MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                      MN DNR Weekly Report 

  Sept. 24, 2014



  looks like a bit of everything going on here as usual









 

   

District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports checking a few grouse hunters throughout the week and observed a few birds taken. The leaves are just starting to fall so the best hunting is still to come. Fishing remains slow and not many anglers were observed.




CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked small game, deer and bear hunting activity, trout angling, investigated two public waters violation complaints, and continued following up on open small game, big game and littering violations. Even though the change in firearms transport laws have been on the books for a few years now, hunters are still having issues with transporting loaded guns while hunting and transporting uncased firearms within the city. One motorcycle riding hunter had his uncased shotgun slung over his back in town, while one ATV hunter had his gun in the case, however it was fully loaded. Enforcement action was taken on no small game without a license in possession, uncased firearm and loaded firearms transport violations and OHM violations.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) has begun taking calls from landowners and other sportsmen about deer baits that are being found and some shining activity that was observed. Other calls being taken are from parents trying to arrange classes for their kids to obtain their firearms safety certificates. High numbers of grouse hunters were seen out over the weekend but few reported seeing any birds.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) wrapped up a case where a Deputy encountered a bow hunter and identified him and asked for his hunting license. The hunter was unable to find a license so the Deputy relayed the information to CO Fredin. A check showed the hunter’s hunting privileges were suspended for an unpaid past trespass charge. Fredin received a TIP call of possible duck hunters. The hunters were located and seen with duck decoys and a spinning wing decoy. The Officer observed both hunters shoot. They were checked on shore and both stated duck hunting was poor. They had shot at a wood duck swimming and missed. They produced licenses and had a copy of waterfowl regulations with them. They were shown the opener date and both hunter’s jaws dropped.

International Falls # 2 - vacant.

Ray - vacant.

Tower - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) spent the majority of the week on foot patrol inside the BWCA wilderness along with CO Tetrault. Several bear and grouse hunters were checked with varying success. Violations included bear baiting within the BWCA, baiting bear with solid waste, and illegal OHM operation.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked the grouse hunters and did some ATV work. Canoe activity in the BWCAW is still relatively high. Hunters are still having a little trouble finding the grouse due to the leaves that are still hanging on. The fall colors are wonderful, but there wasn’t a lot of activity this past weekend. Officers encountered an underage male who had a warrant out due to all his dirt bike related violations. He has had many violations this summer and it doesn’t look like he has any intention of following any of the laws regarding dirt bike usage. His Dad just keeps bringing his bike home and they just keep paying the tickets.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports he was very pleasantly surprised at the amount of grouse he saw during the second weekend of grouse season after a disappointing opener. Lots of activity was encountered over the weekend. People were out fly fishing for brook trout in the streams, fishing inland lakes, ATVing and canoeing. Bear and grouse hunters were also out in numbers. Mix that in with a few leaf lookers and bird watchers and the back roads were bustling with activity. One fellow learned the lesson the hard way, and in front of his young son, that it is not a good idea to carry a loaded shotgun on an ATV. A couple of calls on nuisance bears were taken.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked grouse hunters and continued to work bear hunters. Vandalism that has plagued the county has moved into the woods with two apparent hunters on ATV’s damaging signs and gates on the Boyd Road ATV Trail. An ATV club member nearly caught them and any information on the incident would be appreciated, as the money to repair the damage done would be better spent insuring access and improving trails for appreciative users.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked small game and ATV enforcement. Enforcement action included operation of an ATV on a state highway, operation of an ATV on a roadway without a valid driver’s license, failure to stop at a road crossing on an ATV, and unregistered kayak.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) finished a project in the BWCAW. CO Schottenbauer also worked anglers and boating activity in the area. Time was also spent working big game, ATV activity and various animal complaints were handled.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) was involved in an operation that took place in the BWCAW with area officers. Wahlstrom attended a meeting at Camp Ripley, handled bear complaints and other nuisance animal calls. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and angling violations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) checked grouse hunters and wild rice harvesters during the week. Grouse are still hard to find with the leaf cover still abundant. Fall fishing activity is still showing a few nice fish on the inland lakes. Enforcement action was taken for fishing license violations and failure to drain water related equipment before transporting.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked grouse hunters and anglers, worked a shining complaint, assisted landowners with nuisance wildlife issues, and dealt with trespass calls.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) checked anglers, worked boating enforcement, ATV activity, small game activity, and big game activity. Violations included transport a loaded firearm, fail to display registration, no license in possession, allow illegal operation of an ATV by a youth, and operate an ATV on the roadway. He also assisted the county with an ATV crash/DUI.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored small game activity, worked early goose hunting complaints and attended a K-9 unit meeting/training at Camp Ripley. CO Fairbanks and his K-9 partner “Si” also assisted the county in locating a robbery suspect. Grouse harvest was slow with lots of foliage still in the woods. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession and possessing illegal length walleye.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) spent time checking on a possible aquatic plant violation. She also spent time investigating a possible wolf depredation on a cattle farm in the Cohasset area. She spent time checking small game and big game hunters.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked small game and archery hunters over the past week with the roughed grouse sportsman not seeing many birds due to leaf cover. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV in a closed area, operating an ATV with and individual under 18 without a helmet. Enforcement action was also taken for hunting geese without a state or federal duck stamp.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATVs, small game and archery deer hunters. He also handled several hunting complaints during the week.

CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) checked bear hunting and OHV activity throughout the week. Time was also spent working the grouse and archery deer hunting. Grouse hunters were out seeking birds in northern Aitkin County.

CO John Velsvaag (NE ATV Officer) participated in the ATVAM event in NW Minnesota. He patrolled for ORV activity and checked hunters using ATVs to access areas. Various contacts were made during patrol.

Water Resource Enforcement Officer Tony Arhart (Grand Rapids) worked aquatic invasive species, sport angling, boating, ATVing, goose hunting and bear hunting activities. Panfish continue to bite, compliance was good. CO Arhart also tracked public waters and wetland impact complaints in St. Louis County. Waterfowl and deer hunting questions were answered. Some migrant rink necked ducks trickled into the station.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) continued training with a COC. Time was spent checking small game hunters in the area and reports few grouse being taken. Time was spent answering calls about an injured goose, upcoming wolf seasons, and assisting State Patrol for watercraft hitting a bridge overpass. Enforcement action was taken for allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, no lights on an ATV, and having an ATV passenger under 18 without a helmet.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the majority of the week investigating a couple deer hunting violations that resulted in hunting over bait, illegal take and licensing violations. Several animal complaints were fielded including a legal wolf kill due to protection of domestic animals. Officer Duncan completed a couple falcon inspections, returned several calls, investigated a possible waters violation, and checked small game and archery deer hunters in the field. Time was also spent working complaint areas for illegal deer shinning activity.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) spent time following up several livestock depredation complaints and returning phone calls. Several questions about upcoming deer season and licensing were addressed. Small game hunters were checked on the Sawyer WMA and Carlton County lands with little to report. Hunters had difficulty getting at grouse with heavy foliage. Some ATV operators were also checked in the area.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked litter cases, deer and bear hunting activity this past week. One case under investigation is almost done with possible charges of trespassing and baiting. This case was from last fall. A talk was given to a firearms safety class at Cloquet High School. A special detail focusing on activity on and around Lake Superior was worked with results showing good compliance with the laws. A K9 meeting and training was attended at Camp Ripley where all of the DNR k9s worked on training and bettering their skills for the upcoming fall seasons. A talk was given at the local MDHA banquet in Carlton where attendance was over 400 people. Several questions were answered and kids worked on their shooting skills in the laser shot booth

WREO Mike Scott conducted two site visits on potential WCA violations and referred to LGU. Officer Scott checked grouse hunters in the Duluth area and while there was limited success spirts were high with one youth talking about when the leaves fall he will see more birds. ATV’s were checked and enforcement action was taken for allowing juvenile passenger to ride without a helmet, operate unregistered ATV, operate ATV on State Highway.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit) checked anglers on Lake Superior. Seasonal maintenance was completed on patrol boats and evidence was processed from old cases. Assistance was given to local agencies with emergency calls, and ATV complaints were checked. Enforcement action taken for AIs, angling and ATV violations.

CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) worked small game, big game, angling, boating, OHM, and ATV enforcement throughout the week. Time was also spent on getting cases up to date.