MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

                MN DNR Weekly Report

 for Sept. 6, 2016
 

District 5 - Eveleth area


CO Randy Patten (Northome) spent most of the week checking bear baits and bear hunters, also worked ATV activity, assisted the sheriff’s department, and answered calls on nuisance wildlife.  Enforcement action taken for allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, fail to validate bear site tag, untagged bear, transport loaded firearm, and license not in possession.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATVs, state parks and campgrounds. He also checked bear hunters and handled various complaints during the week.

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) and a COC spent the past week focusing on bear hunting. Common violations found with bear hunters have been failure to validate tag, failure to attach tag, and transport a loaded firearm. ATV enforcement has accompanied bear hunting and common violations have been failure to display valid registration and under 18 without a helmet. Other violations included OHM on roadway, allow illegal operation of ATV/OHM by juvenile, fail to display current watercraft registration, no angling license in possession, and no throwable.  CO’s also assisted the county on a couple calls.

and fail to validate site tag.District 8 - Duluth area


CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) investigated the same location twice of a possible illegal fire. Several people were checked fishing throughout the week. Early goose hunting activity, including past complaint areas were worked. Many bear bait stations were checked before the bear season opener.  Time was also spent following up on TIP complaints of possible illegal bait stations.  Officer Duncan assisted a neighboring officer with a bear case that resulted in several violations.  Some of the violations involved illegal bait, taking a cub bear, hunting in the wrong zone, failing to tag and validate a license, and illegal transport. Several calls were also received and responded to throughout the week.


CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked bear and goose hunters in the area for compliance. Humphrey also assisted other officers and local law enforcement with various calls over the holiday weekend. Patrols into the FDL state forest and Sawyer WMA were conducted. Calls continued to come in about upcoming hunting seasons, permit deadlines, youth licensing, nuisance animals, nuisance humans, and trespass. Violations for bear baiting, misc. waterfowl, litter, OHV, AIS, watercraft registration, and unlawful trail use were encountered.


CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked bear hunting and off road vehicle activity in the area this past week. Enforcement action was taken for operating in prohibited areas, and registration violations. K9 Schody and the rest of the K9 unit attended the state fair where a demonstration was given and the duties of the K9 unit were explained. Assistance was given to the state patrol in helping search for a suspect that fled from a traffic accident. Some fishing, boating and invasive enforcement was also conducted in the area where enforcement action was taken for transporting weeds on trailer, no PFD and angle with extra line.


CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth) spent much of the week working bear baits and hunters. ATV complaint areas were worked. Early goose season had some hunters out but very few geese were seen. A shoreline complaint was investigated.

Lake Superior Marine Unit


CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers on Lake Superior and worked on bear hunting violations. Follow up was completed on commercial records violations and local lakes checked for AIS compliance. Enforcement action was taken for public access violations.


Lake Superior Unit - vacant.