District 5

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area forest roads and public access sites. Small-game hunting was a nonevent as little activity – and even fewer birds – was observed. Ducks remain scarce and Fondie heard multiple comments from duck hunters about the lack of ducks. Other time was spent returning phone calls CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week checking anglers, monitoring ATV activity, and working the ongoing bear-hunting season. The bite continues to be hit and miss on area lakes with water temperatures not dropping due to some warm days. The youth waterfowl and small-game opener was worked, with very few hunters seen out. That was not surprising with the warm weather and thick cover in the woods.

CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily ATV activity and small-game enforcement. He spent most of his time checking grouse hunters over the opening weekend. Few grouse were taken, and success was low. Violations were related to blaze orange and various ATV violations. He also assisted with a call about a lost person.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time working ATV operators and small-game hunters. Warm weather deterred early goose- and grouse-hunting activity over the weekend. Grouse numbers seem to be fair around the area, and fishing remains spotty from lake to lake.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring grouse-hunting, ATV, and fishing activity. Grouse hunters and anglers reported limited success. Broughten also fielded calls regarding youth deer season and ATV registration. Broughten also assisted local law enforcement in searching for a missing person.

District 6

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the small-game opener, with very few people seeing or harvesting grouse. ATV trails and lakes were relatively busy with the warm weather. Enforcement action was taken on hunters transporting loaded shotguns in their vehicles, ATV registration violations, and lack of navigational lights after sunset. Complaints of a wolf attacking a couple different dogs in the Fall and Garden Lake areas were received.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the small-game and archery deer season openers saw a fair amount of activity in the Ely area, but both the number of hunters and grouse taken seemed down from previous years. Several hunters reported searching for grouse all day without seeing a bird, while others reported only very few. Violations included hunting without a license in possession, juvenile without a helmet on an ATV, and failure to display ATV registration.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) focused his time this week checking anglers and watercraft operators. Ihnen also patrolled for bear- and waterfowl-hunting activity. Additional time was spent monitoring AIS compliance near area lakes and public water accesses.