DNR REPORT

Talk about it

Lake County

Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) continued deer season related activities and investigations. Complaints of baiting and trespass continued to come in right through the last day of season. Several unsettled baiting and chronic road hunting complaints will be put at the top of the list for next deer season. Worked the deer decoy with District 8 officers along district boundaries. Several persons were cited for discharging a firearm from the roadway at a decoy as well as transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. Met with the county attorney in regard to a deer case which is headed for charging.

Brad Johnson (Silver Bay) continued to check deer hunters during the last week of the season. Issued a citation to a deer hunter transporting a loaded firearm. Investigated a deer hunting trespass complaint that turned out to be a domestic/family dispute. Received information on a boat dumped in the woods near Cramer. Received calls on an apparently injured Canada goose in Silver Bay.

North

Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) found more baited stands that had been abandoned for the season and will visit these sites on opening day next year. Hopefully some people will change their mind and not bait next year. Investigated a place where a deer was shot from the roadway. Saw a very large buck on a Forest Service road on the Gunflint Trail. Beyond the buck was a man walking his dog without wearing orange. He was very hard to see. It is a good reminder that anyone in the woods during deer season should wear orange.

Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent the week checking deer hunters in Cook and Lake counties. Continued to follow up on complaints during the season. Enforcement action was taken for various big game violations.

Mary Manning (Hovland) checked deer hunters and hunting stands. One landowner’s generosity was repaid by a hunter cutting shooting lanes on the property; the hunter has since been relocated. Took calls about hunting over bait, hunting regulations, and disability permits.

South

Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued to work firearm and archery deer seasons. Lots of people were contacted and many hunting shacks were visited throughout the week. Night shining work continued during the week with some violations encountered. Several people were also caught shooting from the road. Usually every conversation with hunters this deer season included some sort of contact with wolves. This included seeing them, hearing them, or seeing tracks in the fresh snow.

Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports receiving many calls of people dumping deer carcasses onto private property or along roadsides. Disposal of carcasses on public or private land without permission is illegal and gives all hunters a bad name. Reports have been mixed but hunters are reporting a lot less deer seen overall this season. Another case was made of a person shooting a deer from the roadway. A wetlands issue was also investigated.

Mike Scott (Northeast) assisted the DNR Enforcement Division in conducting interviews for hiring new conservation officers. Worked with two other DNR employees in conducting 38 interviews for the Conservation Officer Academy positions. Assisted in investigating a public waters violation where deer hunters were driving their ATVs through a trout stream to gain access to county land to hunt deer. Checked deer hunters in the Duluth area with enforcement action taken for operating an ATV during prohibited hours and no current registration.

Lake Superior

Marine Unit

Keith Olson (Unit Leader-Lake Superior Marine Unit) attended a meeting in regards to Great Lakes items for Lake Superior. Assisted District 8 officers for the final week of firearms deer season. The recent snowfall in the area helped those hunters still looking to fill tags. The decoy was utilized for the final weekend.

Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checking commercial herring netters and deer hunters throughout the week. Some proactive work for problem road hunting areas was also worked. Investigated burning of prohibited materials. Assisted on a serious accident and some vehicles in the ditch during winter weather.

Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked commercial herring netters along the shore. An individual was apprehended who shot a deer from the shoulder of Highway 61. The shooter had good reason to know that his actions were illegal, but the citation and loss of the gun and the deer should serve as a solid reminder.

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