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)
worked with several officers for the BWCA
trout opener. Officers checked remote
locations by snowshoes and skis. The easy
walking and the fact that the stream trout
season opened with the lake trout season
in the BWCA made this year’s opener a
little busier than in the past. Enforcement
action was taken for live minnows in a
designated trout lake and angling license not
in possession.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked the
BWCA trout opener up the Gunflint Trail
over the busy holiday weekend. Enforcement
action was taken for using live minnows on
designated trout lakes and angling license
not in possession. Murray also handled a
report of an injured wolf that was spotted
several times near a resort and worked on
equipment maintenance items.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked
the BWCA trout opener with several officers
up the Gunflint Trail. Some nice trout were
seen in the bag while checking remote
lakes. Wahlstrom worked on equipment
maintenance and checked snowmobile trails.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked
a multi-agency enforcement detail in the
BWCAW for lake and stream trout opener.
Anglers, skiers and hikers were checked on
border lakes. A reminder that entering and
leaving Canada requires proper preparation
and paperwork. The officer also continued
to field questions on fishing and snowmobile
regulations.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) reports that
violations of no fishing license in possession
were very common with many stating,
“Can’t you check me on your computer?”
This is difficult to do when out riding
on a snowmobile in areas of no cell
coverage. Violations of expired registration
and failing to display valid snowmobile
registration were also found.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River)
responded to a call of a person being bit by a
muskrat. The muskrat had found its way into
the dryer vent unknown to the homeowner.
When the homeowner reached in to remove
a clog in the vent, he was bitten and had to
seek medical treatment
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) was there when
a trespass complaint developed into a pan
fish over limit case when it was found that
the angler had a stash of fish along shore in
a pillowcase under a snow bank. Further
investigation at the angler’s residence in St.
Paul Park resulted in many more fish.
CO Jim Guida (Nisswa) stopped two
snowmobiles on an area lake due to one
operator going 84 miles per hour. The other
operator was identified as his 8-year-old
son. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Jim Tischler (Cuyuna) responded to
a call for help from a good Samaritan who
witnessed two dogs jump off the Highway
6 Mississippi River bridge to the ice 30
feet below. One dog was injured and could
not walk while the other ran off. The CO
transported the injured dog to a shelter for
vet care.
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