MN DNR Weekly Report for June 23, 2014

              CONSERVATION OFFICER WEEKLY REPORT

                                    06-23-2014

 District 5 - Eveleth area CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) provided assistance to local agencies during the week and monitored fishing and boating activity in the area.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports another rain filled week with little outdoor activities happening. Standing water and high concentrations of flying insects were noted. Administrative reporting, office work, and computer based training continue.

CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports continued poor weather kept outdoor activities to a minimum. A few muskie anglers were observed. A report of dumped fish carcasses in a vacant station was checked into. The biting bug population remains high.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked anglers, boaters, OHVs, and coordinated the collection of a road killed moose for the DNR Wildlife Division. The officer spoke to the Hibbing Kiwanis’s organization luncheon. One angler first said they had a license, but changed their answer after a short time while another angler without a license thought that as long as he didn’t keep any fish that he didn’t need a license, however he learned that he was wrong. Yet another angler said he had purchased his fishing license the day checked, but didn’t have it with him, and signed the affidavit of having a license. In reality, he purchased his license less than an hour after he was checked and is now the recipient of two citations instead of one. Enforcement action was taken on no angling license, no license in possession, angle with extra lines, exceed motorboat decibel limits, other boating violations, OHV trespass, and OHM and ATV violations.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time investigating a public waters and wetland violation on Lake Vermilion. The landowner took the liberty to place a significant amount of fill in the lake bed and adjacent wetland to build a boat house. Further site visits with DNR hydrologists and St. Louis County planning and zoning officials are planned and a cease and desist order will likely be issued. Anglers were checked on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) testified at a court trail on a snowmobile while intoxicated case from last winter. He assisted Montana Game Warden’s with locating and interviewing a suspect about violation of Montana residency big game laws. Numerous turtles are being seen laying eggs along road sides, please use caution.

International Falls # 2 - vacant.

Ray - vacant.

Tower - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports another week of cooler wet weather dominated the Ely area. Most anglers reported very little luck, and only a few fish were seen. Violations included operating an ATV on a county highway, and angling without a license in possession.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked fishermen throughout the week. One group had been fishing with too many lines and had not purchased any licenses. They were not happy to be getting tickets and felt that because they were heading into town shortly to get fishing licenses, that they should not be cited. They said they had gotten to the cabin late the night before and just hadn’t had time to get to Ely to buy them yet. Stage informed them that they had been observed fishing in the same place the night before. They had also been fishing the night before with too many lines. Their explanation for that was that it was legal to have two lines in Iowa.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked anglers both inside and outside the BWCA. Canoeists are reminded that, to be legal, canoes need current registration from your home state or Minnesota. Mosquitos and biting insects are still as aggressive as ever.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked angling and boating activity throughout the week, as well as patrolling state parks and campgrounds. A remote BWCA patrol was conducted with other officers.  

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked mainly anglers, boaters, and ATV’s throughout the week. Enforcement action included various boating, angling, and ATV violations. Time was spent on a couple ongoing investigations and a nuisance bear complaint as well.

Silver Bay - vacant.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and boaters, assisted with a youth boat and water safety class, and enforced aquatic invasive species regulations. Enforcement action taken for transporting watercraft with plugs in.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) checked anglers, worked boating enforcement, AIS, and assisted with a boat and water class in Grand Rapids. He also patrolled campgrounds and recreation areas. Permits were issued for nuisance beaver.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored OHV activity, helped with a boat and water safety class in the Grand Rapids station and assisted the county with two requests for a K-9. The area anglers are having better luck as the water levels start to drop back towards normal. Enforcement action was taken for angling license issues and arrests for outstanding warrants.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) helped other officers from around the area teach a boat and water safety class on Pokegama Lake this past week. The class is held annually, weather permitting, and gives an opportunity to kids to get their watercraft safety permit for legal operation. A no wake speed limit has been implemented on Pokegama Lake as of last week and will be enforced until lifted. No wake zones are from shore to 300 feet out and will be on the Mississippi River, Jay Gould Lakes and Pokegama Lake. She received a call concerning a fawn stuck inside the fenced daycare area at the IRC building over the weekend. The caller was asked to get the fawn out by Officer Sindelir and successfully did. Usually, people are instructed to not touch a fawn or pick it up because the chances of the doe coming back for it once it has human scent on it is unlikely. In this case, that wasn’t an option and everything worked out for the best. Officer Sindelir also received a report of some adult males fishing on the pier at Forest Lake who had said they didn’t have fishing licenses. She observed 3 adult males fishing for a while and made contact with them as they were leaving the pier. Enforcement action was taken for no angling licenses and fish were seized.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ATV and angling activity with enforcement action taken for operating an ATV on a public highway, operating an ATV without registration, allowing a minor to ride on an ATV without a helmet, dumping refuse in a state campground container not generated there. A hands-on boat and water class was also attended on Pokegama Lake where roughly 40 youth received their certification to operate watercraft. An ATV class was also attended where a law talk was given to the youth.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, watercraft, ATV trails, state parks and campgrounds. He also taught a boating safety class during the week.

CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) monitored fishing and ATV activity throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license and no license in possession.

CO John Velsvaag (NE Region ATV officer) patrolled complaint areas in Pine County and answered questions about statewide length limits and possession of pike and walleyes. CO Velsvaag also assisted with angling complaints on area lakes.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent time working fishing and boating enforcement on area lakes. ATV complaint areas were also worked during the week. Officer Duncan talked at a fishing youth day camp about regulations and answered many questions from the group. Several calls were answered and also returned during the week.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked boating and ATV activity in the area. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license. More K9 training was conducted to prepare for upcoming testing with K9 Schody. A number of nuisance animal complaints were handled by phone.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked angling/boating, invasive species, and OHV enforcement throughout the week. CO Humphrey patrolled in Moose Lake State Park, and the Fond du Lac and General Andrews state forests for unlawful OHV activity. CO Humphrey also continued aquatic invasive education and compliance checks. Several nuisance bear calls were received during the week. CO Humphrey assisted Montana Wardens with a license fraud investigation. Assistance was also given to State Patrol in the search for a fleeing suspect in Pine County. Boating, camping, and ATV violations were encountered.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

Sgt. Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) Used days off. He worked ATV enforcement in the Brimson area. He also worked on watercraft maintenance items.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Unit) assisted with watercraft training for the recruits at the academy. An ATV stop found an operator was who warned for the same violation the previous week; progressive enforcement action was taken this time. Calls were returned in reference to commercial fishing, burning permits, and wildlife questions. Enforcement action taken for ATV violations