MN DNR Weekly Report April 26

[Lee Borgersen]

                               MN DNR Weekly Report for April 26, 2016

 

                                                                 
                                                       Faw down    :


 












District 5 - Eveleth area
 

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) investigated a fire and worked the Rainy River checking sturgeon fishermen.


 





CO Jimmy Van Asch (Ray) reports the “Keep” season for sturgeon opened up this past Sunday on the Rainy River. A fire was investigated in Littlefork and the public is reminded that Koochiching County is still under burning restrictions. Time was also spent handling several wildlife complaints throughout the surrounding areas.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring outdoor activities, checking public access sites, and monitoring area forest roads. Computer based training is ongoing

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) responded to a cow moose that had been struck and killed by a vehicle northeast of Soudan. The cow was carrying two calves that were killed as well. The moose was submitted for analysis to the DNR Wildlife division.  The officer took enforcement action on illegal spearing in a closed season, taking of walleye with a spear, possession of net and spear, and illegal possession of game fish in closed season.


CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked boaters, ATVs, invasive species enforcement and angling activity, to include working sturgeon angling on Rainy River. A TIP call was worked and a bear committee rules meeting was attended. The officer worked the Rainy River with CO Fredin and found one sturgeon angler that opened season a day early and kept a large sturgeon.  He now faces nearly $1,400 in fines and restitution for the offense since the sturgeon was over 48 inches long. Other enforcement action was taken on unattended lines, angle with extra lines, transport aquatic macrophytes, and a number of boating and ATV violations.


CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke at a Firearms Safety Class in Virginia and spent time checking anglers on area rivers. Most anglers have been doing well but reports of anglers keeping walleye and northern pike have started to come in. While following up on these reports, enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, underage consumption and possession of drug paraphernalia. Some beaver trappers are still at it and reports of trespass on posted property are being investigated. 

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked spring beaver trapping and continues to work a trapping trespass case. Time was spent monitoring tribal netting activity on an area lake. Fredin worked a Rainy River detail and found violation of take sturgeon out of season, expired boat registration and no PDFs. Complaints were received of dumped filleted out walleye, northern, and whole whitefish and suckers.


Cook - vacant.

International Falls #2  - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports monitoring fishing activity in the Ely area as most small lakes are now completely ice free. Larger lakes like Burnstide are beginning to open up but are still mostly unnavigable. Violations included, taking fish without a license, possessing a spear during prohibited time, and take walleye during closed season.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) took a fire team call out to Littlefork for a fire investigation. A burning permit doesn’t allow you to set it and forget it. He also checked Northshore rivers and steelheaders. Enforcement action was taken for various fire and burning permit violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled Lake Superior tributaries and checked anglers. Compliance was good and anglers were happy with numbers of fish in the rivers. The officer took a report from the west end of the county of a black bear waking up with a hankering for fresh chicken. Forest trails and roads are thawing out and ATV riders are reminded that many trails are closed this time of year to prevent excessive damage

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) monitored fish run, sport fishing, spring beaver trapping, and ATV activity. A litter investigation resulted in a citation. Other enforcement action included angling in the closed season, unregistered ATV, and juvenile operation violations.  Lots of waterfowl were noted, grouse were on the roads, and ice went out on most station lakes.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked angling activity on area streams. Time was spent armoring division rifles. CO Schottenbauer also assisted with a car verses deer on Highway 61.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked a busy week checking anglers along the North Shore tributaries. Time was spent armoring rifles and handling wildlife complaints. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling and illegal garbage dumping activity during the week. Area streams were full of anglers trying to catch steelhead along the Northshore with some success. The officer responded with other local law enforcement to a call of an overdue angler in a canoe. Fortunately, the angler was found safe and in good condition.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) monitored fish run activity, checked trappers, patrolled for AIS violations, worked on bear committee items, helped with an ATV safety class, and prepared boats.  Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV on a public highway, operating an ATV on a non-motorized trail, more passengers on an ATV then designed for, no helmets under 18, and fail to display ATV registration.

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked ATV, sport fishing, small game, and also did equipment maintenance. He patrolled state park areas, state forests, and public water accesses. Preparations were made for upcoming academy instruction, and division training. Violations included ATV’s on the roadway and equipment violations.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) worked spring fish run, attended K9 training and monitored OHV activity. Enforcement action was taken for burning prohibited materials, no license in possession and failure to remove drain plug on water craft.

CO Sarah Grell (Grand Rapids) spent time checking anglers this past week. She also worked ATV and ORV enforcement in the area. She took a TIP complaint involving illegally fishing activity which resulted in two citations. She is also working on a case involving illegal operation of an ORV on the Taconite State Trail. Federal and county law enforcement are working the case as well.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked early season pan fishermen with the crappie and bluegill bites heating up. CO Sutherland also attended the Poly-met pre-application meeting in Aurora.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVs, closed forest and trail areas. He also handled trapping and fishing complaints during the week and taught a firearms safety class.

CO John Velsvaag (NE Region ATV Officer) patrolled in several ATV complaint areas this past week. CO Velsvaag also continued with an ongoing investigation and took several calls on ATV regulations and taking rough fish with spears and bows.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended a K9 meeting and K9 training in the metro area. Complaints of ATV violations were worked in the area. Enforcement action was taken for equipment violations. Trout and other fishing activity were worked in the area. Little success being found with anglers and no violations were detected. Nuisance animal calls were fielded as well as TIP calls for fishing violations in the station and the metro area.

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) followed up on a trapping complaint. He reports North Shore rivers have been flooded with anglers. Smelters have also been having luck the past week.  The warmer weather drove up ATV complaints over the weekend.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports activities included following up with some illegal trapping, extra patrol in an area of high ATV use and responding to a call of an injured eagle. The officer also worked on some data entry associated with bear hunting. A call was fielded where a dog was accidentally caught in a leg hold trap, it was successfully released unharmed

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued working North Shore tributaries during the spring steelhead run. Duncan also worked nighttime fish run activity, illegal netting and smelting activity. He received complaints of fishing harassment, snagging of fish and illegal fishing activity. Time was also spent working trapping and small game violations investigations.  Other activity included assisting with a wildfire investigation, ATV activity and following up on a couple litter dumping locations.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked sucker anglers, spring beaver trappers and worked OHV enforcement during the past week. CO Humphrey patrolled the Sawyer WMA and in the Fond Du Lac state forest with current road/trail closures in place.  CO Humphrey took several calls/complaints on Tribal spearing and/or netting on an area lake. CO Humphrey assisted other District officers working North shore fish run and smelting. CO Humphrey checked turkey hunting activity in the area. Several nice Toms were observed taken the first and second seasons. Turkey were very active and vocal. CO Humphrey handled a nuisance beaver complaint, followed up on two cases from the fall hunting and trapping season.  OHM, angling license, and taking violations were encountered during the week.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers in the rivers and along the shore when the wind wasn't too strong. A few smelters were trying their hand on Park Point but slightly warmer temps are needed to get the run going. A meeting was attended at the beginning of Enforcement Academy 17 and assistance given to local agencies with calls.  Enforcement action was taken for angling violations

 Lake Superior Unit - vacant.