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) came across a young man from Ohio fishing without a fishing license. The man told the CO that he didn’t need one because he was on his way from Ohio to a place in Michigan that didn’t require them so he didn’t think he needed one in Minnesota either. The CO informed the Ohio man that this was the first time he had ever heard an excuse like this and the Ohio man said he found that hard to believe. Bear hunters were checked and boaters were checked for compliance with the aquatic invasive species laws. Bear complaints continue to roll in.
CO Gary Sommers (Walker) received a complaint regarding an animal digging up a yard. Also, during the week he made contact with one individual who was towing an empty boat trailer that had aquatic vegetation hanging from it as he drove down a highway. The driver of the vehicle said there was no way there could be vegetation on the trailer because he checked the trailer after he had unloaded the boat. Apparently he didn’t notice the vegetation hanging from the axle, clearly visible with the boat removed. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Brent Speldrich (NE ATV REC) patrolled trails and state forests during the week. He patrolled illegal trails that were being used by bear hunters who were illegally using them to access their baits. Bear hunters are reminded that while using state forest lands, they need to recognize which land they are on and what the classification is. These hunters were left with coupons that serve as a reminder of their illegal use.
CO Larry Francis (Remer) took calls regarding taking a fox out of season, bear season, captive raccoons, youth trapping class, etc. He conducted an investigation in reference to the fox issue and determined that the party shot a fox from his house so he could get it mounted.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) responded when a car-kill eagle call came in. The officer removed a dead white chicken and a dead black chicken from Minnesota Highway 210.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) received a TIP complaint of a goose shot and left to waste prior to goose opener. Officers located the goose and evidence of where it was shot from and eventually gained an admission from the shooter. Enforcement action was taken and a shotgun was seized.
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) assisted with a gas pump fire at a local gas station. While the gas pump and canopy were ablaze, traffic was stopped for safety reasons. One party was rather upset he could not drive by and argued with the officer for several minutes stating he wanted to take his chances by driving by the blaze rather than going the suggested alternate route. He had to wait anyway.
CO Thor Nelson (Bloomington) observed a group of goose hunters who gained permission to hunt from someone who wasn’t authorized to give permission. The hunters then drove on a standing alfalfa hay field to place decoys, causing damage to the crop. The property owner stated that he will no longer allow hunting on his property. CO Nelson wishes to remind hunters to avoid repeating these mistakes by making sure the land owners/renters/hunters are in agreement as to what activities are allowed on the property.
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