Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
Nov 02, 2021 06:23AM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - November 1, 2021
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports that small-game-hunting activity in the Ely area slowed again over the week. Angling reports were fair to good with the weather change. Violations included an illegal-diameter snare and untagged whitefish nets.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and small-game hunters this past week. He fielded lots of questions about deer area boundaries and trapping regulations. Velsvaag followed up on several complaints of illegal fishing.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week checking small-game hunters and ATV riders. He completed equipment maintenance on station watercraft. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and firearms violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked bowhunters and walked deer stands, checking for illegal baiting within the 10 days before the firearms opener. Manning also worked with volunteer instructors and other law enforcement officers teaching an ATV safety class and field day at the Cook County School. She handled a trespass case involving a deer stand, a theft from a cabin, and a road-kill deer permit. Enforcement action was taken for operating an unlicensed ATV and no trout stamp.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) spent time working on an ongoing case. Follow-up was completed on other cases. Enforcement action for the week included failure to transfer ownership of an ATV and litter. A trapper was assisted in releasing an aggressive wolf from a foothold trap.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and small-game-hunting activity this week. Time was also spent assisting the county with a few trespass issues. He also completed his assigned background investigation.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports walking about a dozen miles throughout the week looking for baited deer stands. Unfortunately, Hill has a laundry list of stands to visit on opening morning. Hill responded to a trespass call where a hunter discharged a shotgun and shot a grouse very close to an occupied house. The investigation showed the hunter illegally accessed a private road and discharged their shotgun 120 feet from the house. This was especially concerning because the hunter did not know the occupied dwelling was even there due to the roadway being directly below the house on a steep embankment. Area officers certified more than students at the yearly ATV safety training field day held at the Cook County High School.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small-game and waterfowl-hunting activity this week. Temperatures have dropped, making it feel more seasonal as hunters readied deer camps for the upcoming deer firearms opener. Murray assisted other volunteer instructors with a youth ATV safety class where more than 20 students were certified.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports that small-game-hunting activity in the Ely area slowed again over the week. Angling reports were fair to good with the weather change. Violations included an illegal-diameter snare and untagged whitefish nets.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and small-game hunters this past week. He fielded lots of questions about deer area boundaries and trapping regulations. Velsvaag followed up on several complaints of illegal fishing.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week checking small-game hunters and ATV riders. He completed equipment maintenance on station watercraft. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and firearms violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked bowhunters and walked deer stands, checking for illegal baiting within the 10 days before the firearms opener. Manning also worked with volunteer instructors and other law enforcement officers teaching an ATV safety class and field day at the Cook County School. She handled a trespass case involving a deer stand, a theft from a cabin, and a road-kill deer permit. Enforcement action was taken for operating an unlicensed ATV and no trout stamp.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) spent time working on an ongoing case. Follow-up was completed on other cases. Enforcement action for the week included failure to transfer ownership of an ATV and litter. A trapper was assisted in releasing an aggressive wolf from a foothold trap.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and small-game-hunting activity this week. Time was also spent assisting the county with a few trespass issues. He also completed his assigned background investigation.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports walking about a dozen miles throughout the week looking for baited deer stands. Unfortunately, Hill has a laundry list of stands to visit on opening morning. Hill responded to a trespass call where a hunter discharged a shotgun and shot a grouse very close to an occupied house. The investigation showed the hunter illegally accessed a private road and discharged their shotgun 120 feet from the house. This was especially concerning because the hunter did not know the occupied dwelling was even there due to the roadway being directly below the house on a steep embankment. Area officers certified more than students at the yearly ATV safety training field day held at the Cook County High School.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small-game and waterfowl-hunting activity this week. Temperatures have dropped, making it feel more seasonal as hunters readied deer camps for the upcoming deer firearms opener. Murray assisted other volunteer instructors with a youth ATV safety class where more than 20 students were certified.
