MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                      MN DNR Weekly Report

Published February 10, 2014

District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports investigation into wolf depredation case in the Littlefork area. Cold weather again has kept ice fishing and snowmobile activities at a minimal, however a local snowmobile club held their annual hotdog roast on a local trail this weekend along with a vintage snowmobile event and run.


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports patrolling area snowmobile trails and checking on ice fishing activity. The snowmobile trails are in excellent condition and not very many snowmobiles were observed on the trails. Ice fishing activity was very slow.


CO Dan Starr (Tower) monitored fishing activity and worked the Arctic Blast in District 10. Many snowmobilers were out with some nice weather to enjoy. Snowmobile registration issues were found, along with failing to stop at intersections. Some safety certificate issues were also addressed. Fishing violations were found to be far too common, with angle with extra lines leading the statistics. No license and unattended lines were also found. CO Starr and CO Guida also assisted Mille Lacs Sheriff’s Dept. with a possible burglary in progress. The COs interrupted the possible burglary and detained the suspects until deputies arrived.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, snowmobiles, a fishing tournament, a vintage snowmobile run, finished up a trapping case and investigated a TIP call of illegal deer possession. Angling with extra lines was prevalent last week, even with an angler taking part in a fishing tournament. A snowmobiler taking part in a vintage sled run nearly collided with the officer when the other rider entered the trail. Enforcement action was taken on angling without a license, angling without a license in possession, angle with extra lines, no shelter license, unmarked fish house, fail to check traps daily, trap with site exposed bait to soaring birds and failing to yield on the trail.


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent a majority of his time checking anglers. Trout anglers have been doing well but crappie anglers report little success. CO Frericks worked an antique snowmobile rally between Kinney and Chisholm. The event was well attended and most snowmobilers behaved well but one inexperienced snowmobiler decided to pass another while going up a steep hill while unable to see if any traffic was oncoming. When the snowmobiler was stopped the rider admitted they practiced poor judgment in passing the other sled in the location they did. A citation was issued for operating a snowmobile in an unsafe manner.


CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) worked some snowmobiling activity in the Tower station with speed violations addressed. Received a complaint of an individual plowing across a lake to a fish house leaving large piles of snow. He felt a law should be written against such to protect snowmobilers who may hit the piles. Received a call of a deer caught up in a barb wire fence with a broken leg. Assistance was giving to the St Louis Co. Sheriff’s Office in apprehending two suspects wanted for felony theft.


Ray - vacant.


I. Falls # 2 - vacant.




District 6 - Two Harbors area


CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports less than normal angling activity was observed over the week although the report from those who were out was generally good. There was an increase in snowmobile activity in the Ely area for the Winter Festival, with hundreds of people from the region coming to see the snow sculptures at Whiteside Park. Sightings of a local resident lynx continue to trickle in from the hidden valley area. Most of the sightings have been brief, but a few people have been able to get photographs and video. Violations included fail to display snowmobile registration, speed, and angling without a license in possession.


CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked a snowmobile detail at Voyageur’s National Park. Traffic was lighter than expected due to the cold temperatures, but still plenty of hardy snowmobilers out. One group was riding for miles on the highway because they kept getting stuck in the snow that was along the road. Some of the modern snowmobiles just aren’t designed for deep snow, slush, or anything other than the trails. Sadly, the best advice to those people is to know your sled and avoid areas that will get you into trouble if you have a sled that can’t operate in deep snow.


CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked angling and snowmobiling activity during the week. The snowmobile trails were in excellent condition with very little use during the middle of the week. Designated trout lakes are still doing well while the laker action has been a little slow to this point. The CO assisted the Ontario Ministry of Fisheries with how our laws and regulations work in regards to photographing fish that are caught when it is unlawful to possess them. Snowmobile and angling violations were also dealt with.


CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers in and around the BWCA; slush has been less of a problem and fishing success was mixed. The officer patrolled snowmobile trails and forest roads checking sleds. CO Manning also spoke with a group regarding traps and trapping, how to avoid traps and how to release a dog that gets caught.


CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a weekend detail on Lake of the Woods with other officers. Violations encountered included walleye overlimits, extra lines, fish house violations, possession of un-measurable carcasses and filleted fish on the ice, and fishing license violations. Overall fishing was fairly slow and compliance was fairly good. Other violations encountered throughout the week included snowmobile registration violations and failure to transfer ownership. Work was also done on a furbearer case.


Silver Bay - vacant.


Two Harbors - vacant.




District 7 - Grand Rapids area


CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and patrolled area snowmobile trails. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display registration.


CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) patrolled for snowmobile and angling activity. Violations of snowmobiles operating on the roadway and fail to display registration were encountered. He also had a report of someone operating a highway vehicle on the snowmobile trail. Trail conditions are excellent in the area, and the clubs are grooming them on a regular basis.


CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored snow mobile activity and assisted the local police department with a burglary. Another week of cold winds made it tough for area anglers who tried to keep their portable fish houses over their holes in the ice. Enforcement action was taken for angle with extra line, no license in possession and snow mobile registration issues.


CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked anglers and snowmobile activity with many sportsmen getting out doors. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, failing to have registration on a snowmobile, speeding on a snowmobile. Trout angling activity was also worked with the bite being fairly good in the area.


CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, snowmobiles, ski trails and trappers. He also responded to several snowmobile complaints during the week.


CO John Velsvaag (NE regional ATV Officer) worked in the Itasca County area during the week with cold conditions and few people out recreating. CO Velsvaag also worked complaint areas on snowmobile along the Canadian border.


CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) continued an investigation from the deer season. CO Wichmann and other officers worked Lake of the Woods where enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, over limit of walleye/saugers and possession of small amount of marijuana.


Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) checked anglers, dark house spearers, and bait on infested and on other waters. Some northern pike are still being speared in spite of the deep ice. Crappies and perch continue to keep resilient anglers happy. A bait harvester training class was attended in Brainerd. CO Arhart also worked a detail on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for license violations, and for transporting fish fillets without the skin patch. Wetland Conservation Act and Public Waters Inventory restoration cases were tracked.




District 8 - Duluth area


CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) worked area lakes and snowmobile trails. Anglers are reporting a slow bite and very few fish have been checked. Ice conditions are great and auger extensions are becoming necessity. Snowmobile trails were worked enforcement action taken for speed, registration, transfer of title and stop sign violations.


CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reported anglers and snowmobilers were checked throughout the week. The continued bitterly cold weather seems to have put a damper on many outdoor recreational activities this year. Very few snowmobiles were seen taking advantage of the exceptionally good trails we have this year. A commercial minnow harvest training class was attended as well as a class in the use of decibel sound meters that are used in the enforcement of loud snowmobile exhaust. Speeding, no current registration and possession of a small amount of marijuana were a few of the violations encountered this week.


CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) completed work on a pre-employment background for a possible new hire as a Conservation Officer. Several people were checked ice fishing during the week. Some snowmobile enforcement was worked during the week. One day was spent at Camp Ripley and Little Falls assisting with training new hire State Patrol Officers in a water survival class. Officer Duncan also returned several calls from the public and made a stop at a fishing contest to answer questions.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) reports working ice angling and snowmobile activity throughout the week. CO Humphrey received several calls regarding injured animals and requests for collector snowmobile permits. CO Humphrey attended trainings for bait dealer/invasives and snowmobile noise enforcement. CO Humphrey consulted with Forestry officials on a pending civil action for suppression billing. CO Humphrey also met with the County Attorney on a baiting case and formal complaint on a big game trespass. ATV, angling, and snowmobile violations were encountered during the week.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked snowmobile and fishing activity in the area this past week. Enforcement action was taken for unlicensed fish house, failure to display ID on fish house, speed and registration violations. A talk was given to a college class on the hiring process and job duties of a Conservation Officer. Sound meter training was attended to show how to test snowmobiles for compliance of the law. A funeral was attended for a retired officer from the Deer River station. Because of reports of poor compliance, ski pass enforcement was picked up at local state parks. More K9 training was conducted with K9 Schody. A report of a possible shot deer was investigated when it was found to be bleeding. Turns out it was a deer with an injured leg that reopened the wound when it fled from the complainant.


WREO Mike Scott (NE) attended commercial minnow training for Conservation Officers covering the rules and laws for commercial minnow harvesters who were working in infested waters of the state. Water survival training was conducted with the Minnesota State Patrol Academy training new Troopers how to survive in water related incidents and rescuing others in a water environment. An AIS booth was staffed at the St. Cloud Sports Show over the weekend talking with the folks about AIS issues and concerns. Lots of information was exchanged on AIS as well as current events with the Mille Lacs Lake concerns of AIS and the drop in walleye numbers. Other event goers were talking about the perceived downturn in the deer hunting in the state and what needs to be done to resolve the drop in numbers.




Lake Superior Marine Unit


CO Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked anglers in the Duluth area and the St. Louis bay and harbor. Olson worked a snowmobile enforcement detail in Carlton County.


CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked shore and ice anglers on Lake Superior. Snowmobiles were checked on trails that remain in good shape. A planning meeting was attended in St Paul and a deer case from last fall was wrapped up with a guilty plea. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile and angling violations.