4-30-2012
District 5 - Eveleth area
• CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley for two days. A small wildfire was investigated near Margie; cause unknown at this time. Sturgeon fishermen were out in full force on the Rainy River this past weekend; several fishermen were issued citations for failure to attach tag to sturgeon. Other enforcement action included no type IV PFD, no angling license in possession, no fire extinguisher on-board; operate without navigational lights, no current boat registration, and possession of small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia. Sturgeon fishermen are reminded that their 2011 sturgeon tag is no longer valid, and once sturgeon is reduced into possession, tag must be validated and attached to the sturgeon.
• CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes and rivers over the week. Forest roads were checked and monitored. Public access sites continue to be visited, with little activity. Administrative items and computer work continue. Equipment work and upkeep has started and is on-going with a variety of prep work underway.
• CO Dan Starr (Tower) had a very busy week with annual training, station duties, and Rainy River work. Crappie fishermen on Vermilion were checked, along with two fires that were investigated. A wetland issue was found when responding to one of the fire calls. Rainy River sturgeon season was found to be in full swing with numerous fish being harvested. While working with CO Kittelson, many violations of untagged sturgeon were found. Other violations for lack of boat registration, lack of PFD, no fire extinguisher, no fishing license in possession, fail to drain live well, transport boat with plug in, and possession of marijuana were found.
• CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) taught wildlife identification and wildlife complaints classes to the Conservation Officer Academy, worked anglers, ATVs, investigated a possible arson fire, seized accidental catches of otter and muskrat, investigated a wetland violation and worked a metal theft on state land. Anglers smoking marijuana and synthetic marijuana were the most frequent violation encountered with three individuals cited for possession of a small amount of marijuana and/or possession of drug paraphernalia. Other violations for the week included take fish out of season, angling without an angling license and no angling license in possession, an aquatic invasive species transport violation and a number of ATV violations.
• CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Reports were prepared for court and several litter cases were followed up on. Shore anglers were checked and questions were answered about the new AIS rules decal that is required by boaters. Upon finding out that CO’s can’t issue citations for the violation until 2014, one person remarked that he wasn’t going to put it on his boat until he had to because he didn’t want to “ugly it up.”
• CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked for pan fishing activity in the area and found little activity. Lots of questions are being asked about the AIS sticker, where to obtain, where to place, and why? Fredin checked out a report of small animal carcasses dumped, they appeared to be from last winter’s trapping season as all the carcasses were skinned. A FAS award presentation was made to two 30 year recipients in Hoyt Lakes.
• Ray - vacant.
• I. Falls # 2 - vacant.
