Reported slow small game opener

Area conservation officials say the small game opener showed reports of little success.

According to Blackduck conservation officer Demosthenes Regas, “there’s still plenty of low cover for game birds to hide in.” Rain in the Blackduck area also kept some hunters out of the woods.

Thief River Falls Conservation Officer Jeremy Woinarowicz investigated reports of illegal bear baiting and checked on small game hunters during the inaugural Small Game Weekend. Execution action was taken for unplugged shotgun, no waterfowl stamps, no helmet on a juvenile ATV passenger, as well as ATV light and registration violations.