MN DNR Weekly Report for Feb. 5, 2018

CO John Slatinski (International Falls #2) reports angling, snowmobiling, and trapping were the prominent activities noted this past week. Trails were monitored with the start of the Arrowhead 135 race. Recreational vehicle registration issues are still a common occurrence. Snowmobile activity in the area has increased with many riders commenting on the favorable conditions on the trails, although lake surfaces have gotten a little rough with the recent windy conditions.

CO Colleen Adam (Ray) reports the week began with bitter cold temperatures for the Arrowhead 135 and ended with more bitter cold and windy weather bringing out the hardiest of the winter recreationalists finishing up with a vintage snowmobile event.  Fishing has been fair.  Groomers have been working hard at keeping the trails in good shape, but riders are reminded to use caution on the land and lake trails reducing speeds at night to avoid overdriving your headlights. Wind-swept blowing and drifting snow, as well as plowed roads, can create unexpected obstacles during periods of reduced visibility.  Slow down, ride safe.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area forest roads and local snowmobile trails.  Fishing activity remains slow and success poor.  Public access sites were checked and snowmobile violations were dealt with.

CO John Velsvaag (Cook) checked snowmobilers and anglers.  Fishing was very slow, slush conditions have greatly improved and snowmobilers were having a tough time staying warm. CO Velsvaag took some calls on dogs chasing deer and snaring fox and coyotes.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, snowmobiles, ATV’s, the state park, and finished investigating a decorative forest materials TIP case which resulted in enforcement action being taken.  The officer made contact with three individuals blocking a public access road.  The officer returned later to see if they left litter and found where the car had been cleaned out and the litter was left on the road.  Four items had the driver’s name on them, which made it easy to finish up the case with a citation.  Enforcement action was taken on cut, remove or transport decorative materials with a permit, driving after revocation, no angling license in possession, littering, no state park vehicle permit, an ATV violation, and several snowmobile violations.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) turned over pelts donated by local trappers to the MTA tanned fur project. These pelts are used to teach school aged kids about the various furbearers around them. A great horned owl that was killed by a vehicle, recovered and delivered to a local taxidermist was completed. This specimen was donated to the Mt Iron School district to also be used for educational purposes. CO Frericks spent time patrolling area snowmobile trails. Despite decent trail conditions, there were few sleds seen on the trails. Some anglers were checked on local lakes but activity remains slow.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked anglers on Lake Vermillion during the week and most stated fishing is very slow.  Snowmobile activity was checked and CO Fredin noticed an increase in riders.

CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports he participated in a work group inside the BWCA. Conditions varied between lows of -22 and highs of 18 degrees and snow. Several groups were contacted and angling success was found to be poor in spite of great efforts. Violations included angling without a license in possession and spearing without a license.

CO Marty Stage (Ely #2) spent a lot of time on snowmobile around the area.  The weather has been cold for a lot of outdoor activities, but there have still been a lot of people out camping, snowmobiling, and fishing anyway.  The officer found, on several trips into the BWCAW, that many people are in the habit of not having their fishing licenses in possession.  And in some cases, not having one at all.  The fishermen all seem to know that they need to have it on them, but usually ask if the officer can “just call it in.”

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area snowmobile trails and lakes.  One young rider contacted stated he knew his modified sled exhaust was illegal, but decided to ride it on the trails anyway. Officer Manning also issued a possession permit for a road kill coyote. Enforcement action was taken for operating a snowmobile with excessive muffler noise, no fish shelter license, and angling without a license.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked primarily on a trapping case throughout the week.  Time was also spent checking anglers and snowmobilers with violations to include snowmobile registration and transfer violations and operation of a vehicle on a snowmobile trail.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) spent much of the week working angling and snowmobile activity. Time was also spent in Little Falls with the State Patrol academy teaching water survival.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers on area lakes. Time was spent patrolling snowmobile trails and completing online training.

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers, patrolled area snowmobile trails, and assisted with vehicle accidents.  Enforcement action was taken for operating a snowmobile on a public roadway and fail to display registration.

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked snowmobile activity, fishing enforcement, and he answered miscellaneous wildlife calls.  He also assisted the county with various calls.  He checked area trout lakes and patrolled area snowmobile trails.  Snowmobile trails were good again this week.  Violations included angle without a valid license, false affidavit, possess a small amount of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. 

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored snowmobile activity, responded to predator hunting complaints, and assisted the County and State Patrol with vehicles in the ditch. Angler success was low this week. Enforcement action was taken for license issues.

CO Sarah Grell (Grand Rapids) spent a lot of time working snowmobilers.  Trails north of Grand Rapids were okay, at best.  Icey spots located under fresh snow over the weekend made for slippery areas on the trails.  She also checked angling activity. 

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked snowmobiling activity and ice angling activity with many sleds out trying to use the area trails.  Trail conditions are fair at best and poor in some areas.  Enforcement action was taken for not registering an ATV and snowmobile. Multiple car kill deer tags have recently been issued with the deer being on the move.

Pengilly – vacant.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked ice angling activity on area lakes and worked snowmobile enforcement.  Anglers were reporting mixed results on pan fish, pike, and perch.  Area snowmobile activity was moderate.   CO Humphrey assisted in a search for a missing individual.  Assistance was also given to local law enforcement on a possible big game violation.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) continued to work winter fishing which included checking both ice fishermen and open water fishing along Lake Superior. Time was also spent working on a past trapping case, assisting with an investigation started by a WI warden, snowmobile enforcement, and working area ski trails. Officer Duncan also assisted with instruction at the State Patrol academy with a Water Confidence Course. 

Brookston – vacant.

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) attended ice rescue training with the USCG station Duluth and checked anglers in the Duluth-Superior Harbor and St. Louis River.  CO Olson instructed a water survival and confidence course for the current State Patrol Academy class in Little Falls.  He also reports the area snowmobile trails around Duluth remain in tough shape

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers along the Lake Superior shoreline.  In some instances, ice anglers were sitting in tents while casters were reaching open water just 20-30 yards away.   Some coho salmon and herring were seen in the bag.  A day later the wind would change and remove the ice.  Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.

Lake Superior Unit – vacant.