Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
Sep 23, 2020 05:46AM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - September 22, 2020
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) focused on ATV and small-game hunting activity over the weekend as Ely hosted the ATVAM annual conference and small-game opener over the same dates. He also fielded several complaints from visitors to the BWCAW who witnessed hunting activities. No violations were reported and the visitors were informed that as part of the State of Minnesota, hunting is legal inside the wilderness.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and grouse hunters this past week. Bear hunters have thinned out and anglers were catching a few walleyes. Lots of grouse hunters were out, as were ATV riders.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small-game hunters during the busy opening weekend. Every road was crowded with ATVs and vehicles. The hunters who got out of their vehicles, found a quiet trail and walked, found good hunting success. He attended training at Camp Ripley, instructed firearms qualifications in Hibbing and responded to nuisance-bear and ATV-related complaints. Enforcement action was taken for hunting and ATV violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) saw a busy start to the grouse opener. Fall colors also brought out folks and forest roads were packed with ATVs, bicycles and autos. Hunters are reminded that it is THEIR responsibility to know where homes and occupied dwellings are before shooting at a grouse on the road. There are several apps with great aerial images for that! Numerous 'No Trespassing' signs should also be a good clue that there is a home within 500 feet. Hunters also need to remember that some forest roads go through private property and those stretches, if posted by the landowner, are not open to hunting without permission. One hunter shot repeatedly at a bird on a roadway so close to several homes that three different homeowners rushed out to the road to confront them, but the hunter had fled the posted area. Enforcement action was taken for no blaze orange, no helmets on juvenile ATV operators and passengers and allowing illegal juvenile ATV operation.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) started Step 2 of field training with COC Ryan Brown. A busy grouse opener was worked, as was the ATVAM weekend in the area with high ATV usage and participation noted. A variety of enforcement contacts were made with violations including no trout stamp, possession of marijuana and no small-game license. The two encountered ATV and OHM violations, driving after revocation, and failure to carry consent for decorative tree material.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) began field training this past week with COC Vincent Brown. They spent the week conducting ATV enforcement and checking the area for small-game hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for numerous ATV violations, including allowing a youth to operate an ATV without a helmet and for operating an ATV with no registration. They report a fairly slow start to grouse hunting in the Silver Bay area.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports working a very hot pink salmon bite in the tributaries. A few anglers were spoken to about the legalities behind hook choice and one angler was found to be angling with no license in possession. ATVs were out in force as a detail was worked in the Finland area. Violations encountered included juvenile helmet violations. He found off-highway motorcycle violations, headlight violations, and various registration violations. One operator in particular was cited after Hill determined the machine he was operating did not have registration. Instead of updating their registration, he instead decided to put his friend?s extra dealer registration plate on his machine. Some riders were in the area looking at the changing of the seasons as the leaves were vibrant. Nuisance-bear complaints are still coming in almost daily.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a busy small-game and archery deer opener. Fishing activity has picked up with some nice fish being caught. Fall colors are nearing peak conditions along some of the North Shore and wild rice is still being harvested in the area. Enforcement action was taken for illegally dumping garbage and licensing violations.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) focused on ATV and small-game hunting activity over the weekend as Ely hosted the ATVAM annual conference and small-game opener over the same dates. He also fielded several complaints from visitors to the BWCAW who witnessed hunting activities. No violations were reported and the visitors were informed that as part of the State of Minnesota, hunting is legal inside the wilderness.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and grouse hunters this past week. Bear hunters have thinned out and anglers were catching a few walleyes. Lots of grouse hunters were out, as were ATV riders.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small-game hunters during the busy opening weekend. Every road was crowded with ATVs and vehicles. The hunters who got out of their vehicles, found a quiet trail and walked, found good hunting success. He attended training at Camp Ripley, instructed firearms qualifications in Hibbing and responded to nuisance-bear and ATV-related complaints. Enforcement action was taken for hunting and ATV violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) saw a busy start to the grouse opener. Fall colors also brought out folks and forest roads were packed with ATVs, bicycles and autos. Hunters are reminded that it is THEIR responsibility to know where homes and occupied dwellings are before shooting at a grouse on the road. There are several apps with great aerial images for that! Numerous 'No Trespassing' signs should also be a good clue that there is a home within 500 feet. Hunters also need to remember that some forest roads go through private property and those stretches, if posted by the landowner, are not open to hunting without permission. One hunter shot repeatedly at a bird on a roadway so close to several homes that three different homeowners rushed out to the road to confront them, but the hunter had fled the posted area. Enforcement action was taken for no blaze orange, no helmets on juvenile ATV operators and passengers and allowing illegal juvenile ATV operation.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) started Step 2 of field training with COC Ryan Brown. A busy grouse opener was worked, as was the ATVAM weekend in the area with high ATV usage and participation noted. A variety of enforcement contacts were made with violations including no trout stamp, possession of marijuana and no small-game license. The two encountered ATV and OHM violations, driving after revocation, and failure to carry consent for decorative tree material.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) began field training this past week with COC Vincent Brown. They spent the week conducting ATV enforcement and checking the area for small-game hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for numerous ATV violations, including allowing a youth to operate an ATV without a helmet and for operating an ATV with no registration. They report a fairly slow start to grouse hunting in the Silver Bay area.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports working a very hot pink salmon bite in the tributaries. A few anglers were spoken to about the legalities behind hook choice and one angler was found to be angling with no license in possession. ATVs were out in force as a detail was worked in the Finland area. Violations encountered included juvenile helmet violations. He found off-highway motorcycle violations, headlight violations, and various registration violations. One operator in particular was cited after Hill determined the machine he was operating did not have registration. Instead of updating their registration, he instead decided to put his friend?s extra dealer registration plate on his machine. Some riders were in the area looking at the changing of the seasons as the leaves were vibrant. Nuisance-bear complaints are still coming in almost daily.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a busy small-game and archery deer opener. Fishing activity has picked up with some nice fish being caught. Fall colors are nearing peak conditions along some of the North Shore and wild rice is still being harvested in the area. Enforcement action was taken for illegally dumping garbage and licensing violations.
