DNR Report: Hot temps have hindered hunting/fishing, but people enjoyed boating and the water

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports a busy week and weekend for sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River as the keep season comes to a close. ATV activity is increasing with more riders being seen in the woods. A youth ATV Safety Certification Class was completed with approximately 40 area youth becoming certified. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations.

CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls) worked small game hunters and on the Rainy River, and assisted with an ATV safety class. Violations encountered included illegal-length sturgeon, sturgeon tagging violations, fishing with extra lines and littering.

CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports encountering many people taking advantage of the extended stretch of favorable weather. The foliage is still hanging tight to the trees and brush making it challenging for grouse hunters. Local waterfowl numbers are slim, and not many migrating birds have been noted. Sturgeon anglers were putting out extra efforts as the harvest period winds down.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports that duck hunting appears non-existent due to a lack of birds. Deer hunters continue to report lack of deer numbers and abundant wolf sign. ATV and boating activities were monitored. Area forest roads were checked and public access sites visited. Administrative reporting and equipment work continues.

CO Sean Cannon (Cook) checked anglers, monitored ATV activity, checked small game and waterfowl hunters, and monitored archery hunting. He also looked for a possibly sick moose that had been seen walking in circles and attended a regional training. Enforcement activity included angling with an extra line, no blaze orange while small game hunting, and operating an ATV on a state highway.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) checked waterfowl hunters, grouse hunters and anglers. Waterfowl success remains somewhat slow due to hot weather and poor conditions. Anglers were having mixed success finding some walleyes and panfish. Violations were related to waterfowl stamps, angling with extra lines, and other license violations. Larson also spent time working on a wetland case, an ATV complaint and public water access issues.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) monitored hunting, fishing and trapping activity and fielded calls of nuisance and injured animals. Hunters and anglers reported limited success. ATV activity was lower. Lack of rain has increased wildfire danger.

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports hunting activity continued to be slow. Most hunters reported difficulty finding grouse. Waterfowl reports did improve. Violations included: insufficient personal flotation devices, taking waterfowl with no federal stamp, and transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely) checked fishermen, hunters and ATV operators, and patrolled for watercraft and aquatic invasive species violations.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked small game hunters, anglers and ATV riders. He also time in the BWCAW checking anglers. Some nice limits of lakers were seen in the bag.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais) patrolled in the BWCAW and almost all people checked were in compliance with regulations. The salmon run continues in the Lake Superior tributaries with hundreds of fish seen gathered in the streams. Equipment maintenance was performed.

CO Anthony Bermel (Ely) and officer in training Mitch Nowak participated in Ely Public Safety Day, worked grouse hunters, monitored ATV activity, patrolled local water accesses and state parks, and checked boaters and anglers. Enforcement action was taken for not having a trout stamp, no angling license, no lights after dark, and littering at a public access.

CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling and small game enforcement and patrolled the BWCAW. Violations encountered included transporting loaded firearms and operating unregistered watercraft.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked small game and deer archery activity. Hunters were still working hard for birds as ground cover remained thick. Warm weather and changing fall colors brought many people to the North Shore. Enforcement action was taken for trespass and campground violations.

CO Vincent Brown (Northome) and officer in training Andrew Struffert worked ATV enforcement and checked anglers and hunters. Violations included weeds being trailered on a watercraft trailer, trailering a boat with a plug installed, over the limit on fish, and multiple ATV violations. Two taxidermy inspections were completed. A complaint about a watercraft rental company renting out watercraft with expired registration was handled. They also wrapped up an illegal bear-baiting investigation and enforcement action was taken.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) Worked ATVs, hunting and fishing activities and patrolled campgrounds and trails. Numerous game and fish questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked hunters, worked TIP complaints and monitored off-highway vehicle activity. Hunter success was fair. Enforcement action was taken for license issues, water fowl stamp violations and insufficient personal flotation devices.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) and officer in training Trevon Pietz patrolled looking for waterfowl and small game hunters and investigated a report of illegal camping in a wildlife management area.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) worked sport fishing, ATV, migratory waterfowl, boating, small-game, and big-game enforcement. Waterfowl and grouse hunters reported moderate success. Enforcement action was taken for several hunting and boating violations.

CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) reports that grouse hunting is starting to improve and many people are out giving it a shot. The folks that head deeper into the woods seem to have more success than the people that stick to roadways and main trails.

CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) checked big and small game hunting, investigated TIP complaints and monitored ATV activity. Holt followed up on deer-feeding complaints and reminds people who feed birds or small mammals that they must do so in a manner that prevents deer access. Place the food at least 6 feet above ground level.

CO Derek Peterlin (Brookston) continued to monitor angling and small game hunting. He addressed concerns about unattended decoys being left out in a lake for several days, issued wildlife possession permits and addressed aquatic invasive species violations.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) followed up on complaint related to wildlife management areas, nuisance animals and ATV/off-highway motorcycles. He attended an open house for trail planning in the Cloquet Valley Forest. He patrolled lakes and public accesses for angling and waterfowl activity. He reports that hot temperatures hindered hunting and fishing a bit, but people were out enjoying boat and water activities.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) participated in a division training and completed commercial taxidermy inspections. Fishing enforcement was worked on both inland and Lake Superior and ATV complaint areas were monitored. Several grouse hunters were checked, as well as archery deer hunters.

CO Anthony Elwell (Cloquet) monitored small game, waterfowl, and archery deer hunting. Warm temperatures continue to stall success for most small game and waterfowl hunters. He observed heavy ATV activity with the unseasonably warm weather and fall colors starting to show themselves.

CO Mikeena Wehr (Carlton) worked small game, waterfowl, big game and sport fishing enforcement. She also attended training and completed taxidermy inspections.

CO Aimee Hand (Willow River) patrolled for hunting activity and saw some hunters out for turkey opener. Fishermen were checked and recreational ATV/off-highway motorcycle activity remains high. A few archery hunters have had success and had contingencies in place for finding deer quickly in the warm weather.

CO Ben Karon (Pine City) taught a firearms training, patrolled ATV and hunting activity in state forests and other state land, and checked waterfowl hunters, anglers and boater on the water. Success was varied and only a few violations were found.