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) spent the week working the firearms deer season where the harvest was moderate to poor. The officer answered many phone calls about laws and regulations and followed up on past investigations. Enforcement action was taken for illegal ATV operation, transport loaded firearms in motor vehicle, fail to validate site tag and transport untagged deer.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) continues to write expensive citations and seize expensive guns for hunting deer over bait. It is pretty sad when the rifle that has been handed down for generations is lost forever due to some unethical hunting. Grandpa might not be too happy about that either. One fellow encountered has been cited three times by the CO for hunting over bait in the last six years including the last two. The CO also took complaints about road hunters shooting too close to occupied homes.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) spent time in the field checking deer hunters and checking stands for bait. The officer took reports of a portable stand placed and left in a state park prior to opening morning, hunters shooting a deer from the road, hunters cutting numerous trees on private property, and a hunter/hiker conflict in Magney State Park. Manning also checked mink and beaver traps and answered questions about ATV operation during deer season.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) worked deer season issues which included trespass, shooting from the road, fail to validate deer tag, no blaze orange, and ATV issues. Numerous camps were complaining of seeing more wolf tracks than deer tracks. Upon researching these complaints in the snow, Starr found truth to what hunters were saying. Some camps found that hard work on food plots pays off with numerous deer harvested. Starr found a hunter who was complaining of having venison left over from last season, but still found the need to shoot two deer instead of saving the opportunity for his son, who has yet to harvest a deer. CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) has noted that numerous “hunters” have started to become nervous or desperate they may not harvest a deer this year and have started to resort to “road hunting” and other less than ethical methods of deer hunting. Several reports of shooting from the roadway were taken over the past weekend and many landowners are starting to develop a negative attitude towards hunters. Frericks assisted in an investigation where a hunter killed a timber wolf. The hunter’s rifle was seized and he faces $2,000 in restitution for the timber wolf. CO Marty Stage (Ely) spent nearly all available time running around chasing violators illegally baiting deer. The practice has certainly not gone away or apparently even slowed. It’s possible that some baits are more sophisticated and well hidden. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the sad face on the violator when they realize they will lose their rifle. The common response is: “They shouldn’t sell that if it isn’t legal.” It also appears some people bought the large class 2 ATVs so they could ride them on the roads. But they never bothered to find out that it does not allow for use on the state highways or running down the middle of the road just like a car. One person said he thought he could operate anywhere and do anything because he had turn signals on his class 2 ATV.
CO Stuart Bensen (Erskine) left his residence one morning and observed two deer hunters on his neighbor’s property. The hunters were checked and everything was OK. Bensen reminded the hunters that the property was posted and they should stay off his land. Bensen left the area and returned a short time later to find the two hunters quite a distance onto the posted agricultural land. Citations for trespass were issued.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) assisted Moorhead police officers with an investigation and search warrant when two deer were shot within the city limits. The deer, firearms, vehicle, and photos the suspects took of themselves with the deer were seized.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) investigated after a hunter reported a dead eagle hanging in a tree. The eagle was retrieved and will be examined for cause of death.
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