District 6 - Two Harbors
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports he and other district officers spent the end of the week patrolling areas of the BWCA. A wide range of weather was experienced, from days of occasional rain and cool weather and cold nights to hot cloudless days. Fishing success was found to be typically poor. Violation included operating an unregistered watercraft, angling without a license, and angling with an extra line.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) focused primarily on patrolling for fishing and boating activity this week. He also monitored personal watercraft use and AIS compliance near area lakes. Additional time was spent checking ATV and OHM riders.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked ATV riders, anglers, boaters, and AIS. The lakes were busy with people enjoying the nice weather. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, angling, and PWC violations.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports the fishing has been hit or miss on the inland lakes. The blueberries and raspberries are finally starting to become ripe for the picking and several folks were observed slowly filling their pails. Time was spent time patrolling the BWCAW with other local conservation officers. Multiple violations were addressed.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports completing an extended wilderness patrol with a Lake County deputy. Many good contacts were made, and violations were encountered such as cans and glass in the BWCAW and PFD and canoe registration violations. Numerous household and garbage items weredumpedalongwithasmalltrailer at the pull-off near the start of the Bear Island River Road. If anyone has any information as to who the owner might be, please contact Bermel. Additional time was spent investigating another litter complaint and patrolling area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for several folks fishing without licenses, no PFDs, extra line, and expired registration.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week checking anglers on various inland lakes. Time was also spent patrolling portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Enforcement action was taken for angling and watercraft -violations.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling and ATV enforcement for the week. Time was spent assisting the Cook County Sheriff’s Office with a missing person case. ATV trails were in good condition and overall compliance was very good. Angling activity remains sporadic with a few northern pike being observed on stringers.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent timethisweekpatrollingarealakesfor angling activity and responded to various complaints. Block also patrolled part of the BWCA with fellow officers.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports fishing, boating, and ATV enforcement activities continue to be the main emphasis of the work. Parentsareremindedthat just because your child has ATV safety certification doesn’tmeantheycanoperatewhenand where they please. Do not let ATVs be a babysitter. Enforcement for the week included fishing license violations, juvenile ATV operation violations, and parents allowing illegal operation by a juvenile.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports working area waterways this past week. Fishing reports were good on area lakes. Many anglers reported having success. ATV activity was monitored throughout the week as well.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) checked anglers, who have reported a slower bite over the past week. He monitored incoming and outgoing traffic for aquatic invasive species compliance. Slatinski assisted other agencies with a search, took a report of an illegally taken deer, and fielded other miscellaneous animal-related complaints. Diligence is encouraged in removing food sources to avoid problems with hungry bears. A few locations have been noted with blueberries, but the crop overall is sparse.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes for angling activities. Fishing success remains poor, with very little observed being caught. Area forest roads were checked. Concerns continue about the lack of deer. Bears remain abundant, as do the deer flies.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time thisweekmonitoringATVactivityand checking area forest roads, checking public water accesses, and checking anglers and boaters out on the water. Some time was also spent working on equipment.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) spent time checking Lake Vermilion and Tower ATV trails. He spent time working illegal trail usage, and fielded complaints. He spent time looking into public access violations and other boating complaints.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked ATV, angling, and boating activity. In addition, time was spent speakingtoayouthgroupaboutnature, wild animals, and the many duties of a conservation officer. Recreational activityseemstobedownthissummer. The good news is that nuisance-bear complaintsare also down considerably.
CO ShaneZavodnik(Virginia)spent the week at Camp Ripley instructing trainees during the second week of watercraft operation. Administrative tasksandequipmentmaintenancewere also worked on.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, andATVactivity.Anglerscontinuedto report limited success. Frequent rain appears to have limited boating and ATV activity. Broughten also fielded calls regarding nuisance bears, boater education, and youth ATV passengers.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Vinny Brown (Northome) investigated possible wetland violations, checked anglers, and enforced ATV laws. Brown also investigated some illegally set beaver traps and answered a wildlife-related call involving a loon LAKE
caughtinanet.Enforcementactionwas taken for untagged beaver traps, trapping beaver out of season, and operating an ATV on the wrong side of the road.
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 Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked angling and ATV activity over the past week. The fishing bite is seeming to slow down with the midsummer lull in the area. Sutherland gave a law safety talk to a youth firearms group and gave a law safety talk to two ATV safety classes. Sutherland took enforcement action for failing to have valid registration on an ATV and for not having enough life jackets on a watercraft.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) focused enforcement efforts on angling, boating, ATV, and AIS activities throughoutthesurroundingareas.Assistance was also given to neighboring law enforcement agencies with calls for service. Enforcement action was taken for several ATV violations.
CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) checked fishing and recreational vehicle activity during the previous week. Time was also spent following up on a TIP complaint involving an aquatic plant management violation. Holt monitored AIS compliance in the area and worked on open cases.
