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 Mary Manning (Hovland) attended annual training and firearms qualifications at Camp Ripley. The officer worked duck opener with neighboring officers; AIS enforcement was also a priority and compliance was found to be good. Grouse hunters were plentiful and reports of birds taken were mixed. Salmon are running in Lake Superior tributaries and anglers were also numerous. One angler checked was relieved when the officer walked into the river to retrieve a Rapala lure that he had hooked on a rock declaring, “You just saved me four bucks!” He was not so happy when she replied, “Well, not exactly,” and proceeded to explain regulations regarding single hook requirements and then provided him with appropriate paperwork. Another angler was cited for failing to release two fish he had foul hooked saying he didn’t think he should just let them go.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the waterfowl opener checking duck hunters and checking for AIS violations. Grouse, duck and moose hunters were out despite the snow and sleet. Complaints of low numbers of grouse in the area were common. The officer responded with advice, “get off the roads and get into the woods.” The roads were busy with tribal moose hunters and leaf lookers. The officer also spent time at Camp Ripley teaching defensive tactics and armoring shotguns.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a few snowfalls and big bulls on the move during the week. The moose rut is on. One person reports that he saw a bull moose mating with a cow. Moose tracks are also starting to appear more frequently on the back roads. Not many grouse hunters are out so a few grouse are starting to come back to the roadsides once again. The few duck hunters who were out reported some success. Lots of shooting is taking place on some very remote lakes. Enforcement action was taken again this week for unregistered bears.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth), while working an AIS detail in Two Harbors, saw a pick-up truck with a shopping cart in the back that was completely covered in zebra mussels. Upon further investigation, the driver had found the cart near a Dumpster in the Duluth bay. He planned to transport the cart up the North Shore and then back home to North Dakota. The cart was seized and enforcement action was taken.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports that a citation was issued to a hunter who officers watched shoot more than 10 minutes early Saturday morning. His reasoning was since somebody else shot early, he could also.
CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) followed up on a report of deer entrails being found on private property. County deputies reported a suspicious vehicle in that area earlier that morning. Seefeldt found the suspicious vehicle at the owner’s residence with blood on the tailgate. The deer was found to be legally taken but the licensee failed to tag the deer. The deer was seized and licensee cited for failure to tag deer.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) checked a pair of hunters at shore as they were just coming off the lake to their cabin. When asked how the hunt went, they stated they had capsized their boat and had pulled the boat to shore by swimming. The hunters estimated they had been in the water for three hours. The hunters were chilled and tired, but ended up with a shotgun missing. Boaters are reminded to wear life jackets and be prepared for the worst.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) approached one group of hunters that was still duck hunting during closed hours. As he did so one of the hunters stated, “I thought you were supposed to be out in Montana elk hunting.” Halverson stated, “No I’m right here,” and took appropriate enforcement action.
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