DNR reports

Reports from area Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers:

Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) continued to follow up on deer season calls and investigations involving deer baiting, trespassing, shooting from the road, unlawful party hunting, and lending or borrowing licenses. Humphrey also assisted neighboring officers with investigations. Hunters continued to report mixed results. Several camps expressed concern about the number of wolves and coyotes in the area. Violations included hunting deer with the aid/use of bait, lending/borrowing licenses, unlawful transporting big game, obstructing an officer, failing to properly validate licenses, unlawful party hunting and transporting loaded firearms.

Scott Staples (Carlton) finished the firearms deer season following up on tips of baiting, untagged big game animal, and unlawful party hunting. One person was contacted after he was reported to be feeding deer. Because of chronic wasting disease being found in a deer in an adjacent county, Carlton County has a ban on feeding deer. K-9 dog Schody assisted with searching for evidence where suspects were believed to have shot from the road at a deer. The case is still under investigation. Schody helped recover shell casings from the incident.

Jacob Willis (Brookston) had an ongoing case come to a conclusion where it was found a doe was shot from the road onto private property without a doe permit. The deer was also not tagged or registered. The suspects involved were charged with shooting from the road right of way, transporting an illegally taken big game animal, as well as additional other charges. Deer hunting activity seemed slower than past years, but many violations were still found. Enforcement action was also taken for no license in possession, transporting a loaded firearm, and allowing/directing a juvenile to violate game laws.

Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) received complaints from hunters who harvested deer with corn in their stomachs. They assume neighboring hunters are to blame as there is no standing corn nearby. Investigations were conducted since there is a feeding ban in Pine County and a high occurrence of bait still being placed to cheat in taking a deer. The hunters who are doing it the right way are very frustrated. Speldrich received information regarding a firearms possession violation, responded to ATVs operating on closed trails, and assisted with a shooting from the roadway complaint.