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) reports another busy week as hot weather has driven people out onto the lakes. Many boaters encountered were without lights after sunset. It’s a shame that just as the walleyes are starting to bite after the sun goes down, the CO shows up, gives out some paperwork, and tells you to leave the lake because you don’t have the required lighting. Lots of Panda awards given to the little ones for wearing lifejackets and still more paperwork to the adults who don’t even have one in the boat. One person encountered told the CO that as a lake property owner, he is too busy keeping up his property to have time to follow all the fishing and boating safety laws. The CO handed him his citation with a smile and went on his way.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled the Moosewalk and Red Dot ATV trails and found good compliance. The officer answered numerous questions about the upcoming wolf season from local residents. Nuisance bears continue to be a problem, although ripe berries now becoming available should help keep bears in the woods. Manning also participated in a rescue drill in the Grand Marais harbor along with CO Fagerman and CO Wahlstrom, the Cook County emergency responders and the Coast Guard.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked Lake Superior for summer anglers. He checked ATV operators and fielded numerous questions. Wahlstrom responded to nuisance black bear complaints. He participated in a rescue preparedness drill in the Grand Marais harbor.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) began investigation into a solid waste dumping issue. Lake Superior is producing a mixed bag of lake trout and salmon, while inland lakes are putting out walleye for anglers using the right presentations.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior. Salmon and trout are starting to show up more regularly in coolers as the debris from flooding begins to settle out of the water. Commercial herring nets were checked and registration issues addressed on recreational boats. One angler trolling outside of Silver Bay fell asleep in the hazy sun of a quiet afternoon. He was quite surprised to wake up and find two officers in a boat a few feet away when he was a mile off shore. He reported fishing had been slow. Enforcement action taken for angling, boating, commercial netting, and traffic violations.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) handled some nuisance animal issues including a car-injured fawn; “problem” geese in a lakeshore yard; a small skunk with a trap on its head; and a nuisance bear complaint. One deer that was hit by a car on the neighbor’s side of the road was dragged to the complainant’s side of the road. He didn’t like the smell (of course) and wanted it removed. A large amount of aquatic vegetation removed from a lakeshore property is also being looked into.
CO Todd Langevin (Center City) checked two boats on the St. Croix River. The two boats had seven passengers between them and not one wearable or throwable lifejacket. One of the passengers also had a warrant for his arrest. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports busy river traffic. He received several rattlesnake calls and assisted a person with a snake found in a home at 4 a.m. Hemker also assisted a Wisconsin Sheriff ’s office recover a drowning victim.
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