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District 6 - Two Harbors CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports that hunting and ATV activity dropped to almost nonexistent as the last weekend before the regular firearms season arrived. The few grouse hunters checked still reported very timid birds and few shots were taken. Violation included storing equipment overnight in a WMA and hunting with no license in possession.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) spenttimethisweekchecking fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Ihnen also patrolled for small game hunters.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) investigated an area spruce top theft. The habitual violator was apprehended with the assistance of local agencies, and charges are pending for timber theft, failure to obtain consent to cut decorative materials, and litter on both public and private property. Approximately 1,300 cut spruce tops were seized. Additional time was spent checking deer stands and hunters. Enforcement actionwasalsotakenforATV violations.
COHudsonLedeen(Hovland) spent time checking hunters and anglers. Beaver and mink trap lines were inspected. Assistancewasgiven to the 1854 Treaty Authority with hunter who was successful harvesting a bull moose. Equipment maintenance was performed.
COTrentAnderson(Tofte) focused on grouse-hunting and angling enforcement for the week. Preparations were made for the upcoming deer opener.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked big-game investigations and took care of seasonal equipment maintenance items in preparation for winter. Murray also investigated forestry violations and an instance of trespass. Enforcement action was taken for trespass and shooting from a motor vehicle.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports spending time this past week working ATV, smallgame hunting, and checking anglers on the Rainy River. Complaints regarding road hunting were addressed throughout the week as well.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) fielded numerous questions about deer hunting as hunters prepare for the firearms deer opener. Additional questions were received about changes to some of the trapping regulations. Waterfowl hunters are seeing few ducks on area waterways, as the weather continues to be relatively mild. Seasonal maintenance on equipment was taken care of.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports area forest roads continue to be checked. Deer numbers appear very low locally. Hunters should plan accordingly. Duck hunting remains poor due to lack of birds. ATV activity was monitored, and public access sites were checked. Deer stands and shooting lane reports were referred to the appropriate public landowner.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spenttimethisweekchecking small-game hunters, anglers, ATV riders, along with getting ready for the upcoming deer-hunting season. A big part of the week was spent on illegal decorative materials harvesting occurring throughout the area.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily ATV, waterfowl, and big-game enforcement. Larson also spent time working a decorative materials case and preparing for the upcoming deer season.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time assisting a neighboring officer with a spruce top theft case and he also investigated several other spruce top theft cases within the Virginia area. Zavodnik and several other officers worked a deer shining detail over the weekend.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring hunting, trapping, and ATV activity. Grouse hunters reported moderate success. Waterfowl hunters continued to report finding few ducks and geese. Few hunters were encountered prepping for the upcoming firearm deer opener. Broughten also fielded calls regarding road hunting, youth deer licenses, and trapping regulations.
District 7 - Grand Rapids CO Vinny Brown (Northome) monitored decorative materials harvesting activities, checked grouse and duck hunters, and answered hunting related questions. As we approach firearms deer opener, people are encouraged to call the Turn in Poachers hotline or download the free MNTip app to report hunting violations with the option to remain anonymous.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked ATV riders, hunters, and anglers. He patrolled campgrounds and trails. Numerous game and fish-related questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.
COMikeFairbanks(Deer River) and COC Andrew Struffert spent time checking anglers and hunters. Violations this week included transporting loaded firearms, not having licenses in possession, and collecting decorative materials without a permit. Enforcement action was taken. The officers also arrested an ATV operator for DWI and assisted the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office and State Patrol with injury crashes.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) worked with COC Wehking focusing on sport fishing, small-game, biggame, trapping, ATV, and decorative materials enforcement. Several deer hunters were contacted making last-minute preparations before the upcoming firearms deer season and a spruce top theft was investigated, as well. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of hunting and angling violations.
CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) primarily checked small-gamehuntersandATV recreators this week. Time was spent training COC Franzen, and they worked on preparing for the upcoming firearms deer season. Enforcement action was taken for small-game violations.
CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) monitored recreational vehicle activity and small-game hunting. Time was also spent following up on open cases and a TIP complaint.
Aviation Section
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports flying numerous deer-shining and baiting fl ights f or t he u pcoming firearms deer season. Wetland and public water impacts were documented also.
CO Pilot Charles Scott (Brainerd) completed scheduled bait flights with station officers. He completed training with CO Pilot Gray. Scott conducted a flight to prevent illegal decorative material harvesting.
CO Pilot Tim Gray (Bemidji) flew multiple flights in preparation for the upcoming firearms deer season. Region officers were also assisted with air support on various details and training flights were completed.
NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) acted as safety pilot for another pilot training in airplane. He also spent a day in the field with a local CO and completed his own fixed-wing training flight.
NR Pilot Gracie Zeller (Brainerd) flew several training flights and continued adding content to the electronic flight bag app. She tested route files for moose surveys on the app.
Water Resource Enforcement
WREO Dustie Speldrich (North Metro) followed up on ongoing cases and work shining activity.
WREORobertHaberman (North Central) worked on cases in his assigned area. Time was spent checking waterfowl hunters and smallgame hunters. Many people where in the woods getting ready for the firearms deer opener.
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 a fall class and are over 18, check online for the online course information. (It’s also at www. mndnr.gov.)
Please check the DNR website www.mndnr.gov for a current class listing of all DNR Enforcement Youth andAdultSnowmobileSafety Courses and instructor training sessions.
Please direct questions to 1-800-366-8917 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!
