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District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) checked anglers, boaters, ATV, and off-highway motorcycle operators this week. Time was also spent patrolling for AIS violations.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week checking anglers, boaters, and ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) reports the area saw a large influx of people to the area for Fisherman’s Picnic, which is the annual summer celebrationinGrandMarais.Summertime recreation was in full swing. Enforcement action was taken for multiple angling, boating, and ATV violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) attended alawupdatesmeeting.Timewas spent checking anglers on area lakes and working OHV activity. Enforcement action included unlawful juvenile OHM operation and angling without a trout stamp. Additional time was spent on preparation for field training.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling and boating enforcement for the week. Time was spent monitoring commercial netting activity and patrolling Lake Superior. Violations encountered included various OHV and angling related violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV and angling activity during the week. Fishing improved this week, with most anglers checked having fish in possession. Many wild berries are at peak ripeness and several harvesters were encountered off area forest roads. Enforcement action was taken for ATV operation violations.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports that fishing and boating safety enforcement on Rainy Lake continue to be the main emphasis of the work activity. Time was also spent at Camp Ripley instructing new COs in sportfishing enforcement activities. Wolf-depredation complaints and some miscellaneous animal-related complaints were handled. CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports spending time this past week assisting with instructing the current CO Academy at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent working area lakes and rivers.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) continued work on abackground investigation for the next group of applicants and followed up on wild animal-related calls. Bears are still active around residential areas despite the progression of natural food sources. Be diligent in removing attractants from areas you don’t want them to visit. Anglers were happy to have a reprieve from extreme heat and were reporting some success. Equipment needs were also tended to.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports another week of bear problems were dealt with. Recreational boating continues to be monitored. Fishing remains poor with few fish observed in the bag. ATV activity is ongoing and area roads and trails were checked. Public access sites continue to be visited. Equipment work is ongoing. Administrative tasks continue.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling and ATV enforcement. Larson spent most of his time checking anglers on Lake Vermilion and checking local trails for ATV riders. Anglers seemed to have better success in the past week with finding a few walleyes.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Anglers continued to report limited success. Boating and ATV activity was lower this week. Calls of bear sightings continue. All complaints where bears were found alsohadgarbageorfoodpresent.Bears will continue to return if a homeowner doesn’t take steps to remove food or garbage.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checked anglers, monitored ATV activity, and answered nuisance-bear complaints. Residents are once again reminded to keep bird feeders out of reach and to secure garbage and other potential food sources. Brown and CO Fairbanks assisted the county with a boating accident where two boaters ended up in the water. COs disabled the boat and brought it back to shore.
COJaysonHansen(Bigfork)worked ATV riders and fishing activities. He patrolled campgrounds and trails. Numerous gameandfish-relatedquestions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked angling, ATV and boating activity over the past week, with enforcement action taken for fishing in a closed area, angling without a license, and for operating an unregistered watercraft. Sutherland also helped teach a youth firearms safety class where 27 kids were learning about firearms safety and game laws.
CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) worked primarily on a background investigation on an applicant for the next CO Academy. Time was also spent on miscellaneous wildlife- and nuisance bear-related complaints. AIS compliance and ATV activity were also monitored.
CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) reports there were plenty of people out enjoying the natural resources in between the numerous thunderstorms that have been rolling through the area lately. Several anglers who were checked were in good spirits and had somerespectablefishintheirlivewells. Others who were checked were found to be in possession of illegal-length fish and using too many lines.
Water Resource Enforcement
WREO Dustie Speldrich (North Metro) worked on ongoing aquatic plant management, public waters, and Wetland Conservation Act cases. She took a complaint of a dead eagle and answered boat registration questions.
Aviation Section
CO Pilot Charles Scott (Grand Rapids) completed creel flights. He also planned andrescheduled futuresketchmapping flights.
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) attended and instructed sections of training at the Airborne Public Safety Convention. Connections were made withpublicsafetyaviators fromallover the country and some from Canada.
NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) continued working on the annual cattail spraying project for hybrid cattails. In the Willmar area, he and the wildlife roving crew completed spray plots as the project continues to move towards southwest Minnesota. Rain and high temperatures caused some delays.
NR Pilot Gracie Zeller (Brainerd) compiled records for cattail spray. She flew anight creel survey flight progressing towards her fixed wing license and learning proper survey techniques. Helicopter maintenance tasks were performed.
Enforcement Education
Please check the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov for a current class listing of all DNR Enforcement Education Courses and instructor training sessions.
If you missed afall class and are over 18, check online for the online course information.
Please check the DNR website www. mndnr.gov for a current class listing of all DNR Enforcement Youth and Adult Snowmobile Safety Courses and instructor training sessions.
Please direct questions to 1-800-3668917 or 1-888-MINNDNR.
Reminder: Anyone born after December 31, 1979 cannot purchase a license to hunt in Minnesota without first taking a DNR Safety Training Course and receiving a certificate. In addition, many states have even more stringent mandatory Hunter Education requirements. Check before you go!
Reminder: Any resident born after December 31, 1976, who operates a snowmobileinMinnesotamustpossess a snowmobile certificate. Two options are available to complete certification. Ages 11 and older can take the online course and hands-on day or attend the traditional youth course. Those 16 or older can take the online course.
