Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
Aug 16, 2021 01:48PM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - August 16, 2021
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) spent the weekend focusing on bear-baiting activity. Several guides and individual hunters were contacted and early reports were good. Violations included illegal/improper bait signage and operating an ATV on a state highway.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked anglers and commercial nets on Lake Superior. The lake trout and salmon were cooperating for most anglers. Bear baits and inland lakes were also worked.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a variety of enforcement activities. A fire started and quickly spread near Isabella on Sunday afternoon. Assistance was provided with notifications and checking area cabins for occupancy. Many nuisance-bear issues were handled, as well as injured-deer and wolf-depredation calls. Enforcement action included several instances of fishing without a license, youth under 18 without a helmet, operating an ATV on a state highway, and restricted area violations in a state park.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area boating and angling this week. Schottenbauer also came across a wildfire near Hogback Lake that was started by an illegal campfire on private property that was left unattended for the wind to take and spread. Fire danger remains very high and there are no campfires allowed in Lake and Cook counties for this reason.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports checking baits during the start of bear-baiting season. So far, so good with baits being in compliance. Hill spent time checking boats on Lake Superior and also at Lake Superior accesses during the week. A pretty good bite is going on with some nice lake trout, pink salmon, and coho salmon seen in the live well. A steelhead bite late in the week has Hill reminding anglers to know what fish you are bringing home to cook. Violations included no trout stamp, no CO detector in sleeping quarters, and no fire extinguisher. Although they were not violating the law, Hill had a scary contact with an angler on Lake Superior. While checking the angler fishing from an 8-foot kayak in large waves, the angler was hesitant to show Hill and CO Wahlstrom the PFD he had behind him in the kayak because he was afraid he would tip the boat. This contact was a great reminder that although you may have a PFD on board your watercraft, it does you no good if you cannot access it. Wear your PFD.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV and bear-baiting activity this week. Drought conditions have left poor forage for bears and fire danger is remains high. Many areas are now closed to campfires and campers are urged to check local fire restrictions. Murray is investigating a litter case where waterfowl and other animal carcasses were dumped at a public parking lot.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) spent the weekend focusing on bear-baiting activity. Several guides and individual hunters were contacted and early reports were good. Violations included illegal/improper bait signage and operating an ATV on a state highway.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked anglers and commercial nets on Lake Superior. The lake trout and salmon were cooperating for most anglers. Bear baits and inland lakes were also worked.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a variety of enforcement activities. A fire started and quickly spread near Isabella on Sunday afternoon. Assistance was provided with notifications and checking area cabins for occupancy. Many nuisance-bear issues were handled, as well as injured-deer and wolf-depredation calls. Enforcement action included several instances of fishing without a license, youth under 18 without a helmet, operating an ATV on a state highway, and restricted area violations in a state park.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area boating and angling this week. Schottenbauer also came across a wildfire near Hogback Lake that was started by an illegal campfire on private property that was left unattended for the wind to take and spread. Fire danger remains very high and there are no campfires allowed in Lake and Cook counties for this reason.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports checking baits during the start of bear-baiting season. So far, so good with baits being in compliance. Hill spent time checking boats on Lake Superior and also at Lake Superior accesses during the week. A pretty good bite is going on with some nice lake trout, pink salmon, and coho salmon seen in the live well. A steelhead bite late in the week has Hill reminding anglers to know what fish you are bringing home to cook. Violations included no trout stamp, no CO detector in sleeping quarters, and no fire extinguisher. Although they were not violating the law, Hill had a scary contact with an angler on Lake Superior. While checking the angler fishing from an 8-foot kayak in large waves, the angler was hesitant to show Hill and CO Wahlstrom the PFD he had behind him in the kayak because he was afraid he would tip the boat. This contact was a great reminder that although you may have a PFD on board your watercraft, it does you no good if you cannot access it. Wear your PFD.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV and bear-baiting activity this week. Drought conditions have left poor forage for bears and fire danger is remains high. Many areas are now closed to campfires and campers are urged to check local fire restrictions. Murray is investigating a litter case where waterfowl and other animal carcasses were dumped at a public parking lot.
