CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports another busy firearms deer opener. The season started out promising after a handful of successful hunters were checked Saturday morning, but success seemed to fizzle into Sunday evening with the arrival of rain and snow. Deer baiting again was the most common violation found and several citations were issued.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and deer hunters this past week. Deer hunting was a little slow but fishing was good for those anglers who were out. Velsvaag received several calls about deer-hunting regulations and marten trapping.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) dealt with illegal deer baiting, checked whitefish nets and activity and assisted the sheriff’s office with a rollover crash. Assistance was also given to the U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a TIP complaint on deer baiting and checked deer and grouse hunters over the opening weekend of the firearms deer season. Manning also followed up on a trapping call, checked bear bait station sites, and attended the Cook County Aquatic Invasives Task Force Meeting.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) and COC Lerchen worked a very busy rifle opening weekend in the Northland. They spent the week leading up to the opener documenting baited deer stands. Seven deer baiters were cited and their rifles were seized on opening weekend. Other enforcement action included untagged deer, transporting loaded firearms in motor vehicles, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, insufficient blaze orange, failure to register deer, and DWI. The main excuse for deer baiters this year is they didn’t know the product they were using was illegal. The regulations booklet is very clear that hunters need to check the ingredient labels on the product.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked deer-hunting activity. A quiet start to the season turned silent as Sunday’s driving rain tuned to snow.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the busy opening weekend of the firearms deer season. He assisted with a DWI arrest and fielded many calls about hunting regulations. Enforcement action was taken for hunting over bait, DWI and license violations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked the firearms deer opener along the North Shore with most hunters checked at least seeing some deer. Opening morning presented a perfect day to sit in a deer stand with no wind. By Sunday afternoon, a hard snow hit the Arrowhead and hunters headed in, calling it for opening weekend. Enforcement was taken for a loaded gun in a motor vehicle and deer tagging/transportation violations.