Weekly Conservation Officer Reports for Northeast Minnesota
Nov 11, 2025 05:03AM ● By Editor
Image: MN DNR
From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - November 11, 2025
Last updated: 2025-11-10
From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - November 11, 2025
Last updated: 2025-11-10
CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports: hunting activity on the Echo Trail seemed much higher than recent year. Hunters reported seeing some active deer sign but very few were successful. Violations included: hunting without a license in possession, deer hunting with no blaze orange, and discharging a firearm from a road right of way.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) spent the week checking primarily deer and small game hunters. He also patrolled his station for fishing and boating activity. A number of deer hunting related questions from the public were also answered.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked the firearms deer season with area officers. The officer responded to a complaint about shooting across a road and shooting a doe in a bucks only area. Grouse hunters were checked, and wildlife complaints were handled.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports an extremely slow firearms deer opener. The few deer hunters that made a go at trying to tag a buck expressed their frustrations with the lack of deer. One hunter that was checked was excited to report he saw a young fork-horn and passed on shooting him in hopes that the deer population has a chance to rebound. Enforcement action was taken for a big-game hunting violation.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) started the final phase of field training with COC Kristopher Ryan. Time was spent preparing for firearms deer season and working the busy opening weekend. Time was also spent on decorative materials cases. Enforcement action was taken on a number of people violating the deer baiting laws. Other enforcement action was taken for no blaze orange on blinds on public land and propagating a food plot on state forest land. Bermel joined the MDHA weekly podcast.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week preparing for firearms deer opener and checking small game hunters across the area. The weekend was spent working the area during deer opener. Cold weather brought snow to the area, and miscellaneous wildlife calls were also handled.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on deer hunting activity over the firearms deer opener. Numerous public land access and nuisance animal calls were handled. Deer hunters reported a very slow opener with few deer being seen.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) Spent time this week checking hunters in the area. Block and K9 Jet assisted other Conservation Officer’s over the busy weekend. Block would like to remind hunters to wear the proper amount of blaze orange with an open firearms deer season upon us.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) spent the week checking primarily deer and small game hunters. He also patrolled his station for fishing and boating activity. A number of deer hunting related questions from the public were also answered.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked the firearms deer season with area officers. The officer responded to a complaint about shooting across a road and shooting a doe in a bucks only area. Grouse hunters were checked, and wildlife complaints were handled.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports an extremely slow firearms deer opener. The few deer hunters that made a go at trying to tag a buck expressed their frustrations with the lack of deer. One hunter that was checked was excited to report he saw a young fork-horn and passed on shooting him in hopes that the deer population has a chance to rebound. Enforcement action was taken for a big-game hunting violation.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) started the final phase of field training with COC Kristopher Ryan. Time was spent preparing for firearms deer season and working the busy opening weekend. Time was also spent on decorative materials cases. Enforcement action was taken on a number of people violating the deer baiting laws. Other enforcement action was taken for no blaze orange on blinds on public land and propagating a food plot on state forest land. Bermel joined the MDHA weekly podcast.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week preparing for firearms deer opener and checking small game hunters across the area. The weekend was spent working the area during deer opener. Cold weather brought snow to the area, and miscellaneous wildlife calls were also handled.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on deer hunting activity over the firearms deer opener. Numerous public land access and nuisance animal calls were handled. Deer hunters reported a very slow opener with few deer being seen.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) Spent time this week checking hunters in the area. Block and K9 Jet assisted other Conservation Officer’s over the busy weekend. Block would like to remind hunters to wear the proper amount of blaze orange with an open firearms deer season upon us.
