District 6 - Two Harbors CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the trails and forest roads were packed for the always-busy MEA weekend. Grouse-hunting success was some of the poorest in memory as hunters greatly outnumbered grouse seen. Violations included juvenile ATV passengers without a helmet, failure to display ATV registration, and taking grouse with no blaze orange. CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) patrolled his station this week checking grouse and waterfowl hunters. Ihnen also patrolled for fishing and boating activity. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area public water accesses.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small-game hunters and monitored ATV complaint areas. He responded to a call where the driver was stranded in her submerged car in Poplar Lake. Both the driver and dog were rescued. Nuisance-wildlife calls were handled.
COHudsonLedeen(Hovland) spent the week patrolling the woods and trails checking grouse hunters and ATV riders. Hunters were showing limited success on birds but are getting a few more opportunities as the leaves continue to fall. Anglers continue to catch good numbers of fish on designated trout lakes. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked grouse hunters, youth deer hunters, ATV enforcement, and decorative materials theft. A huge number of ATVs were out over the MEA weekend. Grouse numbers continue to belower,andwiththeextreme pressure on them are very educated and cautious. Enforcement action was taken for youth ATV passengers and operators without helmets, failure to display registration, operating a motor vehicle on an ATV/snowmobile trail, open bottle, and transporting grouse without an attached wing.
COMeganFranzen(Silver Bay)spenttheweekprimarily focusing on ATV and smallgame hunting enforcement. Time was spent working an ATV detail in central Lake County. Enforcement action was taken for ATV-related violations.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on ATV, grouse-hunting, and angling enforcement for the week. The woods and waters were busy with MEA weekend activity. Grouse hunters continue to report low bird numbers and very few grouse were checked in the field. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines and a variety of other smallgame and angling related violations.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking hunters in the area. Block also patrolled the area for ATV activity. Time was also spent training with K9 Jet and performing equipment maintenance.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) worked ATVandsmall-gameactivity throughout the week. Grouse hunters reported low success on area trails, but things improved as the week went on. He took various calls regarding the youth hunt over the weekend. Enforcement action for the week included a passenger under 18 on an ATV without a helmet, operating an ATV without lights, passenger under 18 not wearing seatbelt on an ATV, and failing to display proper registration decals.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports checking anglers, smallgame hunters, and ATV enforcement this past week. Simonson assisted area officers with an ATV safety class this past week as well. Continued enforcement was taken for ATV-related violations throughout the week, such as youth operators and passengers not wearing helmets. Anglers reported the bite being pretty good and bird hunters reported seeing low numbers of birds.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports that with plenty of options for outdoor recreation, people were out taking advantage of fall. Waterfowl hunters reported large flocks in the area that then pushed back north the next day. Grouse hunters were mostly wishing for more sightings, but a few birds were observed to be harvested. Youth deer hunters reported seeing a few deer but were being selective. The weather also brought out plenty of people just out for a drive or a walk.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area forest roads for fall activity. The youth deer hunt was a nonevent locally as no youth hunters were observed. ATV traffic was monitored and small-game hunting from ATV was common. Few grouse were observed harvested and numbers appear down considerably from last year. Duck hunters continue trying their luck, with mixed results. Other time was spent on administrative reporting, issuing permits, and returning phone calls.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time investigating illegal decorative materials harvesting, checking anglers, monitoring ATV activity, and checking waterfowl hunters and grouse hunters. Time was also spent monitoring the youth deer hunt over the long MEA weekend. Many people were out enjoying the fall weather throughout the week. Cannon also assisted St. Louis County on calls throughout the week. Enforcement activity this week included theft/illegal harvest of decorative materials and shooting from a vehicle.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily ATV, small-game, and waterfowl enforcement. Time was spent checking grouse hunters and local ATV trails. Violations were related to ATV helmet violations, operating ATVs on the highway, non-resident ATV trail passes, and ATV registration issues. Time was also spent investigating a trespass complaint.
