District 6 - Two Harbors CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the small-game and archery deer season openers saw a fair amount of activity in the Ely area, but both the number of hunters and grouse taken seemed down from previous years. Several hunters reported searching for grouse all day without seeing a bird, while others reported only very few. Violations included hunting without a license in possession, juvenile without a helmetonanATV,andfailure to display ATV registration. CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) focused his time this week checking anglers and watercraft operators. Ihnen also patrolled for bear- and waterfowl-hunting activity. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area lakes and public water accesses.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked the small-game opening weekend on ATV with area officers. Grouse numbers are low with few birds seen in the bag. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms and ATV- and watercraft- related violations CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports an abysmal opening weekend to the grouse season. Hunters struggled to find birds and the few birds seen were young of the year. The hunters who were showing a bit of success were walking trails and using dogs.Enforcementactionwas taken for varying violations. CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the smallgame opener, with very few people seeing or harvesting grouse. ATV trails and lakes were relatively busy with the warm weather. Enforcement action was taken on hunters transporting loaded shotguns in their vehicles, ATV registration violations, and lack of navigational lights after sunset. Complaints of a wolf attacking a couple different dogs in the Fall and Garden Lake areas were received.
COMeganFranzen(Silver Bay) spent the week monitoring ATV and hunting activity. The small-game season opened on Saturday, bringing many grouse hunters into the area, with many of them reporting varied success. Enforcement action was taken for recreational vehicle-related violations.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on hunting and angling activity for the week. Nuisance-animal and hunting related questions were answered. Many area trails are waterlogged and grouse hunters reported very few birds. Violations encountered for the week included ATV and watercraft registration issues and a multitude of small-game-hunting related offenses.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking hunters in the area. Block reports some success among grouse hunters. Block focused efforts on ATV activity as well. Time was spent training with K9 partner Jet.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) began his new station assignment in the middle of the week. He spent time working angling and ATV activity and moved into the small-game and archery deer openers this weekend. Somegrousehuntersreported early success. He assisted other COs with a firearms safety class and field day. Kennedy also spent time following up on a bear bait violation. Enforcement action for the week included no angling license in possession and transporting loaded firearms.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports checking waterfowl hunters, anglers, and bear hunters this past week. Time was spent doing a firearms safety field day for area students.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) began field training with one of our newest officers. Early goose hunters were checked. ATV activity is picking up again with the opening of the small-game season. People are visiting hunting shacks more and preparing for the fall. Along with other conservation officers and volunteer instructors, a firearms safety class was conducted for 36 area individuals anxious to put their skills to use.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area forest roads and public access sites. Small-game hunting was a nonevent as little activity – and even fewer birds – was observed. Ducks remain scarce and Fondie heard multiple comments from duck hunters about the lack of ducks. Other time was spent returning phone calls CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spenttimethisweekchecking anglers, monitoring ATV activity, and working the ongoing bear-hunting season. The bite continues to be hit and miss on area lakes with water temperatures not dropping due to some warm days. The youth waterfowl and smallgame opener was worked, with very few hunters seen out. That was not surprising with the warm weather and thick cover in the woods.
COAaronLarson(Tower) worked primarily ATV activity and small-game enforcement. He spent most of his time checking grouse hunters over the opening weekend. Few grouse were taken, and success was low. Violations were related to blaze orange and various ATV violations. He also assisted with a call about a lost person.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked small-game, waterfowl, and ATV activity. In addition, time was spent presenting at a firearms safety class in Hibbing, attending meetings, and responding to calls for service. Violations encountered included transporting loaded firearms, trespassing, and license/registration issues.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time working ATV operators and smallgame hunters. Warm weather deterred early goose- and grouse-hunting activity over the weekend. Grouse numbers seem to be fair around the area, and fishing remains spotty from lake to lake.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring grouse-hunting, ATV, and fishing activity. Grouse hunters and anglers reported limited success. Broughten also fielded calls regarding youth deer season and ATV registration. Broughten also assisted local law enforcement in searching for a missing person.
District 7 - Grand Rapids area CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checked on bear-hunting activities,conductedATV enforcement, and worked the small-game and archery deer openers. Efforts were made overnight to locate two men who became lost while ricing. They eventually made their way to shore at daylight, uninjured. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV in a reckless manner, hunting bear over unregistered bait, and for using non-biodegradable items in bear bait.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked ATV, boating, big-game, and fishing activities. He patrolled area trails andcampgrounds.Numerous game and fish-related questions were answered.
COMikeFairbanks(Deer River) worked the smallgame and archery deer openers, monitored off-highway vehicle activity, checked anglers, and responded to overdue canoeists. Fairbanks and his K9 partner Fennec also responded to a missing person, searched for evidence in a deer-poaching case, and assisted with a warrant arrest. Enforcement action was taken for waterfowl stamp issues, illegal operation of an ATV by a juvenile, trespassing, and license issues.
