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 Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) responded to a call of a shot after shooting hours near Thief River Falls. Upon arrival Woinarowicz located an individual who was hunting small game after legal shooting hours, without a license, and transporting a loaded firearm in his vehicle. Woinarowicz also responded to a call of a turkey being taken out of season where the investigation resulted in the seizure of the turkey and enforcement action for taking turkey in closed season.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) encountered an 8-year-old girl hunting with her father, who told him that she shot her first duck. She described the hunt as “pretty cool,” but said when a bald eagle tried to take one of their decoys, that was even “cooler.”
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) observed a pair of waterfowlers in a poor location and the officer was told that the paddles were forgotten at home and a stick and a gun stock became the next best option.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) responded to a phone call from a good Samaritan who was picking up garbage along a city street and went to throw the trash in a garbage can. She opened the can and observed two drake wood ducks in the can. The owner of the can was interviewed and told the officer that he was too tired to clean the birds after the hunt and discarded them. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) was on patrol when one hunter came out of a wetland and told him that his dog is fighting with a raccoon and will not come back. Picht put on his waders and walked out and found the dog biting the raccoon in the belly. The raccoon had wrapped itself around the dog’s head and was pulling her underwater. Picht was able to break the fight apart and return the dog to its owner. The hunter was happy to have his dog back with only a few bites and scratches. No word on the raccoon’s fate.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) investigated when a deer that was reportedly attacked and killed by a fox was actually found to be chased and attacked by coyotes after being shot by an archer in the Mankato City Hunt.
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