CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) attended a certification course in St. Paul during the week. The weekend was very active with a variety of hunters and anglers checked. Violations included transportation of a loaded firearm.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and hunters this past week. Duck hunting improved and whitefish netting started on several area lakes. Grouse hunting continues to be slow and several calls came in about marten trapping.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled forest backroads checking ATV operators and hunters and followed up on a report of ATV damage on a forest route. She also began checking for deer bait and continued checking bear-bait stations to be sure everything has been removed post-season.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) attended training in St. Paul. A spruce-top case is under investigation. Time was also spent checking grouse hunters and deer stands. A citation was issued for a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked with COC Larson this past week. Time spent on ATV and hunting enforcement. Schottenbauer also spent time at Camp Ripley with department training. COC Aaron Larson (Silver Bay) worked ATV enforcement, small-game hunting and sport fishing. Deer baits were searched for. Trespassing signs posted on state property were removed. An overlimit of trout was found on a local trout lake and dealt with.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked big- and small-game hunting activity this past week. Many hunters were checked over the weekend preparing deer stands for the upcoming firearms opener and trying bag a grouse. Some late-season anglers were checked and several calls were answered in reference to the firearms deer season. Enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm and ATV violations.

Tofte – vacant.