Weekly Conservation Officer Reports for Northeast Minnesota
Oct 11, 2023 09:31AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Boreal Community Media files
From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - October 11, 2023
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) worked this week patrolling for fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Additional time was spent checking small-game and waterfowl hunters.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) followed up on complaints of shooting grouse close to occupied homes. In one case, a picnic table was shot. The officer followed up on big-game investigations and checked anglers and ATV riders. Enforcement action was taken for small-game, big-game, trespass and ATV violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) provided ride-alongs to interested college students. Time was spent on a spruce-top theft resulting in timber trespass, decorative materials, and litter charges against two people 1,565 spruce tops were seized. Several citations were issued to grouse hunters transporting loaded firearms on ATVs. Additional enforcement action was taken for baiting bears in the wrong zone, no bear bait sign, unregistered bear bait, non-biodegradable material at bear bait, and youth ATV passenger under 18 without a helmet. Online training was completed, and a nuisance-bear report was taken.
CO Matt Miller (Silver Bay) followed up on litter and dumping complaints in state forest areas and dumping complaints in Isabella. ATV trails were checked, with trails drying out well from recent rains. The inland stream trout season wrapped up, as did the lake trout season on Lake Superior. Enforcement action taken for ATV violations.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) continued with field training COC Jamus Veit. Grouse hunters have had mixed results due to inclement weather. The officers monitored the last remaining bear baits. The officers spent time patrolling on ATV with an increase in the number of people riding ATVs. Enforcement action was taken for license violations, transporting loaded firearms, bear-baiting violations, and open containers of alcohol. Hill and Veit also conducted a traffic stop on an ATV. The driver was arrested for DUI and the passenger was arrested for possessing a loaded handgun while intoxicated.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small-game and archery deer -hunting activity. Cooler weather arrived this week, making for more fall-like activities and hunters getting shacks prepared for the season. Enforcement action was taken for failure to remove drain plugs in watercraft before transporting and license violations.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports spending time this past week checking grouse hunters, patrolling for ATV activity, and checking anglers on the Rainy River. Violations observed this past week consisted of operating ATVs without the required headlights and failing to display registration properly. Simonson also assisted with a firearms safety field day in International Falls.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) checked anglers, small-game hunters, and monitored ATV activity. Anglers were fighting strong winds to stay on their favorite locations. Some success was noted. Small-game hunters continue to chase grouse as the underbrush is starting to thin. ATV activity has increased steadily as the fall season progresses. Assistance was provided at a structure fire, where use of a section of the highway and railway was restricted.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring ATV and small-game activities. Waterfowl hunting remains with few ducks in the area. Area forest roads continue to be monitored. Public access sites along with boating and angling activities continue to be checked. Other time was spent working on equipment and completing various administrative tasks.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) primarily spent time checking small-game hunters in his station. Time was also spent working complaint calls regarding to damage to property. Larson assisted other conservation officers with a decorative materials case resulting in a large seizure of spruce tops. Training was also attended.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked small-game, ATV, and waterfowl activity. In addition, time was spent on online training and completing administrative tasks. Cooler weather has dropped a lot of the cover in the woods, affording more hunters with better opportunities. Grouse numbers remain high and most hunters are finding success.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) continued field training with COC Nick Bruesewitz. Time was spent completing an investigation on a litter case where a citation was issued. While interviewing the subject, it was found that they had a warrant for their arrest. The subject was brought to jail shortly after for a no-bail warrant. Both officers also participated in a career day event at a local high school where a presentation was given to students about the hiring process for becoming a conservation officer. Investigations on big-game and APM violations were conducted throughout the week. The week was ended with the officers assisting local agencies with a domestic assault call involving a firearm. Off-highway vehicle violations were also addressed throughout the week.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring hunting, fishing, and ATV activity. Waterfowl hunters reported limited success and are finding few ducks in the area. Grouse hunters reported good success. Archery deer hunters reported seeing few deer. Broughten also fielded calls regarding dogs chasing deer, firearms deer-hunting regulations, and safety education classes.
Cook vacant.
From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - October 11, 2023
Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports he instructed several safety classes over the weekend. Hunting pressure slowed noticeably over the weekend. Cooler, wet weather lasted over the weekend and small-game success reports were very low.CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) worked this week patrolling for fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Additional time was spent checking small-game and waterfowl hunters.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) followed up on complaints of shooting grouse close to occupied homes. In one case, a picnic table was shot. The officer followed up on big-game investigations and checked anglers and ATV riders. Enforcement action was taken for small-game, big-game, trespass and ATV violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) provided ride-alongs to interested college students. Time was spent on a spruce-top theft resulting in timber trespass, decorative materials, and litter charges against two people 1,565 spruce tops were seized. Several citations were issued to grouse hunters transporting loaded firearms on ATVs. Additional enforcement action was taken for baiting bears in the wrong zone, no bear bait sign, unregistered bear bait, non-biodegradable material at bear bait, and youth ATV passenger under 18 without a helmet. Online training was completed, and a nuisance-bear report was taken.
CO Matt Miller (Silver Bay) followed up on litter and dumping complaints in state forest areas and dumping complaints in Isabella. ATV trails were checked, with trails drying out well from recent rains. The inland stream trout season wrapped up, as did the lake trout season on Lake Superior. Enforcement action taken for ATV violations.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) continued with field training COC Jamus Veit. Grouse hunters have had mixed results due to inclement weather. The officers monitored the last remaining bear baits. The officers spent time patrolling on ATV with an increase in the number of people riding ATVs. Enforcement action was taken for license violations, transporting loaded firearms, bear-baiting violations, and open containers of alcohol. Hill and Veit also conducted a traffic stop on an ATV. The driver was arrested for DUI and the passenger was arrested for possessing a loaded handgun while intoxicated.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small-game and archery deer -hunting activity. Cooler weather arrived this week, making for more fall-like activities and hunters getting shacks prepared for the season. Enforcement action was taken for failure to remove drain plugs in watercraft before transporting and license violations.
Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports over the weekend more than 50 young men and women from the International Falls and Littlefork area were certified in firearms safety. ATV, small-game, archery, and waterfowl hunting have been the main focus of the workload. Lots of grouse are still being seen by most hunters. Young ATV operators are reminded to wear a DOT-approved helmet. Enforcement action for the week involved ATV violations.CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports spending time this past week checking grouse hunters, patrolling for ATV activity, and checking anglers on the Rainy River. Violations observed this past week consisted of operating ATVs without the required headlights and failing to display registration properly. Simonson also assisted with a firearms safety field day in International Falls.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) checked anglers, small-game hunters, and monitored ATV activity. Anglers were fighting strong winds to stay on their favorite locations. Some success was noted. Small-game hunters continue to chase grouse as the underbrush is starting to thin. ATV activity has increased steadily as the fall season progresses. Assistance was provided at a structure fire, where use of a section of the highway and railway was restricted.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring ATV and small-game activities. Waterfowl hunting remains with few ducks in the area. Area forest roads continue to be monitored. Public access sites along with boating and angling activities continue to be checked. Other time was spent working on equipment and completing various administrative tasks.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) primarily spent time checking small-game hunters in his station. Time was also spent working complaint calls regarding to damage to property. Larson assisted other conservation officers with a decorative materials case resulting in a large seizure of spruce tops. Training was also attended.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked small-game, ATV, and waterfowl activity. In addition, time was spent on online training and completing administrative tasks. Cooler weather has dropped a lot of the cover in the woods, affording more hunters with better opportunities. Grouse numbers remain high and most hunters are finding success.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) continued field training with COC Nick Bruesewitz. Time was spent completing an investigation on a litter case where a citation was issued. While interviewing the subject, it was found that they had a warrant for their arrest. The subject was brought to jail shortly after for a no-bail warrant. Both officers also participated in a career day event at a local high school where a presentation was given to students about the hiring process for becoming a conservation officer. Investigations on big-game and APM violations were conducted throughout the week. The week was ended with the officers assisting local agencies with a domestic assault call involving a firearm. Off-highway vehicle violations were also addressed throughout the week.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring hunting, fishing, and ATV activity. Waterfowl hunters reported limited success and are finding few ducks in the area. Grouse hunters reported good success. Archery deer hunters reported seeing few deer. Broughten also fielded calls regarding dogs chasing deer, firearms deer-hunting regulations, and safety education classes.
Cook vacant.
