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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) answered numerous questions about the upcoming deer hunting season. The officer checked grouse and archery hunters. Grouse hunters are still finding success off the beaten path. Equipment maintenance was dealt with for the upcoming winter season.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked trappers, grouse hunters and for deer baiting activity. Whitefish netting has gotten off to a slow start. The CO took care of some wetlands issues during the week also.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) responded to another report of a wolf caught in a trap. CO Manning also took a call on an injured bear. The officer checked traps, patrolled area forest roads, SNAs and campgrounds. Boat winterization was completed and seized property was disposed of.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) investigated when a coon in a trap was found on dry land not being checked. Upon further investigation the coon pulled the stake and traveled to dry land. The critter was dispatched and both the trap and it were returned to the legal trapper.
CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) responded after a trapper reported a trap set too close to water prior to the mink/muskrat season. Forsberg located the trap and it had the complainant tag on it. The trap was stolen last year and used this year by the thief.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) received a TIP complaint regarding a person shooting deer with a high-powered rifle. The only person located was a grouse hunter who missed twice with a shotgun.
CO Gary Sommers (Walker) assisted the Cass County Sheriff ‘s Department with a call. The suspect allegedly pointed a shotgun at a logging crew, verbally harassed them, and interfered with the logging operation. The suspect was arrested on felony assault.
CO Brad Schultz (Cook) assisted local law enforcement on a felony arrest warrant where a deer was found hanging in a garage. It turned out the deer was legally taken.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) wrapped up a case where a cabin owner determined a bear cub was a nuisance so he shot it, butchered it and brought it home. Bear meat was seized and the party charged. Fredin also received a trapping complaint where dogs were caugh in sna es, and took a report of a bald eagle that got his big toe caugh in a mink trap. Concerned folks were able to release it and watch it fly away.
Leave a Reply