Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the
majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks,
there are a few who run afoul of the Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officers.
Periodically, the DNR provides a report of some of the miscreants
the Conservation Officers (CO) have encountered.
The News-Herald shares these stories as a reminder to all to
be safe and to follow the rules!
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
had a big timber wolf visit his house during the middle of the day last week that tried to eat his daughter’s dog Kipp. The little rat terrier/Chihuahua mix thought he was the big dog on the block as he chased the wolf toward the woods. Little did he know what would have happened if he would have continued the chase. The wolf paid no attention to the people who were out in the yard thinking that they were going to witness a disaster. The wolf hung around the edge of the woods for about 10 minutes before walking off.TheCO checked whitefish nets. Thegrouse trails in the Arrowhead had very heavy pressure this year.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
checked small game hunter and beaver trappers. This past week was a bit wet as rain or snow fell almost every day. The snow buntings are starting to migrate and the snowshoe hares are showing off their white winter coats. Bear bait sites were checked; some litter and signs were left at the site. Wahlstrom fielded calls pertaining to illegal operation on snowmobile trails and questions about the upcoming deer season.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River)
located and identified an individual as the leader of a large hunting party who built a 100-foot bridge over a creek/wetland to access county land in addition to building permanent deer stands and cutting many trails on the public land as well. He thought it was OK since it was county land and not state land. Enforcement action is pending.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth)
received a call about a man burning a cabin. When the officer arrived the suspect showed him a brush-burning permit. Enforcement action was taken for burning of prohibited material. Two men were educated about their lack of good judgment as they were seen sighting in their deer rifles and allowing their stray bullets to cross a navigable river.
CO Matt Miller (Marine Unit)
was asked by a North Shore park visitor who dumped all the gravel into the Baptism River. After a little clarification, it was explained to the visitor that the current action of the river deposits sediment near the mouth, and that no DNR involvement was required to form a sand bar.
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