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 problem bear calls are becoming more and more frequent as the summer goes on. Garbage left out and poor camping practices seem to be the main ingredient. Put your garbage away and keep your campsites clean.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted Marine Unit officers with an overlimit case at the Grand Marais Rec Park and she assisted U.S. Customs with a couple fish over limit cases being imported from Canada. The officer patrolled inland and BWCA lakes and found very good compliance and clean campsites. An ATV operator was found driving on the paved shoulder of State Highwaywy 61; he admitted he did not know the rules for operation or whether the machine was registered since he was just borrowing the machine to visit a friend. Appropriate paperwork was issued.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) patrolled in the BWCAW checking anglers and boat and water safety. The bite is picking up for walleyes and smallmouth. Campsites were full in the BW along the officer’s route and people were happy with the fishing. The officer responded to nuisance wolf calls and to a cougar sighting.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked in the BWCAW most of the week on some boating and fishermen enforcement. Fishing was slow, but the weather was fantastic. A common theme with the unregistered canoes is that they are “just borrowing it.” The operators are truly astonished that they actually get a ticket since it isn’t even their canoe.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) investigated the report of a deer causing multiple injuries to a rural Fertile man. The individual was struck several times with the whitetail buck’s front hooves. The deer was dispatched after the attack.
CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) was checking anglers when he encountered a fisherman angling with too many lines. The parties returned to the resort to obtain identification. While Forsberg completed the enforcement paperwork the fisherman’s buddies videotaped the encounter saying they could not wait to show friends and family back home. The fisherman in violation was not happy with his fishing partners.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) handled a wolf depredation investigation where a farmer lost two lambs. It was determined that both of the lambs were killed by wolves. She also investigated a call where the reporting party found decayed fox carcasses. The caller believed someone had taken them out of season. They were coyotes.
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