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District 6 - Two Harbors CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports: hunting activity continued to be slow over the week. Most hunters reported difficulty in finding grouse and waterfowl reports did improve from the previous week. Violations included: insufficient PFD’s in watercraft, taking waterfowl with no federal stamp, and transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) checked fishermen, hunters, andATVoperatorsthisweek. Additional time was spent patrolling for watercraft and AIS violations.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week checking small game hunters, anglers, and ATV riders. The officer spent some time in the BWCA checking anglers. Some nice limits of Lakers were seen in the bag. CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) spent time this week patrolling in the BWCAW. Almost all people checked were in compliance with the regulations. The salmon run continues in the Lake Superior tributaries with hundreds of fish seen gathered in the streams. Equipment maintenance was performed.
COAnthonyBermel(Ely) worked with COC Mitch Nowak, the officers brought the DNR tip trailer to Ely Public Safety Day. Officers spent the week working grouse hunters, monitoring ATV activity, patrolling local water accesses, and checking boatersandanglers.Timewas spent monitoring state park activity. Enforcement action taken was not having a trout stamp, no angling license, no nav lights after dark, and littering at a public access.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) Focused on angling and small game enforcement for the week. Time was spent patrolling the BWCAW. Violations encountered included transporting loaded firearms and operating unregistered watercraft.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small game and deer archery activity. Warm weather and changing fall colors brought many people to the North shore this week. Hunters were still working hard for birds as ground cover remained thick. Enforcement action was taken for trespass and campground violations.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports a busy week and weekend for sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River as the keep season comes to a close. ATV activity is increasing with more activity being seen in the woods. A youth ATV Safety Certification Class was completed with approx. 40 area youth becoming certified. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations. CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports working small game hunters this past week, assisting with a local ATV safety class, and working the Rainy River this past week. Violations encountered this past week consisted of illegal length sturgeon, sturgeon tagging violations, fishing with extra lines, and littering.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) Plenty of opportunities abound for a variety of outdoor interests and many were contactedtakingadvantageof the extended stretch of favorable weather. The foliage is still hanging tight to the trees and brush making it challenging for grouse hunters. Local waterfowl numbers are slim, and not many migrating birds have been noted. Sturgeon anglers were putting out extra efforts as the harvest period winds down.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports that duck hunting appears non-existent due to a lack of birds. ATV and boating activities were monitored. Area forest roads were checked and public access sites visited. Deer hunters continue to report lack of deer numbers and abundant wolf sign. Administrative reporting and equipment work continues.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spenttimethisweekchecking anglers, monitoring ATV activity, checking small game and waterfowl hunters, along with monitoring archery hunting activity. Time was also spent checking for a possibly sick moose that had been seen walking in circles. A regional training was attended as well. Enforcement activity this week included angling with an extra line, no blaze orange while small game hunting, and operating an ATV on a state highway.
COAaronLarson(Tower) spent time checking waterfowl hunters, grouse hunters, and anglers throughout his station. Waterfowl success remains somewhat slow due to hot weather and poor conditions. Anglers were having mixed success finding some walleyes and panfish. Violations were related to waterfowl stamps, angling with extra lines, and other license violations. Larson also spent time working on a wetland case, an ATV complaint, and public water access issues.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring hunting, fishing, and trapping activity. Hunters and anglers reported limited success. ATV activity was lower this week. Lack of rain has increased wildfire danger. CO Broughten also fielded calls of nuisance and injured animals.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area CO Vincent Brown (Northome) and COC Andrew Struffert spent time working ATV enforcement and checking anglers/hunters. Violations this week included weeds being trailered on a watercraft trailer, trailering a boat with a plug installed, over the limit on fish, and multiple ATV violations. Two taxidermy inspections were completed. A complaint about a watercraft rental company renting out watercraft with expired registration was handled. The officers also wrapped up an illegal bear-baiting investigation and enforcement action was taken.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) WorkedATV’s,hunting, and fishing activities. He patrolled campgrounds and trails. Numerous game and fish questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife- related complaints.
COMikeFairbanks(Deer River) checked hunters, worked TIP complaints and monitored OHV activity this week. Hunter success was fair. Enforcement action was taken for license issues, water fowl stamp violations and insufficient PFD’s.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) continues field training with COC Trevon Pietz. They patrolled looking for waterfowl and small game hunters. They investigated into a report of illegal camping in a wildlife management area.
