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) checked anglers during a relatively quiet fishing opener. Fishing was slow with only a few walleyes in the live wells. Boats were checked at accesses for compliance with aquatic invasive species laws. Untagged minnow and leech traps were found in infested waters where the trapping of bait is prohibited. Enforcement action was taken for fishing, boating safety, burning, and littering violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked early walleye anglers and boaters in the BWCAW with CO Wahlstrom. Manning also checked anglers and boaters during the opening weekend. Several boat operators needed to be reminded of navigational lighting and equipment requirements. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession, no canoe registration and operating a watercraft without required navigational lights.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time in the BWCAW working early anglers with Officer Manning and worked a Stone Garden detail up the Echo trail. The officer worked anglers and boat and water safety during the fishing opener. Wahlstrom checked for AIS violations at area boat accesses with overall good compliance. Enforcement action was taken for angling, AIS and boating violations.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) reports that the walleyes finally began spawning, but it was over fast. One party was found spearing illegally one day from a bridge that had “area closed” signs in the water. When asked if they knew why the signs were there, the party said that they thought it was okay because it was after May 1st. The officer pointed out the large bold lettering following the “area closed” portion that read “May 1st to May 12th.”
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) assisted when a raccoon attacked a dog on the dog owner’s porch. The raccoon will be tested for rabies.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) worked the rough fish spearing/ archery/dip-net opener with many folks checked throughout the week. Unfortunately, several dead fish were left on the banks of creeks with the accompanying odor. Several juveniles were identified in one incident where enforcement action was taken and the fish picked up.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) followed up with numerous nuisance animal calls during the week. One of the calls was a first with a grouse “attacking” a small child. The caller was informed that the child probably got too close to its nest or young, and to steer clear of the area.
Conservation Officer Mike Martin (St. Cloud) says that one caller wanted “the DNR” to be aware that there is a black bear in rural Benton County. Another caller reported a coyote in a trap out in a field about 50 yards off of County Rd. 75 in Stearns County. Martin discovered that the “coyote in a trap” was in fact a coyote decoy used to keep geese out of the farmer’s sprouting field and informed the complainant. In addition, three adult brothers were all cited for angling without a license at the same time while fishing on the Mississippi River in Stearns County. All insisted that they had a license but just didn’t have it with them.
CO Mitch Boyum (Rushford) reports talking to a turkey hunter who shot and wounded a tom. After a lengthy chase involving finding different landowners, the hunter finally tracked the bird down on a fence line. Upon approaching the bird the hunter believed it to be dead. He was surprised when the bird jumped into the hunter’s face, cutting his shirt and gashing his arm before off flying. The hunter, who was shaken, collected himself enough to put a finishing shot on the bird. The whole sequence started around 7:30 a.m. and ended around noon.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom
218-663-7183
Darin Fagerman
218-387-9751
Mary Manning
218-475-0121
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