CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports it was one of the busiest Labor Day weekends in the Ely area in recent memory. Every trailhead was packed, with lots overflowing, and the lakes were also abnormally busy. Bear-hunting reports improved and many baits checked showed recent bear activity. Violations included angling without a license in possession and taking trout with no stamp.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked bear hunters and bear-baiting activity. He also checked anglers and saw some nice trout taken. Walleye fishing has been sporadic and litter continues to be a problem at public access sites in particular.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) investigated a wetland complaint and checked bear-hunting activity. He followed up on a trespass complaint and worked AIS. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, firearms, big-game and wetland violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) had a busy week with bear hunters and ATV operators. Bear hunters are reporting good success and nuisance-bear calls keep rolling in. Campers at one forest campground reported cleaning up after the previous guests, and one bear hunter decided to dump the animal's carcass along a roadside. Anglers are reminded to check the regulation book before they wet a line, and to be sure they can correctly identify fish.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) primarily worked bear-hunting and OHV enforcement, as well as patrolling in the BWCA. Bear-hunting success has been quite good. Enforcement action included failure to register and sign bear baits, possession of marijuana, litter, and minor ATV violations. Assistance was provided on a suicide threat call and a land-use trespass complaint investigation was concluded.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling and bear-hunting activity. A fair amount of time was devoted to ATV activity as well.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports an extremely high success rate among hunters as bears are hitting baits very hard. Hill has seen multiple bears throughout the station and nuisance reports are still coming in along the North Shore. Hill handled a few bait-registration violations as a few hunters did not provide the required information in their mail-in bait registrations. ATV traffic has also picked up tremendously and Hill must reiterate to users that juveniles under the age of 18 must wear a helmet. Multiple guardians went home with citations after Hill stopped them for operating with helmetless juveniles. Hill assisted the local sheriff?s office by apprehending a suspect in an assault that occurred in Lutsen.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a busy holiday weekend along the North Shore. Wild rice harvesting was in full swing on area lakes with a good crop this year. Early goose hunters were finding geese and bear hunters were reporting a good season so far. Enforcement action was taken for licensing violations and failure to validate a bear license.