Cook County News Herald

Conservation Officer Tales





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 Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that initial reports from bear hunters indicate a good start to the bear season. Reports of big bears are also coming in. After seeing many grouse during the early months of the summer, the sightings have dried up during August. Many locals are reporting the same experience saying that they aren’t seeing many grouse after all the rain and cooler weather. The salmon season hasn’t amounted to anything special on Lake Superior as they are very spotty. Lake trout have been cooperating, but most of the people want their salmon now. The CO came across a young hunter from Kansas who had taken his first bear. After his excitement the young hunter had to be reminded to validate his site tag. He appreciated the reminder and the cool weather of Minnesota.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) encountered a canoe on a lake with a rather large homemade sail. The owner saw one on the Internet, made his own and called it a “sailnoe.” Unfortunately for him, it was windy, he nearly tipped over, and the canoe was unregistered. Enforcement action was taken.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked bear hunters during the opening week of the season. Manning also patrolled area campgrounds, parks, and WMAs. Manning checked boaters and anglers in and around the BWCAW; one party needed a tow back to the landing when their boat battery died and the motor refused to pull start. The officer took calls on nuisance beaver, a dirty bear camp, and wild ricing.

CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) encountered an adult operator of a jet ski who said he was unaware that there was a “defined time” for sunset. He thought it was just whenever it was “too dark to see.” PWC’s are to be off the lake one hour before sunset. The individual happened to be towing a child on a tube one hour late.

While checking bear hunters, CO Mike Lee (Isle) came upon an individual standing behind his vehicle in a somewhat dumbfounded state. Lee asked the individual what the problem was, and the individual said, “I just can’t believe it.” When Lee asked him what he couldn’t believe the individual stated that his ATV had come unstrapped and traveled forward between the truck and trailer, and he had then run over the ATV. As Officer Lee looked back down the trail he observed the mangled ATV sitting right side up. Lee helped the individual load the ATV back onto the trailer, but after loading the ATV the individual asked Lee if he knew, “What was worse than this?” Officer Lee asked, “No, what’s worse than this?” Thegentleman replied, “It’s not even my ATV.”


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