Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
Nov 17, 2020 09:24AM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - November 17, 2020
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports hunting success over the past week seemed to have slowed in the Ely area. A few deer were checked but most hunters reported less activity than opening weekend. Violations including taking deer from a roadway, failure to validate a deer tag, and hunting without a license in possession.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked deer hunters and trappers this past week. Deer hunting was slow and traps were getting iced up. Velsvaag received several calls on topics ranging from brook trout to tagging furs.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small- and big-game hunters. Success rates seemed low, but folk are still enjoying time in the woods.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked deer hunters and small-game hunters. Fresh snow seemed to do little to help with deer movement as hunters reported another slow week.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports working a busy week of deer-hunting enforcement. Two mature bucks were seized one morning on separate shooting from the road right-of-way cases within a mile of each other. Several folks were contacted hunting while revoked. In another case, an individual was contacted pulling a buck out of the woods. When checking his license, it was discovered that he purchased his license an hour and a half before the check, and the individual admitted to shooting the deer in his yard and then going and purchasing a license. Additional enforcement action included cutting spruce tops without consent and transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area deer-hunting activity this past week. Time was also spent checking grouse hunters in the area.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a large uptick in deer movement after a recent cold front hit the Arrowhead this past week. Some dandy bucks were seen at deer camp and every tag was correctly validated and attached to the animal. On his way to the regional office in Grand Rapids, Hill encountered illegal balsam bough harvesting on U.S. Forest Service land. He also cited a party for transporting a loaded rifle in a motor vehicle after Hill contacted three hunters near the wood line of a county road after the group attempted to take a deer that had crossed the road. Enforcement action was taken on two ATV riders for registration violations. Hill issued a brand new adult trapper a warning for violating lynx management zone trap laws. Hill spent time explaining the laws to the trapper, who was also thanked for bringing along a young teenager and showing them around the great outdoors.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a fairly quiet second weekend of the firearms deer season. Recent snowfall made for easy tracking but hunter activity was low compared to previous seasons. Enforcement investigations included deer baiting, lending licenses, and no blaze orange. Decorative bough buyer and harvesting activities were also inspected.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports hunting success over the past week seemed to have slowed in the Ely area. A few deer were checked but most hunters reported less activity than opening weekend. Violations including taking deer from a roadway, failure to validate a deer tag, and hunting without a license in possession.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked deer hunters and trappers this past week. Deer hunting was slow and traps were getting iced up. Velsvaag received several calls on topics ranging from brook trout to tagging furs.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small- and big-game hunters. Success rates seemed low, but folk are still enjoying time in the woods.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked deer hunters and small-game hunters. Fresh snow seemed to do little to help with deer movement as hunters reported another slow week.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports working a busy week of deer-hunting enforcement. Two mature bucks were seized one morning on separate shooting from the road right-of-way cases within a mile of each other. Several folks were contacted hunting while revoked. In another case, an individual was contacted pulling a buck out of the woods. When checking his license, it was discovered that he purchased his license an hour and a half before the check, and the individual admitted to shooting the deer in his yard and then going and purchasing a license. Additional enforcement action included cutting spruce tops without consent and transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area deer-hunting activity this past week. Time was also spent checking grouse hunters in the area.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a large uptick in deer movement after a recent cold front hit the Arrowhead this past week. Some dandy bucks were seen at deer camp and every tag was correctly validated and attached to the animal. On his way to the regional office in Grand Rapids, Hill encountered illegal balsam bough harvesting on U.S. Forest Service land. He also cited a party for transporting a loaded rifle in a motor vehicle after Hill contacted three hunters near the wood line of a county road after the group attempted to take a deer that had crossed the road. Enforcement action was taken on two ATV riders for registration violations. Hill issued a brand new adult trapper a warning for violating lynx management zone trap laws. Hill spent time explaining the laws to the trapper, who was also thanked for bringing along a young teenager and showing them around the great outdoors.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a fairly quiet second weekend of the firearms deer season. Recent snowfall made for easy tracking but hunter activity was low compared to previous seasons. Enforcement investigations included deer baiting, lending licenses, and no blaze orange. Decorative bough buyer and harvesting activities were also inspected.
