MN DNR Weekly Report 
By MN DNR on May 1, 2019 District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson
(International Falls #1) reports sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River is in full swing with activity from the dam in International Falls to Lake of the Woods. Most people reported having some success with at least boating a few each day, and some were also successful in harvesting one. Enforcement action for the week included boat and water safety violations, license issues, taking walleyes in a closed season, and failure to tag sturgeon. He attended the funeral for fellow Conservation Officer Eugene Wynn. Rest in peace.
CO Shane Zavodnik
(International Falls #2) spent time focusing on fire and OHV enforcement over the week. On one particular event, an individual started what was intended to be a small ditch burn. But it got away from him and burned the entire field and also spread into the woods. Luckily, the fire was slowed down enough and suppressed shortly thereafter. The individual quickly admitted to starting the non-permitted fire, and it was apparent that he knew it could have ended up being something much more serious. Zavodnik cautions individuals to be especially mindful when starting fires with the dry conditions we’ve had lately.
CO John Slatinski
(Ray) monitored angling, OHV use, boating, trapping, and burning activities. Sturgeon anglers reported less success on the Rainy River through the week and into the weekend, but not for lack of trying. Violations encountered during the week included burning without a permit, burning prohibited materials, possessing fish during a closed season, lack of boating safety equipment, driving behaviors on OHVs, license violations, and lack of registration. A funeral was attended in Pine City for Conservation Officer Eugene Wynn.
CO Troy Fondie
(Orr) reports taking calls on ATVs, accidental otter catches, beaver problems affecting lake levels, and suspected illegal burning.
CO Duke Broughten
(Cook) spent the week monitoring spring angling, trapping, and ATV activity. Ice is slowly coming off Lake Vermilion. Broughten gave a presentation to area fire wardens. He also checked sturgeon anglers on the Rainy River.
CO Matt Frericks
(Virginia) spent a majority of his time working on Honor Guard duties in the memory of CO Eugene Wynn. Follow-up investigation on litter, dumping and wetland issues was performed. Frericks began monitoring area streams for fish run activity.
CO Mark Fredin
(Aurora) is 10-7 – retired!
District 6 - Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams
(Ely #1) assisted the St. Louis County Sheriffs Office with a recovery on the Echo Trail near the BWCA. Several agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Border Patrol and the St. Louis County Rescue Squad spent hours searching the area after a suspicious abandoned campsite was found. Several articles were located that required further investigation and the results are still pending.
CO Darin Fagerman
(Grand Marais) followed up on a wetland investigation during the week. Lake Superior rivers and inland accesses were also checked.
CO Mary Manning
(Hovland) assisted as part of the DNR Honor Guard with the funeral for CO Eugene Wynn. The outpouring of support for the family, friends and fellow officers by local folks in Pine City and officers from around the country was very much appreciated and makes the loss a little easier to bear.
CO Anthony Bermel
(Babbitt) attended the funeral for CO Wynn. Time was spent on a variety of enforcement duties such as litter, burning, trapping, fishing, ATV, and monitoring the fish run. Bermel, CO Williams, and local officers busted an underage drinking party at a U.S. Forest Service remote campsite with many underage consumption citations issued. Ice went out on many lakes and a large number of ring-necked ducks migrated into the area.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom
(Tofte) checked anglers along the North Shore tributaries and ATV activity in the Tofte and Schroeder areas. The water temperatures are climbing and the fish are cooperating for some anglers. Calls about nuisance wildlife are increasing with the arrival of spring.
CO Don Murray
(Two Harbors) worked stream fishing and trapping activity during the week. Fishing is improving on area streams with some nice fish being caught. Many lakes are still holding ice but are steadily melting as warmer weather returns. A complaint of night shooting is being investigated, as is illegal dumping of trash.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten
(Northome) checked anglers and trappers, patrolled for illegal ATV activity, responded to injured-deer calls, and processed incidentally taken furbearers. Enforcement action was taken for having passengers under age 18 on a Class II ATV without a helmet, failure to validate a sturgeon tag, failure to affix a sturgeon tag, no throwable device, and no wearable life jacket.
CO Jayson Hansen
(Big Fork) worked fishing and ATV enforcement. He answered wildlife-related calls and assisted other agencies.
CO Mike Fairbanks
(Deer River) checked anglers, responded to calls of debris left at public accesses, investigated trapping complaints and attended services for CO Gene Wynn. Lakes are now opening up with the recent warm weather and high winds. Enforcement action was taken for license issues.
CO Sarah Grell
(Grand Rapids) spent time checking angling activity this past week. She also assisted in dispatching an injured bear and followed up on a litter complaint.
CO Thomas Sutherland
(Grand Rapids) worked open-water anglers fishing from shore over the past week with the panfish beginning to bite well. Sutherland also helped area officers work trapping cases where multiple violations were present.
CO Jimmy Van Asch
(Pengilly) spent the week working angling, ATV, and trapping enforcement. Shore anglers are reporting some success with the panfish bite. Sturgeon anglers were also worked on the Rainy River. Van Asch assisted the Range Rider’s ATV Club with their annual youth ATV safety class. Follow up was conducted on area ATV complaints. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, failure to validate a sturgeon tag, failure to attach a sturgeon tag, illegal party fishing for sturgeon, no angling license in possession, and an insufficient number of PFDs.
CO Taylor Hochstein
(Hill City) checked anglers in the area who are excited about transitioning from fishing on the ice to fishing from a boat. He gave a law and ethics talk at both a firearms safety class and an ATV safety class in Hill City. Enforcement action was taken for spring beaver trapping violations.
NE ATV officer – vacant.
District 8 - Duluth area
CO Jacob Willis
(Brookston) spent a large portion of the week on Division Honor Guard details regarding the loss of CO Wynn in the line of duty. Colors were posted at the both the House of Representatives and at the Senate during the week. Willis assisted with funeral planning with the DNR Honor Guard detail and attended the funeral.
CO Andy Schmidt
(Duluth West) spent much of the week attending Honor Guard preparations for CO Gene Wynn’s funeral. He worked shore anglers and North Shore rivers. Time was spent handling equipment concerns and assisting with a United Northern Sportsmen firearms safety class.
CO Kipp Duncan
(Duluth East) continued working the North Shore tributaries during the steelhead run. A firearms safety class was attended and a game farm was inspected. Duncan also helped arrange a local beaver trapper to assist with the removal of beavers that were causing water damage to a driveway. Duncan attended CO Eugene Wynn’s funeral.
CO Jeff Humphrey
(Cromwell) served as an Honor Guard member honoring CO Eugene Wynn in Pine City and at the State Capital in St. Paul.
CO Scott Staples
(Carlton) assisted with a firearms safety class north of Duluth. A litter complaint was investigated and time was also spent patrolling state parks and checking shore anglers in the area. A talk was given to an ATV class in Cloquet where several young students were certified in ATV safety. The Carlton County Riders ATV Club went a step further and raised donations so they could buy all of the certified students brand new helmets to keep when they finished the class.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Keith Olson
(Lake Superior Marine Unit) attended a meeting and performed other duties in Pine City leading up to the funeral service for fallen Officer Wynn in Pine County. Olson checked anglers along the North Shore. The rivers are holding fish and water temperatures are optimum for the spawn run. Boat anglers on Lake Superior are having good success with coho salmon. Smelters have arrived during the evening hours in the Duluth and Two Harbors rivers. Olson also attended a firearms safety field day at the United Northern Sportsmen club on Island Lake.
CO Matt Miller
(Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked boaters and anglers on Lake Superior. Class 2 ATVs were worked, with multiple violations found for operating in ditches, on the left side of the road, without registration, and without headlights. Funeral services were attended for CO Wynn. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
Lake Superior Unit – vacant.
....
Fur dems of youz moe foes' dat don't fish in one of deez districts.........
I recommend ya visit dis site........ https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/enforcement/co_report/index.html OR!
Just start fishing da areas dat's posted above!
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Topic: MN DNR Weekly Report (Read 2026 times)
