Conservation Officer weekly report

[Lee Borgersen]

                   Conservation Officer weekly report  .....


District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports more people out enjoying ice fishing and snowmobiling as weather has warmed up a bit. Numerous animal complaints were handled throughout week, along with assisting Voyageurs National Park biologist in locating radio collared wolf. Snowmobilers are reminded to slow the speeds down and ice fishermen are reminded that they are responsible for cleaning up the area around their fish houses.


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports there were quite a few snowmobiles in the area enjoying the good trail conditions and nice weather over the weekend. Fishing remains quite slow. A few nuisance animal complaints were dealt with. A local trapper was referred to a federal agency in regards to an employment opportunity.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked snowmobiles, regular angling and winter trout opener. Most anglers had luck with rainbow trout with a lesser percentage scoring on lake trout. The officer also closed out a deer firearms season case with a citation after meeting with the county attorney. Enforcement action was taken on angling and snowmobile violations.


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) patrolled area snowmobile trails and found that most area trails are in excellent condition but not seeing much usage due to colder temps. Some Virginia area lakes are slowly putting out crappies but again colder temps and high winds are keeping anglers off the lakes. The trout opener found strong numbers of anglers braving the conditions and being rewarded for their efforts. One specific trout angler decided to bring some friends with him on several unregistered snowmobiles then proceeded to become excessively intoxicated. The operators of the snowmobiles received citations for operating unregistered snowmobiles and were cautioned not to drive the sleds away.


CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked fishing activity on area lakes and found few fish being caught. Time was spent working snowmobile activity on the Skibo trails out to Seven Beavers Lake area with assistance from U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports the weather started off cold but turned comfortable for the winter trout fishing opener in the Ely area. Fishing was good and most anglers checked had something to show for their efforts on the trout lakes. Violations included fishing on a designated trout lake with no trout stamp, operating an unregistered snowmobile, and fishing with no license in possession.


CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked trout opener and found fishermen happy and doing pretty well. There were a lot of people out on snowmobiles and fishing. There was very little litter on the ice too, so it was a good weekend. Time was spent meeting with the Canadian Wardens and doing case work. Remember to make sure your snowmobile has its registration decal and numbers displayed in the proper fashion.


CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked the trout opener with several other officers. The weather was as good as it gets for a normally very frigid weekend. Many people were checked and the vast majority of people were doing things right. A few fishing violations were encountered along with some snowmobile violations. With all those new angling holes drilled, the slush conditions could change for the worse so be aware of that possibility.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled GIA and state snowmobile trails. Riders are reminded to stay to the right side of the trail, especially on the narrow and winding trails common in Cook County. The officer also worked the busy trout opener in the vacant Silver Bay station with CO Wahlstrom; enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, no trout stamp and angle with an extra line. The officer also responded to a report of a bobcat that attacked a family dog.


CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the trout opener in the Babbitt and Silver Bay stations. Fishing was fair and most anglers were following the rules. Snowmobile traffic continues to be high. Meetings were attended on various cases. Paperwork was finished up on a snowmobile fleeing case. Enforcement action was taken for fail to site validate otter tag, no trout stamp, snowmobile registration violations, snowmobile speed, and no fishing license in possession.


CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the trout opener with area officers in the Tofte/Finland area. The slush set up on most lakes but some areas it was deep enough where anglers were losing snowshoes and equipment. Overall, anglers were happy with the trout bite and the warm weather over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for license violations and extra lines.


Silver Bay - vacant.


Two Harbors - vacant.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


CO Randy Patten (Northome) patrolled area snowmobile trails, checked anglers, attended a district meeting, delivered snowmobile safety materials, assisted with a one vehicle accident, and helped with retrieving a sick moose for necropsy.


CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) took care of a couple animal calls including assisting with the recovery of a sick moose and looking for a sick wolf. The moose was included in the moose mortality study. He also attended a district meeting and patrolled for snowmobile activity.


CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored snowmobile activity, attended k-9 training, attended a district meeting and retrieved accidentally taken otter. Ice conditions have improved with very few slush pockets to be found on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for no snow mobile safety certificate, fail to display registration on snow mobile and fail to stay on snow mobile trail (trespass).


CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) spent this last week working on a division background. She also checked anglers. She did an interview with a local radio station. Ice conditions on area lakes are pretty good right now. Recreationists still need to be cautious on lakes that have springs and froze late. Area snowmobile trails are rough in certain areas, especially around town due to the amount of use over the past week and weekend, so be cautious on those as well.


CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked angling activity in the area with the success rate being good for panfish and walleyes. One group of individuals got a little ahead of themselves when they were fishing for crappies. The two individuals forgot to count their fish as the good fishing ensued and ended up overlimit on a special regulation lake. The extra fish were seized and citations were written for overlimits.


CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ski and snowmobile trails. He also attended a district meeting during the week.


CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) worked snowmobile and fishing activity. Wichmann assisted with the Polymet meeting in Duluth and issued car kill deer permits.


CO John Velsvaag (NE Regional ATV Officer) followed up on a trapping complaint and several complaints of ATV’s and snowmobiles operating on the roadway. CO Velsvaag also attended a meeting regarding ATV use in wetlands and a district meeting.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) checked anglers, dark house spearers and bait on infested and on other area waters. Angling and spearing success slowed some. CO Arhart also patrolled local snowmobile trails, attended a District 7 meeting in Grand Rapids and attended a wetland/OHV enforcement meeting in Duluth. Wetland Conservation Act and public waters restoration cases were tracked. More trucks were observed driving on frozen slush fields on area lakes without incident.




District 8 - Duluth area


CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reported a lot of people both young and old were seen out taking advantage of the free fishing weekend, when accompanied by a youth, but unfortunately not a lot of cooperation by the fish. Snowmobile trails remain in excellent condition throughout the area. Only a few issues of people driving too fast for conditions were encountered. The officer also assisted with security during a large public informational meeting held by the DNR and Polymet in regards to a new mining proposal.


CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to work on a background investigation for a possible new hire. One day was spent attending an informational meeting reference a possible new mine on the Iron Range. Several days were spent working the opening of trout fishing north of Grand Marais. Officer Duncan also attended a district meeting and returned several calls to the public.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) reports working ice angling and snowmobile activity throughout the week. Snowmobile activity was heavy at times. Trail conditions were good to excellent. Anglers were reporting fair to good catches on crappies, sunfish, and northern pike. CO Humphrey attended a district meeting in Cloquet and worked a special detail in the Tower/Ely area. CO Humphrey prepared for a Jury trial on an ATV fleeing case from 2012 which resulted in a guilty plea. Angling and snowmobile violations were encountered during the week.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended a district meeting, worked on K9 training in the metro and also worked a special detail in the Tower Ely area. Calls for permits to possess car kill deer have been coming in. People are reminded that they are to obtain permission or a possession permit before taking possession of any protected animal. Snowmobile activity remains fairly high in the area. Enforcement action was taken for registration and snowmobile safety certificate violations.


CO Mike Scott (WREO) attended meetings at the St. Paul Office in regards to the selection of a new records management system for DNR Enforcement. Work continued on a background investigation for an applicant for Conservation Officer. Officer Scott attended the Polymet mining public open house meeting in Duluth. More than a 1,000 people attended the event for their input in support or against the proposed mining. Security was provided for the event by COs as well as local and federal law enforcement.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked inland trout anglers on a warmer-than-normal opener. Plenty of snow led to plenty of slush on some lakes, but most anglers were prepared or took the necessary precautions to not become stuck. Some nice fish were seen on the ice, and compliance with regulations was good. Wolves and moose were spotted coping with the weather conditions. Assistance was given to a local agency with a theft in progress. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.