Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
Nov 23, 2021 11:31AM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - November 22, 2021
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports it was a very busy start to the last weekend of the regular firearms deer season. More hunters hit the woods on the Echo Trail Saturday than either of the previous weekends. The rush was short-lived as most hunters left early Sunday ahead of the several inches of snow and colder weather.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked deer-hunting activity this past week. Hunting was slow overall, with many complaints of low deer numbers and high wolf numbers. Velsvaag received numerous calls about hours of operation for ATVs during the deer season and the deer-registration timeline.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time checking deer hunters during the last week of the firearms deer season. He followed up on complaints, monitored whitefish nets and executed a felony arrest. Enforcement action was taken for deer and firearms violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) wrapped up a rather slow firearms deer season. Deer continued to be scarce and by the final day so were hunters. She also checked a few trap sets, took calls about nuisance beavers and followed up on a burn permit issue. Winter is slow in coming this year and property owners are reminded they need 3 inches of actual snow completely covering the ground to legally burn brush without a permit. Burning trash, paper, treated or painted wood, furniture or other toxic items is always illegal.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the final week of the firearms deer season, as well as decorative materials and trapping enforcement. A buck was seized that was shot over bait. The deer was also untagged and unregistered. Bermel assisted CO Larson with a large balsam bough seizure that were cut off state land without a permit. Trespass calls and deer-possession tags were handled.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked the end of the deer season. High winds kept things fairly quiet. A cold spell has iced-over lakes, but not enough to get out on them yet.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports the end of the firearms season came quietly in the area as deer harvests were few and far between. A few hunters who passed on small bucks early in the season mentioned they wished they had the chance to do it over. Hill actually saw quite a few small-game hunters taking advantage of the lack of people inland. Good numbers of harvested feather and fur were seen. Surveillance was done on a trapping case. A warning was issued for no deer license in possession.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a cold and windy close to the firearms deer season. Hunters reported seeing deer, but many were antlerless in the bucks-only zone and not available for harvest. Ice has just begun to show up on shallow ponds and lakes, but is unsafe for even foot travel. Enforcement action was taken for trespass, shooting from the roadway, and an overlimit of deer.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports it was a very busy start to the last weekend of the regular firearms deer season. More hunters hit the woods on the Echo Trail Saturday than either of the previous weekends. The rush was short-lived as most hunters left early Sunday ahead of the several inches of snow and colder weather.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked deer-hunting activity this past week. Hunting was slow overall, with many complaints of low deer numbers and high wolf numbers. Velsvaag received numerous calls about hours of operation for ATVs during the deer season and the deer-registration timeline.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time checking deer hunters during the last week of the firearms deer season. He followed up on complaints, monitored whitefish nets and executed a felony arrest. Enforcement action was taken for deer and firearms violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) wrapped up a rather slow firearms deer season. Deer continued to be scarce and by the final day so were hunters. She also checked a few trap sets, took calls about nuisance beavers and followed up on a burn permit issue. Winter is slow in coming this year and property owners are reminded they need 3 inches of actual snow completely covering the ground to legally burn brush without a permit. Burning trash, paper, treated or painted wood, furniture or other toxic items is always illegal.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the final week of the firearms deer season, as well as decorative materials and trapping enforcement. A buck was seized that was shot over bait. The deer was also untagged and unregistered. Bermel assisted CO Larson with a large balsam bough seizure that were cut off state land without a permit. Trespass calls and deer-possession tags were handled.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked the end of the deer season. High winds kept things fairly quiet. A cold spell has iced-over lakes, but not enough to get out on them yet.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports the end of the firearms season came quietly in the area as deer harvests were few and far between. A few hunters who passed on small bucks early in the season mentioned they wished they had the chance to do it over. Hill actually saw quite a few small-game hunters taking advantage of the lack of people inland. Good numbers of harvested feather and fur were seen. Surveillance was done on a trapping case. A warning was issued for no deer license in possession.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a cold and windy close to the firearms deer season. Hunters reported seeing deer, but many were antlerless in the bucks-only zone and not available for harvest. Ice has just begun to show up on shallow ponds and lakes, but is unsafe for even foot travel. Enforcement action was taken for trespass, shooting from the roadway, and an overlimit of deer.
