Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding 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 he encountered every bear baiting violation but one last week. One bait pile appeared that the hunter was cleaning out his freezer and dumping it in the woods. This individual was stopped on the road on his way to the bait with another load of garbage in the back of his truck, but he and his partner were given garbage bags by the CO and escorted to their five bait piles to pick up garbage left from last year and this year.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy bear hunting opening weekend. Warm weather and plentiful food made for challenging hunting. The officer also patrolled forest and park campgrounds, worked a boat and water safety patrol with CO Wahlstrom on Lake Superior, spent time at boat accesses educating boaters about invasive species, and checked anglers on area lakes. A few more calls about possible cougar sightings were received as were a couple calls regarding bear hunters being harassed by other bear hunters. Enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm and failure to display valid boat registration.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking bear hunters over the opening weekend and anglers on Lake Superior. While talking with bear hunters on their success, it seemed that more wolves were coming in to the bait piles than bears. Overall there were some nice bears taken. Enforcement action was taken for angling and hunting violations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) followed up on a complaint about tent campers making a semi-permanent residence in an undesignated remote location at Lake Bemidji State Park. Enforcement action was taken after locating the young couple.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) investigated a 911 reported bear attack, which turned out to be unfounded. Another bear was reported dumped along the road and is being investigated.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) reports that a boat containing four teenagers was stopped on Lake Vermilion well after sunset for not having its lights on. The juveniles were also two PFDs short. Frericks escorted the juveniles to land where enforcement action was taken for the violations. The juveniles were then advised of the dangers of the violations they committed. Frericks also said some area bear baiters are having success. One contacted him and advised that his bait was getting hit regularly, and he returned one morning to find various articles of women’s clothing scattered around the bait. The trail cam watching the bait should reveal some interesting images.
CO Keith Olson (Unit Leader-Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior. A boater was stopped late at night leaving a public access on the St. Louis River with lots of weeds hanging from his trailer, motor, and transducer, and the bilge plug still in his boat. The only excuse offered was that, “it’s late and I was in a hurry.”
CO Steve Walter (Waconia) investigated a TIP call about hunters shooting geese in a wheat field; it turned out to be kids shooting barn pigeons.
Leave a Reply