District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports ATV and angling activity was low even into the weekend. Storms were followed by extremely heavy smoke and the few people contacted said they were limiting their time outdoors. Violations including angling without a license in possession and failure to display watercraft registration.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) patrolled his station this week checking anglers and watercraft operators. Ihnen also checked ATV riders. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area lakes.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week checking anglers, AIS, and ATVs. He spent time patrolling in the BWCAW. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) spent timepatrollingintheBWCAW.Fishing was extremely slow, with most anglers blaming the recent mayfly hatch. Area forest roads and ATV trails were monitored. Time was also spent assisting the U.S. Coast Guard with the Tall Ships Festival in Duluth.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked with other agencies on a public water violation. CO Academy instruction preparation is ongoing. Time was spent patrolling in the BWCAW.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week checking anglers and monitoring ATV activity. Time was also spent attending the Tall Ships event in Duluth and responding to nuisancebear complaints. Hot weather rolled into the area over the weekend along with heavy smoke, and anglers were reporting varied success.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on boating, angling, and ATV enforcement for the past week. Time was spent assisting area agencies with a detail on Lake Superior. Anglers in the BWCAW reportedadecentsmallmouthbassbite with an increase in mosquitoes.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking anglers on area lakes. Block also focused efforts on ATV activity in the area. Time was alsospenttrainingwithK9partnerJet.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports fishing, boating, and ATV enforcement continue to be the main emphasis of the work activities. Bear-related complaints continue to roll in as there is a lack of natural food sources. People are again encouraged to take down feeders and remove garbage and other food sources. There was a reportofvandalismofwoodguardrails on a bridge along the Blue Ox Trail. Anybody with information about this damage is urged to contact the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office, DNR Enforcement, or call the TIP hotline.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports working ATV activity and checking anglers/boaters on area waterways. Time was also spent instructing at Camp Ripley. Anglers reported agood bite throughout the week.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports that although storm systems have seemedtohamperactivity,anglerswere still out plying the waters for fruits of their labor. Bug hatches have changed bait choices and weather has pushed some into protected harbors, but all are still looking for that favored fish fry. Warm weather days encourage an increase in recreational boating. Safety checks show most operators are prepared but common deficiencies continue to be expired fire extinguishers and a lack of throwable safety devices.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports boating and angling activities continue to be monitored. Angling remains poor overall with little observed being caught. Area forest roads revealed good populations of deer flies. Blueberries remain sparse. Bear appearances were noted all over the work area. Beavers continue their work causing problems. Spare time was spent visiting with people on a variety of outdoor topics.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week monitoring ATV activity and checking area forest roads, along with checking anglers. Cannon also responded to a call of a vehicle stuck and lost on a trail. The driver had followed their GPS, which took them onto a trail. Instead of turning around when they realized it was no longer a road, they kept going until it was too late. They got to a point they could no longer go forward, and lost reverse in their transmission. Cannon and a deputy located him and were able to get him
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back out to where he could get turned around and back on his way.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) primarily spent time working ATV and boating activity. Time was spent checking local ATV trails and working on boating complaints. Larson fielded calls related toboatsadriftonLakeVermilion,most likely due to the recent weather and rising water levels. He also spent time on equipment maintenance.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked ATV and angling enforcement. In addition, time was also spent speaking at a youth police academy hosted by the Hibbing Police Department. The academy introduces local youth to the field of law enforcement and teaches them about various aspects of the profession. Nuisance-bear complaints have slowed, but attractants should still be put away until more food is readily available in the woods.
CO ShaneZavodnik(Virginia)spent time assisting with boating operations at Camp Ripley over the week. Additional time was spent fielding several calls from people with requests for information.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activity. Anglers continued to report limited success. ATV and boating activity appeared to be lower than expected. Broughten also fielded calls regarding nuisance animals, boating complaints, and youth ATV regulations.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Vinny Brown (Northome) assisted DNR Wildlife with locating, capturing, and banding geese. Time was also spent patrolling lakes and ATV trails. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boat safety violations, boat registration violations, fishing with extra lines, and operating an ATV on a state highway.
COJaysonHansen(Bigfork)worked ATV, boating, and fishing activities. He patrolled area trails and campgrounds. Numerous game and fish-related questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored OHV activity, and responded to animal-related complaints. Fairbanks and his K9 LAKE
partnerFennecalsoassistedinlocating overdue canoeists and responded to a K9 request that involved the suspect surrendering while Fairbanks and Fennec were enroute. Enforcement action was taken for insufficient PFDs, allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, and license issues.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working angling, boating, AIS, and ATV enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for several angling and boating violations.
CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) spent time at Camp Ripley assisting with providing instruction to the new cadets.Timewasalsospentmonitoring fishing and boating activities on local lakes. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license and several boating violations.
CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) focused on boating safety and angling activitythroughoutthepreviousweek. Time was also spent on TIP calls involving angling violations and aquatic plant management violations. Assistance was provided with nuisance-bear calls and a stranded boater.
Aviation Section
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports flying creel surveys on Rainy Lake, waterfowl telemetry, and a training flight. APM flight and angler checks from the seaplane were flown until the smokefromCanadianfiresprettymuch shut things down due to significantly reduced visibility.
CO Pilot Charles Scott (Brainerd) completed instrument proficiency check training for CO Pilot Jensen. Cessna 185 checkout training started with CO Pilot Hanna.
CO Pilot Tim Gray (Bemidji) flew a recon for field officers and patrolled on the ground in preparation for fall work details.
CO Pilot Ryan Hanna (Grand Rapids) assisted other officers with equipment maintenance and the transportation of equipment to various regions for specialty use.
NR Pilot Gracie Zeller (Brainerd) began the aerial spray mission in northwest Minnesota to eradicate invasive cattails and improve habitat for Minnesota’s wildlife.
