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 a fairly quiet week as far as deer hunting goes. Not as many hunters around in his station as in years past. Many of the hunters checked report not even seeing one single deer and very little deer sign. The CO handled a trespassing call and found two more baited deer stands. Trapping violations were dealt with.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent the week checking deer hunters. The officer responded to many calls relating to hunter harassment, illegal ATV use, shooting after hours and hunt deer over bait. Wahlstrom assisted the county and followed up on past big game investigations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) investigated complaints of hunter harassment, hunting deer over bait and unregistered deer. The officer followed up with USFS law enforcement on a bear bait station left in place from this fall. CO Manning also worked deer shiners and took calls regarding trespass and the current wolf hunt.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) continued to work TIP calls regarding wanton waste, trespassing and shooting after hours. Heaton assisted CO Jeff Humphrey on a baiting case where large piles of carrots were present throughout the property. Enforcement action was taken for hunting in a baited area, illegal party hunting, lending/borrowing deer tags and transporting illegally taken big game. Three bucks, a rifle and a motor vehicle were seized as evidence. Heaton went to retrieve the firearm that was to be seized from a deer stand. Next to the rifle, she noted a book opened and face down marking a page. The book had a pair of glasses resting on top of it. The title of the book was Poachers Caught.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) stayed busy with the firearms deer season. Enforcement action was taken on a man who tagged a deer with a fishing license and then failed to register the deer before processing.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) reports handling calls of vehicles hitting deer, an injured eagle, wolf hunting, a deer shot and left in the field, and coyotes in town. One young hunter accidently tripped into a bear den and had to dispatch the angry bear.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) reports a horse was shot by a deer hunter at a Pine River area ranch. A firearm was seized and projectile recovered from the dead horse with charges pending results of match. A wolf hunter who brought a wolf to a local taxidermist was not the same wolf hunter who tagged the timber wolf. Investigation continues for illegal party hunting.
CO Eugene Wynn (Pine City) assisted the Sheriff ’s Department with several lost hunters and checked deer hunters and camps throughout the week. If you are hunting unfamiliar area, be sure to tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Bring a GPS with extra batteries and/or a compass with you. Cell phones are unreliable in many remote locations.
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