CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) worked a busy start to the bear hunting season. The officer checked bait stations, hunters, and bear camps. Enforcement action was taken against a hunter who illegally killed two bears. CO Manning also checked anglers, campers and ATV operators during the holiday weekend.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) saw first-hand why sometimes humans need to override their navigation systems. When the road you're on turns into a snowmobile trail, which turns into a two track trail, which turns into a muddy jungle, it's time to override. Even rocks scraping parts off the bottom of the car couldn't stop this person from not relying on his navigation system. The two door convertible eventually bottomed out in deep muddy ruts. The officer assisted the couple in getting their luggage so they could make their flight to Chicago the next day. Officer Fagerman found a bear bait violation at a bear stand with no one around. He waited for the man to return because normally, people don't leave their lunch box and coffee thermos behind for very long.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area bear hunting activity this week. Time was also spent on area ATV trails during the Labor Day weekend.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked bear hunters, remote trout anglers, and ATV riders. The officer patrolled campgrounds, state parks, and responded to a burning complaint. Enforcement action was taken for big game, traffic, and burning violations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked bear hunting, fishing, and wild rice harvest activity over the holiday weekend. Some bear hunters were having success with most at least seeing bear. Fishing was fair on some area lakes and poor on others. Enforcement action was taken for unattended lines and licensing violations.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) focused on bear baiting/hunting activities and OHV enforcement. Enforcement contacts were made for allowing illegal juvenile OHM operation, unregistered OHM, OHM on roadway, unregistered ATV, too many passengers on ATV, illegal juvenile operation of ATV, unregistered bear baits, and bait with non-biodegradable materials.

CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports an active start to the bear season. Most hunters contacted reported a good amount of activity on their baits and success for hunters was overall high. Violations included bait with solid waste and no I.D. on a bear bait station.