More MN hunting violations

November 29, 2010

Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer Reports Here are this week's reports filed by conservation officers across Northeastern Minnesota.

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CO Brad Schultz (Cook) reports follow up on regular firearms deer season issues were dealt with. Early fisher and pine martin trapping complaints, along with trespass complaints were handled. No ice fishing has been observed or recommended. Injured deer were tended to. A snowmobiler broke through thin ice in a swamp and had to be rescued.

CO Dan Starr (Tower) finished up some cases from deer season and worked on some that are still pending. A case of illegal possessing road kill deer was found and charges pending. Trapping issues were worked, with cases of pre-empting a trap site found. Snowmobiles appeared, with loud exhaust issues and registration issues addressed. Snowmobile trails are not open yet. Ice fishing has started; however, extreme caution should be used as only a few inches of ice are present. Deer carcass dumping continues to be a big problem.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing)... Enforcement action was taken on a variety of hunting and snowmobile violations.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time following up on cases stemming from the rifle deer season. Citations and written warnings were issued to the violators. A few muzzleloading deer hunters were checked. The start of the fisher and pine marten trapping season started with a fair numbers of trappers seen in the woods. Citations were issued for untagged snares....

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora)... Call of a trapper trespassing on private land was received...

CO John Velsvaag (Ely) checked trappers this past week in the Ely area. CO Velsvaag took enforcement action for trapping before season and illegal snowmobile operation.

CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) finished up on a few outstanding cases from the deer season. Charges were filed against several hunters for shooting from the roadway, trespassing, shooting within 500 feet of occupied dwelling and untagged deer.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)... The Officer received complaints on small game hunters and answered numerous questions about trapping.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked ATVs, snowmobiles, deer hunters and trappers. He also several hunting and trapping complaints during the week.

CO Jeff Koehn (Grand Rapids - OHV Specialist)... investigated a report of illegal shooting near houses by a group of duck and goose hunters.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) monitored snowmobile activity, checked anglers, worked trapping complaints and conducted follow up investigations from the firearms deer season.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell)... received many calls about dumped deer carcasses, also deer not being registered, wanton waste, and trespass. Officer Humphrey assisted USFWS with follow up on a timber wolf shot during deer season.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked on continuing investigations from the firearms deer season. Ongoing investigations are still being conducted on hunting deer over bait, unlawful party hunting, hunting in a state park, and over limit. One tip the day after the firearms deer season closed resulted in a felony drug arrest and charges for untagged deer, borrow lend license and failing to validate license. Two deer were seized in this case. Complaints of deer carcasses being dumped on private property are being received.

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston)) followed up on investigations from deer season. Officer Schmidt has had numerous complaints of deer carcasses dumped along roadways, public, and private properties. Officers Schmidt and Hanzal, followed up on a trespassing complaint that involved into an over limit of deer. Snowmobile complaints have begun for the season.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) reports assisting the Duluth Police Department with an illegal deer hunting case in the city limits. Officer Duncan was on leave the remainder of the week.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports many muzzleloader hunters were contacted on the opening weekend of their season. A complaint of trespassing led Officer Schmidt and Officer Hanzal to discover an over limit of antlered deer taken by an individual. A few last minute waterfowl hunters were checked. Lots of trappers were checked placing traps at the beginning of the pine marten and fisher season. Several issues were discovered with improperly set traps within the lynx zone where special regulations are in place.

CO Keith Olson conducted a followed up investigation of a TIP call involving a dumped deer carcass on private property. Officers are taking numerous complaints about dumping of deer parts on public property.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) reports officers in the area have noted a rather high violation rate during the 2010 deer season that could be greatly minimized if hunters would review the regulation book before they are contacted by a conservation officer in the field... Officer took enforcement action taken for deer, burning, and commercial fishing violations.

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