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Boreal Community Media

Weekly Conservation Officer Reports

Nov 12, 2019 01:19PM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - November 12, 2019

CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports: Snow and cold weather seemed to aid hunters for the opening weekend of the regular firearms seasons. Success was limited but most hunters he spoke to reported seeing a good amount of fresh deer sign and at least fleeting glimpses of deer. Violations included: Hunting deer over bait, and no license in possession.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked deer hunters this past week. He also checked a few waterfowl hunters before freeze up at the end of the week. CO Velsvaag had several calls about party hunting and baiting deer.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time checking deer hunters during the opening weekend. The officer responded to complaints and followed up bait cases. Enforcement action was taken for hunting over bait, transporting loaded firearms, no blaze orange, fail to tag deer, fail to validate tag and ATV violations. 

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy deer opener and week leading up to it. Numerous deer stands and hunting locations were scouted for illegal baiting. CO Manning and CO Hill contacted one group on opening morning- relieving them of some apples and firearms before sending them off with some paperwork. The process was repeated the following morning, but with the most delicious smelling bait block the officer has encountered.

CO Bermel (Babbitt) and COC Larson worked on ATV enforcement and searched for baited deer stands leading up to the deer season. Enforcement action was taken on transporting a loaded firearm, hunting over bait, hunting without a deer license, hunting without blaze orange, open bottle on an ATV, and an untagged deer. A possible trespass complaint was followed up on.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area deer hunting activity. Time was also spent checking a few that ventured out for very early ice fishing.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports checking multiple hunters during opening weekend of the firearms deer season. The weather was cold and hunters on the shore were not as successful as they would have liked. Hill did notice, however, that the majority of the hunters who he spoke with who harvested deer were successful during late morning/early afternoon. It pays to stay in the stand while others go in for coffee. A trio of hunters was cited for hunting with the aid of bait after they scattered leftover apples near their stand location. Hill assisted a neighboring officer by tracking down a hunter suspected of transporting an untagged deer.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a cold and quiet deer opener along the North shore. Not many deer were seen hanging on the camp pole but hunters were out enjoying the outdoors. Murray checked the first ice anglers of the season with some small lakes already having 4 inches of ice. Enforcement action was taken for licensing violations and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
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