4/22/23 Minnesota DNR Conservation Officers weekly report

District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports most of the week was spent at Camp Ripley for in-service training. The catch-and-release spring walleye season on the Rainy River came to a quiet close with snow and rain moving into the area. Trail issues were also handled.

CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports swings in weather have caused ice conditions to deteriorate rapidly. Tributaries have begun their annual purge, causing water levels to change drastically in short time spans. Angling activity has all but ended for the time being while enthusiasts begin to plan for the next available opportunity. A variety of animal-related calls were handled. Training was completed and seasonal equipment maintenance was addressed.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports after a few days of unseasonable warmth, reality has arrived again as below-freezing temperatures and snow hit the area. Small streams have frozen back over. Ice remains unsafe. Outdoor activities have slowed due to the variable and unpredictable weather and temperature swings. Equipment work was completed, as were various administrative tasks. Numerous phone calls over the week on a variety of outdoor subjects were responded to.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling activity. Larson spent time checking anglers on Lake Vermilion as ice conditions rapidly decreased. Larson also spent time in training at Camp Ripley.

CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) spent the week instructing at in-service training at Camp Ripley and attended a CPR/First Aid refresher course. Conservation officers were also issued AEDs, which will provide additional support when they’re responding to medical emergencies.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time attending in-service training earlier in the week. He also spent time patrolling the Rainy River. Walleye fishing was extremely slow due to poor water clarity, but some anglers had success catching sturgeon. Zavodnik also attended Wisconsin Officer Breidenbach’s and Officer Scheel’s funeral as an Honor Guard member. He was among thousands who attended to pay respect for the two fallen officers in Wisconsin.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing and ATV activity. Recent warm weather started to deteriorate lake ice. Panfish anglers reported limited success. Broughten investigated a complaint of birch pole theft. He also fielded calls regarding nuisance animals, injured animals, and ATV regulations.

District 6 - Two Harbors

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais #1) checked anglers along rivers during the inland stream trout opener. The water is still very cold, but anglers were happy to finally be out. He attended the Cook County career expo talking to students interested in law enforcement at the Cook County high school. Time was also spent training and armoring handguns at Camp Ripley.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) spent the week at Camp Ripley attending annual training. Ledeen reports that most of the rivers and streams along the North Shore have opened. Please be careful when observing waterfalls and stay at a safe distance from the fast-moving water.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) attended annual training. Time was spent preparing material for upcoming Academy training and an upcoming college presentation. Enforcement action this week was taken for a fish house left out well past the deadline, litter left behind on the ice, and illegal operation of an ATV on a state highway. Additionally, a motorcyclist was stopped for extreme speeds on a highway and was cited for speed and expired registration.

CO Matt Miller (Silver Bay) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. A few early season anglers were checked on Lake Superior and state parks were monitored for flood activity. Area ATV trails remain closed until the spring melt is done. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports swapping out seasonal equipment and preparing for upcoming court appearances.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked Lake Superior angling activity and began to ready spring equipment for the season. Rivers in the area are rushing with spring runoff and caution should be used around river banks or attempting to cross swift water for angling access. Murray also took calls of car-deer collisions on Highway 61.

Aviation Section

CO Pilot Bob Geving (Mankato) attended in-service training at Camp Ripley.

CO Pilot Tim Gray (Bemidji) assisted at the State Patrol Academy as a safety diver.

CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports attending a DNR Commissioner listening session held for area DNR employees in Brainerd. Jensen also checked dwindling numbers of area ice anglers and local ice conditions.

NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) completed a training flight in an airplane. He also attended an aviation webinar and worked on helicopter maintenance and administrative tasks.

CO Pilot Charles Scott (Grand Rapids) completed training flight with a unit pilot. He scheduled upcoming training flights that were cancelled because winter returned. He worked on aircraft maintenance items requiring completion prior to spring photo flights.

Standby CO Pilot Jake Willis (Grand Rapids) flew a wildlife radio telemetry flight this week in Region 2. An aircraft was also ferried to Region 3 for training with a natural resource pilot.

NR Pilot Gracie Zeller (Brainerd) reports helping reposition aircraft as well as flying training flights.

Enforcement Education

Please check the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov for a current class listing of all DNR Enforcement Education Courses and instructor training sessions.

If you missed a fall class and are over 18, check online for the online course information. (It’s also at www.mndnr.gov.)

Please check the DNR website www.mndnr.gov for a current class listing of all DNR Enforcement Youth and Adult Snowmobile Safety Courses and instructor training sessions.

Please direct questions to 1-800-366-8917 or 1-888-MINNDNR.

Reminder: Anyone born after December 31, 1979 cannot purchase a license to hunt in Minnesota without first taking a DNR Safety Training Course and receiving a certificate. In addition, many states have even more stringent mandatory Hunter Education requirements. Check before you go!

Reminder: Any resident born after December 31, 1976, who operates a snowmobile in Minnesota must possess a snowmobile certificate. Two options are available to complete certification. Ages 11 and older can take the online course and hands-on day or attend the traditional youth course. Those 16 or older can take the online course.

Reminder: Anyone born after July 1, 1987, who operates an ATV on public lands and waters in Minnesota must successfully complete the ATV Safety Training online course. People under age 16 must complete the ATV online course and riding component before riding on public lands.

Please direct questions to 1-800-366-8917 or 1-888-MINNDNR.