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 the grouse woods were extremely busy with hunters and leaf lookers everywhere. The only way to get away from people was to go afoot on a narrow trail. Not much for moose hunter activity. A 58-inch and 60-inch bull were seen with a couple of happy hunting parties during the week. Bear hunters and guides report timber wolves taking up several game cam pictures during the bear season. In some instances bears completely disappeared after wolf pictures started to appear. One hunter reports a picture with a big bear eating bait with three timber wolves in the background looking on. Scat seen around the bait piles seems to confirm that popcorn, candies and other sweets do not agree with a wolf ‘s digestive system. The CO encountered a very large wolf with what appeared to be a broken front leg hobbling across the road.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the opener of the moose season with area officers; some nice bulls were taken. While checking anglers in the Superior tributaries, the officer approached one person netting fish out of the river. The officer asked the netter why he was netting fish. He responded by saying that he did not want to use a fishing pole because he did not buy a license this year and that would be illegal. Appropriate paperwork was issued to the individual. Enforcement action was also taken for snagging fish and small game violations.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) monitored the pink salmon run on the western end of the North Shore. Salmon are showing up in greater numbers than in the previous several years. The 2011 moose season got off to a slow start. Warmer than usual daytime temps are likely hindering hunters’ efforts to find their bull. Grouse hunters are finding success if they are willing to slow down and look through the heavy cover to find birds. One pair of hunters had just returned to their vehicle and were unloading their shotguns when CO Thomasen happened upon them. He checked their licenses and was visiting with them about hunting when the CO heard a thumping noise coming from the area of their vehicle. A short time later, the thumping noise was heard again and the CO recognized the noise. It seems the hunters had shot a grouse, placed it in their SUV, and did not realize that the bird had not quite yet expired!
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) has been busy handling nuisance bear calls in the Mt. Iron area. A bear cub has been in the area and some residents have been feeding it because it’s cute and looks hungry. Frericks would like to remind people that if they feed bears, those same bears will continue to come back over and over again and will associate humans with food.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) followed up on two wolf complaints. One involved a dog that was reportedly killed by a wolf. The other was wolf sighting within a cattle pasture. The wolf in this case reportedly walked toward the farmer and stopped within 20 yards of him, not fazed by the farmer’s running ATV or his shouting. The farmer said the wolf looked sick.
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