Conservation Officer Report – District 5

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports the fresh dumping of snow was welcomed by snowmobilers, but the cold weather was not. Ice anglers on Sand Bay of Rainy Lake continue to have some success, but the cold weather has also damped their success. Time was also spent on equipment issues and fur registration, along with investigating a possible birch pole theft.

CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls #2) reports working area lakes and rivers checking anglers. Area snowmobile trails were monitored throughout the week with trail conditions continuing to be good. Follow up was conducted on a report of decorative material theft.

CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) completed work on a pre-employment background investigation for the next CO hiring process. Equipment upgrades were tended to. Miscellaneous wildlife-related issues were fielded and closed out. The return of extreme cold weather tested the will of the snowmobiling and angling crowds, although fair numbers of both were encountered.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports angling and snowmobile activities were monitored over the week. Fishing remains poor. Active timber sales were checked. Arctic air arrived over the weekend, with temps at 30-below zero limiting outdoor activities. Equipment work and administrative tasks continue.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling and snowmobile enforcement. Larson spent time on Lake Vermilion checking anglers. They were having a hard time finding good numbers of walleyes. Larson also spent time helping with a snowmobile safety class in Ely and assisting St. Louis County with a search for a missing person. Violations encountered were fishing without a license, angling after revocation, angling with an extra line, allowing youth to violate fish and game laws, failure to display snowmobile registration, using game fish species as bait (spearing decoy), and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked angling activity and snowmobile enforcement. Time was also spent receiving training, working at the fur registration in Hibbing, and investigating a complaint of a possible wolf depredation. Area anglers still report a slow bite on local lakes.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time completing administrative tasks and patrolling area snowmobile trails. Snowmobiling activity remains quite active despite the frigid weather. Zavodnik continues to work on a bear-hunting case from the previous season.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring ice fishing and snowmobiling activity. Few anglers were encountered during the week. New snowfall during the week helped area snowmobile trails, but cold weather over the weekend appeared to deter snowmobilers. Broughten also fielded calls regarding trespass, injured animals, and timber theft.

Cook vacant.