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 Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled snowmobile trails and checked sledders on trails. The officer also gave a radio interview on ice safety and handled calls on road kill deer, dead owls and spearing for northern pike. Enforcement action was taken for failure to have angling license in possession and careless operation of snowmobiles.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked a Lake of the Woods detail with other officers during the week. Violations encountered included extra lines, unattended lines, unregistered snowmobiles, no trail stickers on snowmobiles, unregistered ATVs, drug possession, people fishing without licenses, and no snowmobile safety certificate. A citation was also issued in the CO’s station for no trout stamp while possessing trout. Follow up interviews and reports for a commercial investigation were also completed.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) monitored area lakes and snowmobile trails. Snowmobile trails are still in good shape. Cross country skiers were checked with overall good compliance
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) received a report of people running over coyotes on snowmobiles.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) observed, for the second time in a week, snowmobilers tip over their sleds – the first in a steep hill ascent and the other as the driver approached the officer’s vehicle and snowmobile at a trail and road intersection. Common sense and reducing speed goes a long way, not to mention the embarrassment and potential for injury.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) took care of a situation where an individual drove his car down a state snowmobile trail and got stuck. He was allowed to leave the car overnight and remove it the following morning and was advised to walk or ride a sled back to the car. The following morning, to check his progress, it was discovered he drove a van down the trail to attempt to get the car out; the van then got stuck! It was also discovered that this same person drove a vehicle and got stuck on a state trail in the Hibbing area three weeks prior. Both vehicles were removed by a wrecker company.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) checked one angler who said she had a license but did not have it with her. She was observed to have bought it on her smart phone six minutes after the officer left. Enforcement action was taken for angling with no fishing license.
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