Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are lawabiding folks, there are a few that 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) reports that the fishing opener was very slow as not many people ventured out. Those who did found very good fishing. The average size of the walleyes was about two pounds. A couple of groups caught all the 2-4 pound lake trout they wanted right from shore. One fellow camping in the BWCA was 82 years old. The cold didn’t bother him. About half of the lakes are still covered in ice and should be going out in the next couple of days. There is no shortage of ruffed grouse this spring. They seem to be everywhere. A few fishing and boating safety violations were encountered.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted Cook County Sheriff ‘s Department with their search for and capture of a dangerous fugitive. Manning checked walleye spawning areas and trout streams and checked inland lakes during what proved to be a snowy, slow fishing opener. Officer Manning made an OHM stop for illegal operation on the shoulder of a state highway; enforcement action against the juvenile operator is pending. Manning is also assisting USFS with a garbage dumping complaint on the Superior National Forest. Several isolated incidents of flooding have left some forestry roads impassable and users are advised to use caution.
Two non-resident anglers were observed by CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes) catching northern pike. When approached, the two said they came to the Detroit Lakes area for the fishing opener. They didn’t realize the opener was the following weekend or that they needed a Minnesota Angling License.
CO Todd Langevin (Center City) responded to a stranded loon call. The loon had mistaken a plowed field for water and became stranded. CO Langevin placed a blanket over the bird and transported it to water. Aside from a headache from the landing, the loon appeared to be in good shape.
CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) responded to a marina on Lake Minnetonka where a boat was found with zebra mussels. Fortunately, the boat was not launched into the lake because it was in need of repair. The boat had come from another state.
CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka) took reports of wounded geese around Lake Minnetonka. The local police believe there are cabin owners shooting them with pellet guns. CO Kahre would like to remind people it is illegal to shoot Canada geese this time of year.
CO Patrick McGowan investigated a mallard duck being shot with a pellet gun in the City of Rosemount.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) reported that a friendly male black lab was found and held in custody until the owners could come get him. Luckily the collar had a phone number as the owners had been searching for him. A sand hill crane was also spotted in Tower. Evidently, it got lost somehow. A large bear that had fallen through the ice last fall and died was also dealt with.
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