DNR Conservation Officer Report District 5 2-8-22

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports snowmobile activity in the area is picking up with the recent snowfall. Trails are in great shape but lake surfaces remain rough. Ice fishing has been slow on Rainy Lake, but it hasn’t stopped people from getting outdoors to enjoy the hopes of catching a fish or two. Enforcement action was taken for excessive snowmobile speed and snowmobile-registration issues.

CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) spent time monitoring snowmobile, angling, and spearing activity. With cold weather and increasing ice thickness, spearing activity has slowed down considerably. Anglers have started to spread out along the ice road on Kabetogama Lake with a few fish being picked up. Snowmobile-trespass complaint areas continue to be focus areas.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes and related snowmobile activity. Area forest roads continue to be checked, as do timber sales. Equipment work is ongoing. Administrative tasks were completed.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily snowmobile and angling enforcement. Larson spent time checking anglers and people enjoying the snowmobile trails in both the Tower and Cook stations. Trail conditions are great across both areas.

CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked snowmobile enforcement and angling activity. Fishing activity has been slow and anglers reported having minimal success. Violations encountered included operating a motor vehicle on a snowmobile trail, snowmobile speed, and various registration issues.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) reports snowmobile trails are the best they?ve been in quite some time, and riders are out enjoying the great conditions. The majority of time was spent patrolling the trails and monitoring for safe speeds. Zavodnik took enforcement action in regards to snowmobile operators traveling too fast on the trails. He wants to remind operators to stay in their lane of traffic. Time was also spent investigating a deer-hunting case from the previous firearms deer-hunting season. Enforcement action was taken for multiple license violations.