Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks, there are a few who 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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused enforcement action this last week on bear baits as the hunters geared up for the upcoming opener. The officer reminds hunters not to leave out non-biodegradable materials at the bait site. Wahlstrom also spent time on Lake Superior working anglers and boating enforcement. The officer attended an ATV meeting.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended the Cook County ATV Club meeting and answered member questions. Manning checked bear bait stations and investigated reported bait in the game refuge, which turned out to be unfounded. The officer also took a call on an unsigned bear bait station on private property, a reported “sick” bear, and wild ricing in the Swamp River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). CO Manning also worked in the BWCAW.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) fielded numerous questions via phone and in person about upcoming big game seasons. Area lakes were checked for both angling and wild rice activity. Bear baiting activity is ramping up with the opening of the season only a few days away.
CO Gary Sommers (Walker) received a call regarding someone finding a trash bag in a ditch that contained the carcasses of three bass that had been cleaned. Also in the trash bag was a clear plastic bag containing the fillets. It was so fresh there were no flies yet. It is unclear why someone would take the time to clean fish and then throw the fillets away.
CO Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters in the Duluth/Two Harbors area of Lake Superior. The water temps are starting to warm. Some salmon have been getting caught with lake trout as well.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) encountered an angler from Illinois who was “so excited” to fish in Minnesota, he didn’t take time to read the fishing regulations. Martin showed him the “Angling Methods” section of the fishing synopsis and issued him a summons for angling with extra lines. Martin assisted another CO with a married couple that had 60 sunfish over the limit (they were taking fish to their daughter in Wisconsin). The anglers wanted to know which of their neighbors “ratted us out.”
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) received a complaint of an individual living on Lac Qui Parle WMA CO Picht and CO Henriksen found the individual living in a houseboat on a secluded portion of the wildlife management area. He was upset to learn that he could not live on a WMA and informed the COs that he will be moving to Wisconsin.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) found an over limit of walleye and took action. Ironically, it was the father of an individual whom CO Starr had cited two years ago for being 39 walleyes over limit.
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