CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports hunting activity was about average for the regular waterfowl opener. Hunters found the warm weather made for mixed results, but most hunters reported getting a few shots. Violations included no state stamp, insufficient number of PFDs, and using motorized decoys.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked duck hunters and anglers this past week. Fishing was slow, as was duck hunting. Abnormally high outdoor use continues with lots of people canoeing and fishing.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the past week checking anglers, small-game hunters and waterfowl hunters. He patrolled in the BWCAW with the U.S. Forest Service. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and hunting violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) continued to work bear hunters, checking abandoned stations and following up on registration issues. Grouse hunters were also worked. The majority of them were driving forest roads on ATVs and happy with the bird numbers. Manning checked a few duck hunters on opening weekend as well.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) continued training with COC Ryan Brown. They worked a very busy waterfowl-hunting opener and conducted a BWCAW patrol. Violations included toxic shot in possession, a loaded firearm in a motorboat, no small-game license, cans in the BWCAW and unregistered watercraft. A vehicle pulling a boat was stopped after observing water spilling out of the livewell. Violations addressed were transporting water in the livewell, as well as live fish.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) and COC Vincent Brown worked duck opener and continued to patrol the area for small-game hunting activity. Brown and Schottenbauer took enforcement action for numerous small-game hunting violations and ATV violations. He would like to remind hunters that it is illegal to transport loaded firearms, which includes ammunition in magazines and shotgun tubes in the firearm. Brown and Schottenbauer also spent time patrolling the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports fall colors and high grouse numbers brought all kinds of people up the North Shore during the week. Hill checked multiple groups of hunters with bags full of grouse. One party was cited for agricultural trespass after an investigation determined the hunter illegally shot a grouse out of a cow pasture. Even though the Arrowhead is full of public land, private land still exists and it needs to be respected. Hill did a work detail on the Rainy River, Lake Kabetogama, and Namakan Lake. Lack of PFDs, registration, and no license in possession violations were handled. Hill cited a party for illegally and intentionally snagging pink salmon. Lots of fish are running in the tributaries, making them very vulnerable to anglers with ill intentions.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small-game, waterfowl, and deer archery activity this past week. Foggy conditions hampered hunting activity over the weekend until visibility improved. Most hunters were seeing some grouse and a few deer as the leaves have peaked and are beginning to fall in the area. Reports of litter being dumped continue to be problematic this year and enforcement action was taken for such activity.