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Boreal Community Media

Weekly Conservation Officer Reports

Nov 10, 2020 08:28AM ● By Editor
District 6- Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - November 9, 2020

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports a much higher number of hunters were seen taking part in the opening of the firearms deer season in the Ely area. The warmer-than-average temperatures did not seem to hamper deer movement, and in some areas a great deal of success was seen. Violations included hunting without blaze orange, hunting deer over bait, and transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. 

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers, whitefish netters and deer hunters this past week. Deer-hunter numbers were down from past years. Netters had issues with ice earlier in the week. Most of the calls related to trapping and deer-hunting regulations.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time checking whitefish netters and deer hunters over the warm opening weekend. He assisted Cook County deputies with a vehicular homicide. Enforcement action was taken for trapping and big-game violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) spent a warm week and firearms deer opener in the North Woods. Grouse hunters are still afield but reporting few birds. Manning took a couple reports of dogs caught in fox traps. Deer season was off to a slow start and hunters reported far more squirrels than anything else. A few hunters gave up and opted to switch to grouse hunting due to temperatures and lack of movement by the deer. Deer hunters are reminded to validate tags at the kill site. Don?t wait until you put the tag on at your camp or vehicle. 

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports working activity leading up to and including the firearms deer opener. Success seemed to be low opening weekend. Many folks were visited on their stands over opening weekend who were hunting over bait. In each case citations were issued and rifles were seized. In addition to hunting with the aid of bait, other enforcement action included hunting deer without a license, transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, shooting within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, late shooting, and several ATV violations. Deer carcasses are already showing up in places they shouldn?t be. Please don?t dispose of carcasses in road ditches, parking lots, or trailheads.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area deer-hunting activity. Several loaded firearms in motor vehicles were noted and addressed. Time was also spent assisting Lake County deputies with finding lost hunters.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) prepared for and worked the opening weekend of the firearms season. Many hunters were contacted and as expected due to the warm weather, the success rate was extremely low. One of the few harvested deer that Hill did encounter, though, was found to be in violation after the hunter incorrectly validated their tag and failed to tag the animal. Another hunter was cited for hunting deer with the aid of bait after a bait block was found in front of their ground blind. Believe it or not, even though the hunter caught Hill on a trail camera inspecting their bait block, they still hunted the ground blind and even freshened the pile up with more bait! An ATV operator on a roadway was cited for no driver?s license.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked an unseasonably warm deer opener along the North Shore. Few deer were seen hanging on camp poles but most hunters checked were just happy to be outdoors. Grouse hunters and even anglers were taking advantage of the nice weather. Enforcement investigations included hunting deer over bait, late shooting, and trespass violations.
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