District 6 - Two Harbors CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports: hunting activity on the Echo Trail seemed much higher than recent year. Huntersreportedseeingsome active deer sign but very few were successful. Violations included: hunting without a license in possession, deer hunting with no blaze orange, and discharging a firearm from a road right of way.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) spent the week checking primarily deer and small game hunters. He also patrolled his station for fishing and boating activity. A number of deer hunting related questions from the public were also answered.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked the firearms deer season with area officers. The officer responded to a complaint about shooting across a road and shooting a doe in a bucks only area. Grouse hunters were checked, and wildlife complaints were handled.
COHudsonLedeen(Hovland) reports an extremely slow firearms deer opener. The few deer hunters that made a go at trying to tag a buck expressed their frustrations with the lack of deer. One hunter that was checked was excited to report he saw a young fork-horn and passed on shooting him in hopes that the deer population has a chance to rebound. Enforcement action was taken for a big-game hunting violation.
COAnthonyBermel(Babbitt) started the final phase of field training with COC Kristopher Ryan. Time was spent preparing for firearms deer season and working the busy opening weekend. Time was also spent on decorative materials cases. Enforcement action was taken on a number of people violating the deer baiting laws. Other enforcement action was taken for no blaze orange on blinds on public land and propagating a food plot on state forest land. Bermel joined the MDHA weekly podcast.
COMeganFranzen(Silver Bay)spenttheweekpreparing for firearms deer opener and checking small game hunters across the area. The weekend was spent working the area during deer opener.
COTrentAnderson(Tofte) focused on deer hunting activity over the firearms deer opener. Numerous public land access and nuisance animal calls were handled. Deer hunters reported a very slow opener with few deer being seen.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors)Spenttimethisweek checking hunters in the area. Block would like to remind hunters to wear the proper amount of blaze orange with an open firearms deer season upon us.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Paul Kennedy (Int’l Falls #1) had a busy week preparing for the opening weekend of deer season. Several hunters were contacted getting shacks and hunting locations ready. Some young hunters shared their experiences of the youth hunt just a few weeks prior. He also responded to the report of a moose killed after being struck by a motor vehicle. Enforcement action for the week included hunting with the aid of bait, no license in possession, and transporting a loaded firearm.
CO Curtis Simonson (Int’l Falls #2) reports working the MN firearms deer opener this past weekend. Hunters reportedhavingsomesuccess over the weekend but overall the reports were slow. CO Simonson assisted neighboring officers with various enforcement action such as hunting over the aid of bait, transporting loaded firearms. CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) Thelastweekwasspent answering last minute questions about the firearms deer hunt as well as preparing for the opener. Deer were noted to be active in the days leading up to opening day, which welcomed hunters with frigid temperatures. A fair amount of success was reported in various locations but nothing consistent across the area. Whitefish netters continued working in, at times, treacherous conditions leading some to pull out of the area early.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports the firearms deer opener started much like last years season ended with few people and fewer deer. Lack of deer, diminished interest in deer hunting, and lack of youth hunters have set the stage for changes to northern MN deer hunting from what once was. Area forest roads were checked with little activity noted. Phone calls were returned and various administrative tasks completed.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent the majority of the week in preparation for the deer season opener. Some time was also spent checking grouse hunters, anglers, and responding to wildlife calls throughout the week. The deer opener was worked and there seemed to be significantly less hunters around than last year, especially on Sunday, when there seemed to be no more people in the woods than any other fall weekend. While driving around this weekend CO Cannon noticed a large number of deer camps were vacant. Most hunters that were talked to agreed that there seems to be more deer in the area this year than the last few, but the numbers are still significantly down. A few nice deer were seen that were harvested in the area, including a 10-pointer near Gheen. Enforcement action taken this week included ATV violations, license violations, and a number of people found hunting deer over bait. CO Aaron Larson (Tower) primarily worked deer hunting enforcement. Larson spent time checking many hunters over the deer opener weekend. Success was limited amongst hunters with people primarily seeing does and a few wolves. Larson also worked decorative materials enforcement and assisted other agencies with a vehicle accident. Violations were related to taking deer with the aid of bait and invalid deer hunting licenses.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked big game activity leading up to and during the firearms deer season opener. Overall, it was a very quiet opener with most hunters reporting little success.Doesandfawnswere a relatively common sight for hunters (a good sign), but buck sightings were few and far between. Violations encountered included speeding, operating an ATV on a trunk highway, and shooting from the roadway.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) began phase four with his trainee, Conservation Officer Candidate Jacob Peterson. They patrolled local trails and parks for ATVs, small game, and big game hunters. The COs also checked numerous deer stands and trails for signs of baiting. They assisted and worked with other COs and local law enforcement departments on various calls.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring hunting activity. Grouse and waterfowl hunters reported limited success. Hunting pressure appeared low for firearm deer opener. Deer hunters reported seeing few deer. Harvest numbers in the area are likely going to be low for opening weekend. CO Broughten also fielded calls regarding youth hunting licenses, ATV use during firearm deer season, and car injured deer.
