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) checked anglers along the North Shore in the Lake Superior tributaries. Few fish were caught but anglers were happy to get in the streams this early. The officer attended a district meeting in Two Harbors that involved AIS training. Wahlstrom completed equipment maintenance, returned phone calls and worked ATV enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for angling while revoked and litter.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked with other officers on a Rainy River detail. Two sober individuals thought it would be a good idea to have their intoxicated fishing partner drive the 115 horsepower boat while they fetched the truck and trailer for loading the boat after a day of fishing. The intoxicated boater thought it would be a good idea to draw attention to himself by driving the boat around in circles creating a big wake next to where other anglers were trying to load their boats on the ramp. These ideas didn’t work out well for the intoxicated boater. Compliance for pulling the boat plugs, draining bait water and live wells was good overall, but a few citations were issued for those who didn’t comply. One individual was stopped for not having his plug out and was found to be hauling a live well full of water from an infested water body.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports Lake Superior tributaries are flowing and fish are beginning to move in. The officer checked anglers and patrolled area fish sanctuaries. Winter equipment was prepped for storage and summer equipment is being brought online. Manning also attended a district meeting and answered questions on snowmobile water skipping, dogs chasing deer, and spring beaver trapping.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) received a call from a rabbit owner who reported several animals killed by a fisher. The fisher was shot by the rabbit owner when it returned for seconds.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) received a complaint about a person shooting a muskrat with a bow. The individual was later located and interviewed with charges pending.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Wheaton) handled a call on an individual who thought that this past weekend marked the spring fishing opener. The individual was confused and thought we were into the month of April already, but after looking at the calendar on his phone, he realized it was still March.
CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) assisted the Hubbard County Sheriff ’s Office in a lost child report and with a roll overvehicle accident. Thankfully game wardens were available at the scene to divert an overly curious and obviously lost muskrat from entering the overturned vehicle with the victim and First Responders still in the car.
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