.jpg)
District 6 - Two Harbors CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports warmer weather and rain arriving over the weekend put an end to the small amount of ice fishing activity seen in the Ely area. The first snowmobilers were checkedoperatingwherethey could find snow. Violations included operating a snowmobile on a roadway and late deer registration.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) focused primarily on hunting and fishing activity this week.HealsocontactedATV operators.
COAnthonyBermel(Babbitt) reports checking anglers and muzzleloader hunters and working follow-up cases from deer season. Ice has been very slow to form, is inconsistent, and now with the warm weather and heavy snow people will need to take extreme caution if venturing out on the ice. Enforcement action for the week included permitting a youth to take a doe in a buck-only area, deer-registration violations, depositing garbage on the ice, and driving a pickup on a grant-in-aid snowmobile trail.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (GrandMarais)checkedearly ice anglers, who had some luck with a few fish on the ice. Some lakes have decent ice and some of the bigger lakes are still completely open.Pleaseusecautionwhen venturing out on the ice. A few snowmobilers were checked hitting the backcountry roads.
COHudsonLedeen(Hovland) reports a few anglers have been checked venturing out on early ice. Most of the lakes in the area remain and ice thickness varies significantly from lake to lake. Equipment maintenance was performed.
COTrentAnderson(Tofte) focused on trapping and ice angling enforcement for the week. Time was spent answering wildlife-related calls and issuing deer-possession permits. A few ice anglers were checked but noted very thin and variable ice. Please use extreme caution if venturing out. Most snowmobilers and cross-country skiers remained on the sidelines waiting for better conditions.
COMeganFranzen(Silver Bay) finished field training early this week and began working the Silver Bay station. Time was spent learning the area and checking early ice anglers. A handful of snowmobile riders have been seen using the trails after the recent batch of fresh snow.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked trapping and angling activity during the week. Ice conditions remain unsafe for most area lakes until colder weather improves ice depths. Murray worked on division training items and continued to wrap up big-game investigations from the firearms season.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports warmer weather over the weekend created a comfortable muzzleloader-hunting opportunity for a few folks. However, it was not conducive for making ice for the spearing and ice fishing community. Ice conditions were looking favorable but with the recent dumping of 8 inches of heavy, wet snow on Sunday night was not helpful. People are reminded to use extreme caution when venturing out, as things have changed overnight in the north.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports working early ice fishing activity, small-game hunters, and muzzleloader deer-hunting activity. Activity was low and ice conditions remain uncertain in most areas throughout the area. Injured-animal complaints were addressed as well.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports that as deer hunting continues and people are traveling in and out of forest roads, be mindful that logging activity has increased. A truck full of logs is not able to react quickly on snow-covered roads. Ice has begun to form on most area waterways and is inconsistent at best. The recent melting weather has caused water to accumulate and create slush. Several injured-animal calls were received and tended to. Assistance was provided for several calls for vehicles that had gone off the road.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports heavy snow has fallen locally, and ice conditions went from bad to treacherous. Swamps and lowland areas have yet to freeze. A heavy, insulating snow will not help. Lake travel and angling activity was nonexistent over the week.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week working on some ongoing investigations, handling equipment maintenance, and checking a few ice anglers. It appears that all the lakes are pretty much all locked up with ice, but ice conditions still vary greatly and the heavy/wet snow we received added a lot of weight onto the ice.
COAaronLarson(Tower) worked primarily big-game, trapping, and angling enforcement. Larson spent time checking muzzleloader hunters around his station, finding a few hunters out and about with warmer weather. Some ice anglers have ventured out onto the ice, but ice remains very unreliable with much of it being too thin to walk on. Larson had violations related to licenses and he also continued to investigate a big-game violation.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked fishing, trapping, and big-game activity. Additional time was spent completing online training, attending a seminar, and following up on various complaints. Violations encountered included possession of illegal-length northern pike, no license in possession, and ATV registration violations.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time working on equipment maintenance and preparing gear. He also spent the remainder of the week investigating a trapping compliant and working on a background investigation.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring hunting, trapping, and fishing activity. Few muzzleloader deer hunters were encountered. Ice on local lakes is thin. Recent snow will likely cause slush on the lakes that have iced over. Broughten also fielded calls regarding snowmobile safety, injured animals, and stolen traps.
Aviation Section
CO Pilot Tim Gray (Bagley) prepared for winter flying and upcoming wildlife flights. Gray also completed both mandatory department training this week as well as aviation currency training.
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports finishing bear telemetry flights and ferrying helicopters from maintenance. Jensen also followed up on past cases and updated files.
CO Pilot Charles Scott (Brainerd) attended the MNICs conference in Duluth. He also prepared for upcoming wildlife surveys.
NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) ferried helicopter crews to return rotorcraft from maintenance. He also worked on required annual training, helicopter accident information, and completed other administrative tasks.
NR Pilot Gracie Zeller (Brainerd) flew maintenance test flights and returned a helicopter to Brainerd from annual maintenance.
Water Resource Enforcement WREORobertHaberman (North Central) worked checking small-game hunters and muzzleloader deer hunters. WCA cases were reviewed and questions were answered on water-related projects.
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!
Reminder: Any resident bornafterDecember31,1976, who operates a snowmobile in Minnesota must possess 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.
Reminder: Anyone born after July 1, 1987, who operates an ATV on public lands and waters in Minnesota must successfully complete the ATV Safety Training online course. People under age 16 must complete the ATVonlinecourseandriding component before riding on public lands. Please direct questions to 1-800-366-8917 or 1-888-MINNDNR.
SCHEDULED INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SESSIONS If you are 18 or older and would like to become an instructor for Snowmobile Safety, ATV Safety, Firearms Safety, Trail Ambassador or one of the Advanced Hunter programs, contact your local conservation officer or regional safety training officer. Instructor clinics are scheduled throughout the state and are listed on the DNR website.
See Also: http://www.dnr. state.mn.us/safety/instructors/ training.html
