District 6 - Two Harbors CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) patrolled his station this week checking ice fishermen and small game hunters. Officer Ihnen also patrolled for ATV and snowmobiling activity. Additional time was spent monitoring trapping activity.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked anglers, trappers, and snowmobilers. The officer attended Glock armoring training and assisted the county with calls.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) assisted wildlife with fur registration. Preparations were make for the upcoming BWCA trout opener. Fielded calls reference snowmobile trail conditions, inland lake ice conditions, and spent time completing computer and office work.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked anglers, snowmobile enforcement, and assisted with fur registration. Snowmobilers continue to wait for snow to be able to ride the trails. Enforcement action was taken for no helmet on youth ATV passenger and failure to display ID and shelter tags on fish houses when required.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent time checking ice anglers during this holiday week. The Fisher and Pine Marten trapping seasons came to a close, and time was also spent attending fur registration in Finland. Warm temperatures coupled with moisture throughout the week has deteriorated the snowmobile trails near the shore, and caution is advised if attempting to ride.
CO Trent Anderson(Tofte) focused on snowmobile and angling enforcement for the week. Recent warm spells have slowed trail depth progress. Preparations were made for the upcoming BWCAW trout opener.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors)Spenttimethisweek checking anglers on area lakes. Block reports seeing some success with panfish. Block also focused efforts on small game hunting and trapping activity. Time was also spent training with K9 Jet.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Paul Kennedy (Int’l Falls #1) worked angling, snowmobile, and trapping activity throughout the week. Many anglers reported a slow catch. He responded to a few reports of injured animals. Kennedy also attended the local fur registration which had about the same number of trappers as last year. Enforcement action for the week included various trapping violations within the lynx management zone and overlimit of pine marten.
CO Curtis Simonson (Int’l Falls #2) reports working area lakes and rivers this past week. Trapping activity was monitored throughout the week. CO Simonson assisted neighboring officers and volunteer instructors with a snowmobile safety class.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring angling activity on local lakes, lake conditions changed rapidly with above freezing temps and more rain over the week. Large bare patches of ice were noted on local lake due to snow melt. Snowmobile trails were dirt and grass with minimal snow cover. Substantial snow will be required for snowmobile trail use. ATV use has again become common.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time over the holiday week checking anglers and monitoring activity on area lakes. Fishing appeared to be slow, with most people checked having a difficult time locating fish willing to bite. Ice ridges have been popping up all over throughout the week, so caution is urged when venturing out. Time was also spent monitoring activity in the woods this week and assisting the wildlife division with a sick moose. Snowmobiling is still virtually nonexistent with the last round of snow not hitting around here.
COAaronLarson(Tower) worked trapping, angling, and snowmobile enforcement. Time was spent checking traps around station, as well as spending time at the fur registration in Tower. He also spent time assisting other agencies with ice related emergencies. Larson reports that ice conditions are still changing on the lakes and caution should be taken due to the warm up and cooling in the area.
CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked angling and small game/trapping activity. In addition, time was also spent attending the first of three fur registration dates, completing online training, and maintaining station equipment. Violations encounteredincludedangling with extra lines, expired snowmobile registration, and fail to display registration.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) Time was spent working fur registration with the Wildlife Division, and anglers checked throughout the week reported a slow bite. Snowmobile traffic has declined the past couple weeks due to worsening snow conditions and unusually warm weather.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring ice fishing and spearing activity. Few fishermen were encountered. Lake ice didn’t appear to increase much this week. Fishermen reported as little as six inches in some locations and over a foot in others. Recent warmer and wet weather shrunk much of the areas snow. Snowmobile season is again on hold until the area receives more snow.
District 7 - Grand Rapids CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) Worked ATV’s, snowmobiles, small game, and fishing a ctivities. H e p atrolled area trails and campgrounds. Numerous game and fish questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) answered animal complaints, checked anglers and monitored trapping activity this week. Co Fairbanks and his K9 partner fennec also attended training with other k9 teams in the area and assisted in locating a suspect that fled from officers. Enforcement action was taken for operate snowmobile on roadway and license issues.
