Although the Cook County News- Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are lawabiding 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) checked small game hunters and trapping activity during the week. He also worked on investigations of wildland arson fires and a bear guiding case. Trappers are reminded to check their trap tags to make sure they are legible.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked traps during the opening weekend of the fisher and pine marten season. Muzzleloader hunters were also checked. The officer appeared in court for a trial and followed up on past investigations. Enforcement action was taken for driving after revocation, trapping and ATV violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) wrapped up deer hunting complaints and took information for use next deer season. A case of hunter harassment was investigated where other hunters sabotaged a stand so that it would collapse when used. Another incident was investigated where a hunter shot the top off a small pine tree less than 100 feet from a family’s home; the shot lined up with the house and a picnic table in the yard. Manning also handled equipment issues and answered questions about wolf hunting and trapping.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) investigated smoke coming from a grove of trees in northern Douglas County near Millerville. While Osborne was investigating the burning he found three deer that were shot during the gun deer season, field dressed but then thrown in a roadside ditch. The deer consisted of two bucks and a doe and no meat was taken off of the deer.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) received numerous calls from people outraged about three deer carcasses dumped in a ditch by Bass Lake. Two of the deer had heads removed. The third was a doe only partially processed, leaving back straps and hindquarters unprocessed. Other hind quarters were discarded off to the side unprocessed.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) checked muzzleloader deer hunters and trappers. One hunter was using his vehicle as a rolling deer stand, with a loaded gun and an open container of alcohol. The officer also responded to a call of an illegal fire where a house had partially burned down a few weeks ago and was put out by the fire department. The owner figured it would be easier to just start it on fire again to get rid of the debris. Enforcement action was taken for burning prohibited materials and the fire department was called out a second time to put the fire out again.
CO Todd Langevin (Center City) reports receiving a call of a woman who was walking her dog in Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. As they walked, her dog got caught in a leg hold trap. The woman was able to get her dog’s leg free from the trap but, as she did, her fingers became caught in the trap. Both were able to get out and the woman took the trap to a local police department to report the incident. Langevin retrieved the trap and made contact with the trapper. The trapper stated his trap was set in the Mud Lake Sanctuary and had a permit to trap there from the wildlife manager. People are not allowed in WMA sanctuaries, not even to walk their dogs. Enforcement action was taken on the dog owner.
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