District 6 - Two Harbors CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports: Cooler wet weather arrived for the weekend after several very mild weekdays. Grouse and waterfowl hunting activity continued to be monitored and success for both seemed to be increasing for hunters checked. Violation included: hunting with no license in possession and failure to display atv registration.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) spent his time this week focusing on big and small game hunting activity. Officer Ihnen also patrolled for fishermen and watercraft operators. Additional time was spent checking ATV and OHM riders.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent the week checking small game hunters. ATV traffic was monitored and followed up with hunting complaints. The officer also focused on lake trout anglers before the season closed.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) spent the week patrolling forest roads and trails for hunting activity. Most grouse hunters continue to express their frustrations over their hunting success. It’s worth noting that hunters with low success are staying on the roads and not getting out walking trails or hitting forest clearings for birds. Hunters are reminded that trespassing will be enforced and it’s the hunters responsibility to know where they are and where they are shooting. CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a variety of hunting enforcement this week. Enforcement action was taken for no PFDs while duck hunting and for a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells. Deer baiting complaints are coming in. Limited success was observed for hunters this week.
COMeganFranzen(Silver Bay) spent the week primarily monitoring ATV and small game hunting activity. Temperatures dropped slightly throughout the week with occasional rain, but conditions brought decent grouse hunting over the weekend. Fall colors brought significant tourism up the shore, and the local trails received heavy traffic over the weekend CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) worked grouse hunting, ATV, and angling activity for the week. Equipment maintenance was conducted during the seasonal shift. Grouse hunting remains slow for the majority of hunters checked.
District 5 - Eveleth area CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) monitored small game and ATV activity this week. He returned several calls about various license and hunting related questions. Kennedy spent time following up on a few cases reported in the area. Problem beaver permits were issued as well. CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) Angling and small game hunting are the popular activities as the season progresses. Anglers are reporting success as the fish return to favorite cooler water haunts. Severalgroupsarecombining activities and spending the morning hunting and the evening in the boat. CO Slatinski monitored the close of the sturgeon harvest season with less than expected people fishing the Rainy River. Waterfowl hunters are reporting some ducks and geese but expect the traditional lull to creep in. Commercial inspections were conducted.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area forest roads. Grouse hunting remains poor with few birds and many comments about the lack of birds. ATV activity was checked. Fall fishing continues with mixed reports. Duck hunting remains scarce with few hunters and fewer birds.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) reports activity continues to increase as we get farther into fall. Many people were contacted out checking out fall colors, ATV riding and grouse hunting. Grouse numbers are down, with not many birds being seen. Time was also spent checking waterfowl hunters and anglers. COAaronLarson(Tower) worked primarily angling and hunting enforcement. He spent time checking grouse hunter who were finding better success now that leaves and underbrush are starting to clear out. He also spent time investigating a waterfowl hunting violation.
