Conservation Officer Reports – January 2024

District 5

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) monitored area lakes and checked angling activities. Area forest roads were checked for ATV activity. Local streams were monitored for trapping activity. Fondie continued work on equipment prep for storage. Administrative tasks were completed and training was attended.

CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week checking anglers and monitoring area forest roads. Time was also spent at Camp Ripley for training. High winds over the weekend have rapidly changed ice conditions on Lake Vermilion, with ice heaves and open water appearing where there was solid ice the rest of the season. Cannon responded to a report of a Class 2 ATV going through the ice. Everyone made it out fine, albeit wet and cold, and assistance was rendered. There were rumors of others going through in other areas of the lake as well. If venturing out on the lake please exercise extreme caution.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) spent time primarily checking anglers in his station. Ice conditions remained fairly good through the weekend. Anglers were finding mixed bags of walleyes, perch, crappies, and tullibee. Larson spent most of his time of Lake Vermilion and on the trout lakes in his station. Violations were related to ATV registration, angling licenses, and state park permits.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time attending the annual awards and training event at Camp Ripley during the week. Zavodnik also attended the funeral of Jim Crawford, the founder of Minnesota’s Law Enforcement Memorial Association.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing and ATV activity. Lake ice has deteriorated in some areas. Anglers reported limited success. Anglers are reminded to check ice shelter removal dates but due to warmer weather it may be necessary to remove them early. Broughten also fielded calls regarding ATV trails and injured animals.

District 6

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports he’s investigated several complaints of ATV traffic on grant-in-aid snowmobile trails. ATV riders are reminded that many portions of the trails cross private property and all GIA snowmobile trails are closed to ATV use regardless of snow conditions. Violations included angling without a license in possession and possessing an illegal-length northern pike.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) spent the week patrolling his station for fishing and ATV activity. Ihnen also responded to an injured-animal concern.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) attended training, assisted on a house fire, and checked anglers and recreational vehicles. Enforcement action taken for no helmet on juvenile ATV operators and an illegal-length northern pike. Extreme caution should be used as several very large swaths of open water appeared on Birch Lake on Feb. 24.