DNR Report: Hunters reminded to abstain from alcohol, drugs

Sep. 20—CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) — With a plethora of options for those wishing to spend time outdoors there was no shortage of activity in the area. Fishing reports continue to be good. Small game hunters also reported moderate success. ATV activity has increased both with hunting groups and recreational riders. For many, ATVs are being operated for the first time this year and registration should be checked ahead of time.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports numerous outdoor activities on going as fall is ensuing with ATV, grouse, archery deer, geese and wild rice harvest underway. Fall weather has cooperated with numerous people encountered. Grouse reports were favorable. Most hunters were on ATVs or riding in pick-ups, Few were seen walking. Phone calls continue and numerous questions were responded to.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked in his station throughout the week and over small game/archery deer opener. Larson had a busy weekend checking many hunters and ATV riders. Larson found several violations including transport a loaded firearm, no small game licenses, no blaze orange, ATV without registration, fail to display ATV registration, juvenile without a helmet on an ATV, and other various ATV violations. Larson also fielded trespass and ATV complaints.

CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked ATV, angling and small game enforcement. Time was also spent at Camp Ripley training emergency vehicle and ATV operation. Small game and archery opener brought many outdoors, but thick cover remaining in the woods limited their success.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) began the second phase of the field training process with COC Bruesewitz. Time was spent assisting local agencies with an attempt to pick up an individual with a felony warrant. The suspect was successfully apprehended and was also found to be in possession of methamphetamines. They also responded to a burglary in progress call and assisted the local police department with the investigation. Time was also spent on Lake Vermillion where anglers were finding some walleye and crappie success. Enforcement action this week included an arrest for fourth degree driving while intoxicated; and multiple OHM/ATV, angling and boating safety violations.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring hunting, fishing and ATV activity. Few grouse and archery deer hunters were encountered over opening weekend. Fishermen continued to report limited success. CO Broughten also fielded calls regarding nuisance beaver, trespass and ATV registration.

CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) patrolled the Ely area over the small game opener. Grouse hunting success was fair, considering the amount of leaves still on the trees. Although more than a few reported going home with nothing. Violations included hunting with no license in possession and transporting a loaded firearm.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) spent the week patrolling for fishing and boating activity. He also checked small game hunters over the opening weekend.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked anglers, bear hunters and small game hunters. The warm weather and high number of grouse made for an overall good opener for most hunters.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) reports that fall is in full swing on the north shore. Fishing continues to improve, grouse hunters are hitting the woods, and BWCAW goers are seeing no mosquitos. Enforcement action was taken for multiple angling violations and glass in the BWCAW.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a busy small game opening weekend with lots of people out enjoying various outdoor activities with the great early fall weather. Some grouse were observed, but overall success was limited. Assistance was provided to Ely PD on a couple of calls during the week in apprehending an armed person fleeing a domestic assault and stopping a drunk driver that had hit-and-run a vehicle and went in the ditch when pulling over. A grouse hunter was also arrested for DWI. Additional enforcement action was taken for ATV violations, transporting grouse without wings attached, and open bottle.

CO Matt Miller (Silver Bay) finished a public waters complaint and referred the matter to a hydrologist. ATV trails were checked and machines stopped for operating on a state highway. Abandoned property and a squatter on state forest land was handled and a warning issued. Enforcement action taken for ATV and angling violations.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports starting field training with COC Jamus Veit over the weekend. Officers patrolled the opening weekend of the small game season. Birds were plentiful with multiple hunters going home with limits. A few loaded firearm citations were issued in an otherwise clean weekend. ATVs were also everywhere with warnings issued for headlight and registration issues. Officers checked Lake Superior tributaries for the fall salmon run and anglers reported minimal success. Hill attended EVOC training at Camp Ripley.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small game and archery deer opener. Hunters were seeing some grouse even though cover is still thick. Fall colors are turning rapidly with many maple trees turning spectacular reds and oranges. Bear season continues with some better hunter success after the warm start to the season. Murray also attended division training at Camp Ripley during the week.

CO Vinny Brown (Northome) spent time at Camp Ripley with the Emergency Vehicle Operations team and worked small-game opening weekend. Brown encountered good numbers of grouse hunters and saw a fair number of birds being taken. Hunters walking through the brush have seen the best success. Enforcement action was taken for transporting fully dressed grouse, failure to register a bear, hunting over unregistered bear bait, and allowing juveniles to violate fish and game laws.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked ATV's, boating, waterfowl, big game and fishing activities. He patrolled campgrounds and trails. Numerous game and fish questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) helped with EVOC instruction at Camp Ripley, investigated TIP complaints, checked anglers, worked small game opener and assisted in locating a missing person. Hunter success was good. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and OHV registration issues.

CO Tom Sutherland (Grand Rapids) started training COC Matt Brodin. Officers contacted boaters on Lake Winnibigoshish with very few fish seen in livewells. Time was spent assisting in two firearm safety field day events where 13 youth graduated with their firearm safety certificate. With the start of small game opener starting, grouse hunters were few and far between. Officers believe once the leaves begin dropping more hunters will be out. Enforcement action was taken for failing to have angling license in possession, failing to have enough lifesaving devices on watercraft, and failing to have type IV throwable and failing to display current boat registration.

CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) monitored several outdoor activities including bear hunting, deer archery, small game hunting, fishing and boating. ATV trails are seeing a lot of activity and conditions have improved greatly since the latest rain falls that have reduced dust levels.

CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) attended recurrent emergency vehicle operations training at Camp Ripley. Several small game hunters were checked afield, and despite the limited visibility due to leaves some still had success. Officer Willis continued working on active investigations.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) followed up on complaints of illegal ATV activity including trespassing. The officer worked the grouse hunting activity for small game opener. Bird numbers seem to be decent, but foliage played an issue with harvest numbers. Waterfowl hunters and anglers were checked at accesses with few geese in bags. Enforcement action was taken for off-highway motorcycle activity, illegal fires and minor angling violations.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) spent the first few days of the week completing field training for phase one of the on-the-job training. This included working fishing and bear hunting activities. Later in the week involved investigating an illegal take of a small game animal which ended with charges. Other activities included working small game hunters, archery deer and ATV complaint locations. Time was also spent following up on a lake level dispute that includes man attempting to alter the water level by messing with the outflow.

CO Tony Elwell (Cloquet) investigated a wolf depredation this week and monitored hunting, angling and ATV activity. The small game and archery deer openers were worked this weekend. Lots of grouse were observed, but thick cover made it challenging for hunters to harvest birds. Violations encountered included watercraft safety violations.

CO Mikeena Wehr (Willow River) worked small game and archery deer opener weekend. Enforcement action was taken for various hunting violations. In addition to being dangerous, a conviction for hunting while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance is a five year revocation of big game and small game hunting privileges.

CO Ben Karon (Pine City) would like to thank the Pine Technical and Community College's Outdoor Club for cleaning up what is known as the shooting pit in the Chengwatana State Forest. Hunters were checked on small game and archery deer opener. There were still quite a few OHV users in the state forests, many of which were in compliance. CO Karon would like to remind hunters to be careful consuming intoxicating substances while hunting as this could lead to criminal charges and is unsafe.