they boast having bought their state stamp. Their excuse was that the person at the counter said they didn’t need one. CO Frericks would like to remind everyone that it is the hunter’s responsibility to know what stamps and licenses you need before going out to the duck blind.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked anglers this past week as well as duck hunters. Activity was low. CO Velsvaag took a nuisance animal call, and assisted with a several lake bed restoration projects.


CO Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) reports that he conducted a permit check at a North Shore raptor banding station. He assisted district officers serving a search warrant near Tofte. CO Johnson checked hunters, anglers, and ATVs. He attended training at Camp Ripley.


CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) continues to check moose, bear and grouse hunters. The CO was called out to help with a couple of fire investigations in the northwest, including the arson fire that burned several homes in Karlstad.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked small game hunters and moose hunters; compliance was generally good. One vehicle carrying would-be hunters was given an unappreciated lesson on the dangers of shooting from roadways in unfamiliar woodlands full of other hunters. CO Manning also investigated the death of a moose calf; the animal was recovered with the much appreciated help of the hunter who reported it and biologists were able to determine that it died of systemic infection from an old wound. The officer also answered phone calls, took care of maintenance and seasonal equipment issues, assisted with a search warrant, and patrolled state parks, campgrounds and WMAs.


CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) executed a search warrant with area Officers related to a big game violation. The Officer checked anglers along the North Shore tributaries. Moose and bear hunters were also checked. Wahlstrom spent time meeting with the County Attorney to discuss ongoing investigations. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, angling and big game violations.


Babbitt - vacant.


Two Harbors - vacant.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked grouse hunters, duck hunters and anglers. He handled calls on wolf depredation on livestock, illegally taken deer, injured eagles and a pelican, nuisance bear, trespass, deer baiting, nuisance beavers, and illegally possessed deer antlers. Also assisted Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office and issued various permits. Enforcement action taken for unauthorized motor vehicle use on an ATV trail, no license in possession, and trespass.


CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) attended division training last week at Camp Ripley. She also went to Walker for a class put on by an instructor from Chicago. The cold weather has caused some local ducks to move out of the area. She checked for small game and big game activity. She took a report of a mangy wolf in the Swan River area but did not locate it. She has received several calls of late shooting.


CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked small game, archery deer and waterfowl hunting activity. He patrolled area campground and checked ATVers. He worked ongoing deer hunting complaints as well.


CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) and COC Wichmann completed an investigation into unlawful moose hunting activity and gave a presentation at a firearms safety class. Enforcement contacts were made for moose, small game, and fishing violations, plus felon in possession of a firearm.


CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, archery and waterfowl hunters. He also monitored atv activity. Walleye fishing was excellent while waterfowl hunters had lower success. Enforcement action was taken for transportation of illegally taken big game animal, take deer by illegal method, untagged deer and no HIP certification.


CO Thomas Sutherland(Grand Rapids) worked duck hunters in the area with spotty success. Reports were good early in the week with duck numbers slowing down later in the week. Enforcement action was taken for not enough life jackets and not having valid licenses. CO Sutherland also gave a law talk at an area firearms safety class.


ATV Rec. Officer - vacant.


Hill City - vacant.




District 8 - Duluth area


CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) attended field training officer classes in Plymouth most of the week. Officer Schmidt assisted with a youth ATV operator’s course in Floodwood and a youth firearms training all-day class in Kettle River. A TIP call regarding waterfowl hunters hunting after hours yielded a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, shooting from a moving watercraft and after hours shooting.


CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) worked small game and archery deer hunting. Ongoing cases were investigated. CO Hanzal located duck hunters shooting while traveling motorized in a boat. He participated in a youth firearms safety training field day.


CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) and COC Mueller finished up the final phase of field training. During the week, officers continued investigating two public waters violations. Multiple complaints were taken dealing with the illegal disposal of animal remains along roads. Officers spoke at a Firearms Safety class at South Ridge School.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked angling, small game, OHV, and waterfowl hunting enforcement. CO Humphrey received complaints of dog chasing deer, property dispute, hunting waterfowl during closed season. CO Humphrey worked a joint district detail for illegal deer shining activity. CO Humphrey assisted at a district held youth Firearms safety class in Kettle River. CO Humphrey worked moose hunters and small game hunters in Lake County with 1854 Authority officers. Violations for hunting waterfowl closed season and misc. OHV were encountered.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked complaints of taking waterfowl out of season and small game hunters in the area. Enforcement action was taken for operating ATV’s in closed areas in the state forest and operating a class 1 ATV on a state highway. Assistance was given to another district while they executed a search warrant. A shining detail was worked where enforcement action was taken for misdemeanor shining. Officer Staples and other officers from the Duluth district helped teach an all-day firearm safety class in Kettle River to online students from around the state. K9 assistance was provided to Cloquet PD for an article search.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Mike Scott (NE MN) spent time working with the new academy officers last week. Time was also spent with them working on firearms training. Officer Scott attended a three-day training for firearms instructor recertification in St. Paul. Officer Scott worked a hunter harassment case over the weekend.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) spent time checking the last of anglers on Lake Superior. Small game and bow hunters checked in the Brimson area. Met with USCG personnel on an upcoming work project for Lake Superior. Training opportunities also discussed with USBP personnel for the fall workload. A Wisconsin CO was contacted on a border issue with the St. Louis River.


CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) attended FTO training throughout the week. He also worked some waterfowl enforcement.


CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) attended FTO training at Plymouth PD. Calls were returned in regards to seasonal haste towards firearms safety classes for those who had already planned a hunting trip without considering safety training requirements. A commercial case was completed, and questions answered about the upcoming wolf season. Enforcement action was taken for commercial and angling violations.