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DNR Report: Trappers voice concerns about ice conditions

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources report for the week of Dec. 26.

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District 5 — Eveleth area

Conservation officer Curtis Simonson (International Falls 2) reports spending time this past week checking anglers on Rainy Lake and the Rainy River. ATV and trapping activity was monitored throughout the area as well.

CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) handled several wild animal complaints. He also checked on spearing and angling activity. It seems overall weather patterns are keeping activity down, which is understandable with ice-related incidents commonly heard throughout the region. Recent rain and warm weather have caused ice-thickness reductions. Check before you go and realize conditions are changing daily, if not more frequently. Trapping activity was also monitored, with concerns about ice conditions heard from trappers. Ongoing cases were updated and evidence was processed.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports unseasonable warm weather continues to deteriorate ice conditions. Weekend rain and temps in the 40s have rapidly changed ice conditions. Little angling activity was noted over the week. Area lakes were checked, as were forest roads. Equipment work continues. There is no snow throughout the work area.

CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent the week monitoring trapping activity, checking ice anglers and following up on decorative materials harvest. Cannon also responded to reports of a snowmobile and a Class 2 ATV going through the ice. Area ice has been changing rapidly with the unseasonable weather and will continue to change until colder weather here to stay, so please be safe and don’t venture on potentially unsafe ice.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling, trapping and ATV enforcement. Ice conditions on Lake Vermilion have become very unpredictable over the past week with few days dropping below freezing. Larson received information of ATVs and snowmobiles breaking through the ice. Violations involved licenses, ATVs and revoked hunting privileges. Larson also spent time at the Tower DNR fur registration.

CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked angling and trapping activity. In addition, time was spent working at the fur registration station in Hibbing and assisting local law enforcement agencies. Violations encountered included angling with extra lines, taking fish with no angling license, and failure to validate fisher/marten coupons.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) reports local lakes are seeing significant ice degradation due to the unseasonably warm weather and excessive rain events over the week. Many anglers also have decided to pull their ice shelters off the lake and back to shore until freezing weather comes again. Anglers who were willing to walk have reported decent fishing success throughout the area.

District 6 — Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports noticing that angling activity grew steadily over the week, but saw a sharp end after Saturday evening as rain and very warm weather arrived. Success was modest, but most anglers reported having some luck. Violation included no license in possession and angling more than 200 feet from a tip-up.

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CO Brent Ihnen (Ely 2) spent his week checking fishing, hunting and trapping activity. Additional time was spent patrolling for ATV riders.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked primarily angling enforcement throughout the past week. Time was also spent going through and resolving evidence from closed cases and completing a litter investigation in which a civil citation was issued. Additional enforcement action was taken this week for angling with an extra line, unattended lines and failure to display a shelter tag. He also issued warnings in regard to the new litter on ice law, in which garbage was laying uncontained outside of fish houses.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports registering fur early in the week. Activity was slow again this year, with the same people continuing to bring fur in as previous years. Hill took care of vehicle maintenance. The ice is in rough shape and Hill urges anglers to be cautious. With warm and wet weather in the forecast, don’t be afraid to change your plans for the BWCA trout opener if conditions are unsafe.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked trapping activity and wrapped up a case of illegal decorative materials harvest. Ice conditions have deteriorated in the area, making for unpredictable ice depth and openings in the ice. Extreme caution should be used while traveling on ice until colder weather returns.

Silver Bay — vacant.

District 7 — Grand Rapids area

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked ATV riders, small-game hunters and anglers. He patrolled campgrounds and trails. Numerous game and fish-related questions were answered. He also responded to wildlife-related complaints.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ice-angling activity over the past week, with many anglers taking their houses back off area lakes. With the rain over the Christmas break, it has made many lakes’ ice unsafe. One fish house actually broke through the lake, with the high winds opening a large hole under the house. The individual was able to get the house off of the lake and move it to a safe location.

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CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working small-game, trapping, sport fishing, and dark house spearing enforcement. The recent weather and rainfall have deteriorated the accessible ice on many area lakes. Ice safety equipment and extreme caution should be used before venturing out on the ice.

CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) reports spending time doing follow-up work on several big-game cases. Time was also spent at the local furbearer registration site. Registration numbers seemed to be up, indicating a successful season thus far for most trappers.

CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) checked angling and small-game-hunting activity. Time was also spent on trapping and attending fur registration, where he visited with local trappers. Holt continued working on a background investigation on an applicant for the next CO Academy.

NE ATV officer — vacant.

District 8 — Duluth area

CO Derek Peterlin (Brookston) spent time at fur registration. Multiple violations were addressed. He investigated a report of a dead wolf and assisted forestry workers with investigating a shack that may be illegally on state lands. Ice anglers were checked and ATV activity was monitored. Enforcement action was taken for multiple trapping violations, dogs chasing deer, an illegal-length northern pike, and an ATV passenger violation.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) worked trapping locations for trapping activity throughout the week. Winter fishing was monitored, and anglers were checked throughout the week. Time was also spent working on small-game and archery deer hunting-related issues. Duncan also assisted wildlife staff at fur registration.

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CO Tony Elwell (Cloquet) conducted ice-angling and trapping patrols. Fur registration was attended and ongoing cases were worked. Elwell also completed annual training.

CO Mikeena Wehr (Carlton) continued investigating big-game, small-game and trapping complaints. Recent weather has caused ice conditions to deteriorate. Check ice thickness and quality every time you go out.

CO Aimee Hand (Willow River) spent the week checking ice anglers, grouse hunters and trappers. The ice conditions are continuing to deteriorate in the area with warm weather and rain. Anglers are reminded that their safety should be a top priority. Hand ended the week by assisting a trapper with releasing an incidentally caught wolf.

CO Ben Karon (Pine City) spent the week checking ice anglers. Ice has been unpredictable with the weather conditions. Please use caution when venturing onto the ice. Time was also spent on background investigations for the next CO Academy.

Hinckley — vacant.

Statewide Marine Unit

CO Joe Kulhanek (Marine Unit-Metro) spent the week checking anglers and boaters on the Mississippi River. He also checked area small-game and archery hunters. Enforcement action for the week included no personal flotation devices, watercraft registration violations and no angling license.

CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit-Duluth) worked a fur registration in an open patrol station. A dumping case at a public access was resolved, and lots of questions were received about ice access and thickness. Weather makes the ice, not the calendar, so this is a year when checking ice thickness everywhere you go is mandatory. Enforcement action was taken for public access and trapping violations.

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