Weekly Conservation Officer Reports for Northeast Minnesota
Oct 21, 2025 06:13AM ● By Editor
Image: MN DNR
From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - October 21, 2025
Last updated: 2025-10-20
From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - October 21, 2025
Last updated: 2025-10-20
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the trails and forest roads were packed for the always-busy MEA weekend. Grouse-hunting success was some of the poorest in memory as hunters greatly outnumbered grouse seen. Violations included juvenile ATV passengers without a helmet, failure to display ATV registration, and taking grouse with no blaze orange.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) patrolled his station this week checking grouse and waterfowl hunters. Ihnen also patrolled for fishing and boating activity. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area public water accesses.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small-game hunters and monitored ATV complaint areas. He responded to a call where the driver was stranded in her submerged car in Poplar Lake. Both the driver and dog were rescued. Nuisance-wildlife calls were handled.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) spent the week patrolling the woods and trails checking grouse hunters and ATV riders. Hunters were showing limited success on birds but are getting a few more opportunities as the leaves continue to fall. Anglers continue to catch good numbers of fish on designated trout lakes. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked grouse hunters, youth deer hunters, ATV enforcement, and decorative materials theft. A huge number of ATVs were out over the MEA weekend. Grouse numbers continue to be lower, and with the extreme pressure on them are very educated and cautious. Enforcement action was taken for youth ATV passengers and operators without helmets, failure to display registration, operating a motor vehicle on an ATV/snowmobile trail, open bottle, and transporting grouse without an attached wing.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week primarily focusing on ATV and small-game hunting enforcement. Time was spent working an ATV detail in central Lake County. Enforcement action was taken for ATV-related violations.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on ATV, grouse-hunting, and angling enforcement for the week. The woods and waters were busy with MEA weekend activity. Grouse hunters continue to report low bird numbers and very few grouse were checked in the field. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines and a variety of other small-game and angling related violations.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking hunters in the area. Block also patrolled the area for ATV activity. Time was also spent training with K9 Jet and performing equipment maintenance.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) patrolled his station this week checking grouse and waterfowl hunters. Ihnen also patrolled for fishing and boating activity. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area public water accesses.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small-game hunters and monitored ATV complaint areas. He responded to a call where the driver was stranded in her submerged car in Poplar Lake. Both the driver and dog were rescued. Nuisance-wildlife calls were handled.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) spent the week patrolling the woods and trails checking grouse hunters and ATV riders. Hunters were showing limited success on birds but are getting a few more opportunities as the leaves continue to fall. Anglers continue to catch good numbers of fish on designated trout lakes. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked grouse hunters, youth deer hunters, ATV enforcement, and decorative materials theft. A huge number of ATVs were out over the MEA weekend. Grouse numbers continue to be lower, and with the extreme pressure on them are very educated and cautious. Enforcement action was taken for youth ATV passengers and operators without helmets, failure to display registration, operating a motor vehicle on an ATV/snowmobile trail, open bottle, and transporting grouse without an attached wing.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week primarily focusing on ATV and small-game hunting enforcement. Time was spent working an ATV detail in central Lake County. Enforcement action was taken for ATV-related violations.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on ATV, grouse-hunting, and angling enforcement for the week. The woods and waters were busy with MEA weekend activity. Grouse hunters continue to report low bird numbers and very few grouse were checked in the field. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines and a variety of other small-game and angling related violations.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking hunters in the area. Block also patrolled the area for ATV activity. Time was also spent training with K9 Jet and performing equipment maintenance.
