DNR Report: Snow brings out snowmobilers

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) trained new conservation officers on snowmobile operations and snowmobile enforcement. A call of several motor vehicles utilizing the snowmobile trails was investigated. People are reminded that snowmobiles are the only vehicles authorized to operate on designated snowmobile trails.

CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls) assisted with a snowmobile training, worked snowmobile trails and checked anglers. Recent snowfall improved trails and brought out a lot of riders over the weekend. Fishing reports were slow.

CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports that many snowmobilers were out taking advantage the fresh snow. Along with the sharp increase in snowmobiles also came snowmobile crashes. There were many comments heard on the trail about how good the trails were groomed given the less-than-normal snow depth for this time of year. For some, this was the first time out in a couple years and registration issues and lack of snowmobile safety certification were observed. Snowmobiles operating with illegal exhaust were also heard and this seems to be increasing as a complaint.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) monitoring angling and reports that little was caught. Recent snowfall brought an uptick in snowmobile activity, but it is still down significantly from previous years. Area forest roads are now snowmobile-travel-only due to snowfall and drifting.

CO Sean Cannon (Cook) attended training, checked anglers and monitored snowmobile activity.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) spent time on trails checking snowmobile registration and for loud exhaust pipes. The Taconite Trail remained good, while some other trails had rough patches. He also checked trout lakes and lakes around the Eagles Nest area.

CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked snowmobile and angling activity. Local trails deteriorated a bit with warmer weather, but additional snowfall over the weekend helped to restore them. Violations encountered included taking fish while under revocation, expired registration and no shelter ID/license.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) helped with CO Academy snowmobile training and patrolled his station on snowmobile.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) monitored fishing and snowmobiling activity. Ice anglers reported limited success. Snowmobile activity increased after the snowfall, but he says more snow will be needed to keep the trails passable.

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports snowmobile trail conditions were improved by snowfall during and after hundreds of snowmobiles attended the annual snowmobile fun run. Trout angling reports continued a downward trend and several anglers who were checked had had zero luck. Violations included snowmobile speed and failure to display valid snowmobile registration.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely) focused on fishing and snowmobiling activity. He also checked ATV operators.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the annual snowmobile fun run. He also checked anglers and fish houses. Enforcement action included possession of live minnows on a designated trout lake, unmarked fish house, loud exhaust on snowmobiles and failure to display registration.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked anglers and snowmobile riders. The trails were busy with sleds as people were out enjoying the fresh snow. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports snowmobile trail conditions are the best they have been all season. Folks continue to catch trout on interior lakes. Enforcement action was taken for several violations.

CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on ice fishing and snowmobiling enforcement. Many snowmobilers were seen out in the field enjoying the improving trail conditions. Enforcement action was taken for various angling-related violations.

CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) monitoring snowmobiling activity and took enforcement action or various violations. She also also attended an ice rescue training.

CO Vinny Brown (Northome) patrolled lakes and snowmobile trails. He answered questions related to trapping and fishing. Enforcement action was taken for no fishing licenses in possession, possession of walleyes within the protected slot and taking fish with extra lines.

CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) worked snowmobiles, small-game, and fishing activities, answered numerous game and fish-related questions and responded to wildlife-related complaints.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, worked trapping complaints and monitored snowmobile activity. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and operating a snowmobile on the roadway. He and his K9 partner, Fennec, also assisted in the search for a firearm and spoke with area high school students.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) continues to work ice angling activity and reports the ice thickness on some area lakes is more than 2 feet. Enforcement action included for not having an angling license and expired shelter tags. He also continues to take road-killed deer tag possession calls as the deer are on the move to midwinter locations.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) worked sport fishing, dark house spearing and snowmobile enforcement actives. Enforcement action was taken for several angling violations. He also helped teach the Academy snowmobile training.

CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) reports seeing more snowmobiles out in the past week than he has seen so far this winter season and last snowmobile season combined. A good walleye bite and a good panfish bite were noticed on several lakes.

CO Brian Holt (Grand Rapids) worked angling and recreational vehicle activity, and checked ice shelters and designated trout lakes. Enforcement activity involved angling license and ice shelter violations.

CO Derek Peterlin (Brookston) spent most of the week at a snowmobile training course in International Falls. He also monitored snowmobilers, and violations encountered included speeding and registration violations. He also fielded calls regarding injured wildlife and investigated a report of a dog chasing deer.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) also attended the snowmobile training. With the new snowfall, he reports that snowmobilers are out in abundance. He also handled nuisance-animal calls and fielded questions related to the St. Louis River and feeding deer in Duluth/Hermantown.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) also reported that snowmobile activity picked up throughout the week and was very busy over the weekend. He also checked anglers on area lakes, organized evidence and station equipment, and completed paperwork for cases that needed to be closed out.

CO Tony Elwell (Cloquet) coordinated for upcoming events and checked on ice anglers. The panfish bite remains fair to good around the area. Collector snowmobile permits were issued. Weekend snow was much welcomed by area snowmobilers.

CO Mikeena Wehr (Carlton) checked on anglers and monitored trails. Enforcement action was taken for violations including expired ATV registration, failure to display ATV/snowmobile registration, angling with extra lines, unattended lines and no license in possession.

CO Aimee Hand (Willow River) attended snowmobile training, checked ice anglers and patrolled by snowmobile following the snowfall.

CO Ben Karon (Pine City) patrolled state forests for trapping and other activity. He also checked on anglers and monitored ATV and snowmobile activity.

CO Sara Mooers (District 8) monitored angling activity and reports that anglers were enthusiastic about the Lake Superior trout bite. The drug recognition evaluator also conducted drug-influence evaluations.

CO Matt Miller (Duluth) checked on ice anglers. Snowmobile trails remained rather quiet. Enforcement action was taken for traffic and angling violations. He also worked on preparations for the upcoming CO Academy and helped inspect a dock that broke loose from its abutment at the Silver Bay Marina.