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) helped with DNR marten/fisher, and otter registration during the week. The number of animals registered and trapper numbers were down. The CO checked wolf hunters, muzzleloader hunters, trappers and anglers during the week. Some of the small, shallow lakes have 5-6 inches of ice on them, but with recent warm temperatures, caution is advised. Anglers who have ventured out, have found fishing to be slow so far. Enforcement action was taken for unlawful water trap sets, untagged traps and no fishing license. Approximately 40 traps were reported stolen to the CO during the week.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) followed up on cases from the firearm deer season and checked muzzleloader hunters. The officer checked traps and found a majority of trappers in compliance. A few traps were found set illegally; traps were seized and paperwork was issued. Wahlstrom registered furs with the wildlife manager in Finland.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy fisher/pine marten season; rumors of good prices brought out many trappers. The season also brought complaints of traps set in a state park, trap and fur theft and one dog caught in a trap. Manning also assisted the DNR wildlife manager with fur registration. The officer checked a successful wolf trapper and sets of hopeful trappers. She continued to work complaints from deer season and prepare for seasonal equipment changeover.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) responded to a TIP complaint of an individual who shot a deer at 3 a.m. with the aid of a light while the deer was feeding from a corn pile. The nine-point buck was found in the garage with kernels of corn stuck on its lips. Charges are pending.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) responded when a deer jumped off a bridge because of oncoming traffic, and broke both front legs. The officer had to put the deer down.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) was contacted after a trapper found a fisher hide lying in the ditch the day after fur registration. He picked up the hide and called the CO and told him it had been shot with a shotgun. The hide had not been tagged and had been lying in the ditch for some time.
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