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) executed a search warrant with other COs, deputies, and an agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a result of an ongoing commercial bear guiding operation. Several items were seized including a beautiful bear rug made from a bear that was shot unlawfully. When the man asked what was going to happen to his bear rug, Fagerman mentioned that it could possibly be used for the Wall of Shame. The man was happy with that and stated that he would at least be able to see it when the Wall of Shame is displayed in the area.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers and ice houses on area lakes in and outside the BWCA. Snowmobilers were also checked on the North Shore State Trail. Reports of dying owls continue to come in during the irruption. The officer also handled a road kill deer situation, answered questions about expiration dates for angling licenses and handled vehicle repair issues.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) responded when a citizen who hit a bobcat with his car called, looking for a permit to keep the cat so he could mount it. When the officer went to the location to retrieve the bobcat, the bobcat was nowhere to be found. Further investigation revealed that tracks in the snow from two wolves showed the wolves took the cat and most likely made a meal out of it.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) investigated a wanton waste case where several buckets of frozen whole fish were dumped in a ditch. The fish included walleye, pike, crappie, and perch, and were found dumped off Patrick Road in Belle River Twp., Douglas County.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) received a call of a road killed bald eagle; however, the eagle had been picked up by an unknown passerby prior to the officer’s arrival. It is unlawful to possess bald eagles and many other migratory birds so the person needs to re-think his actions.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) said that while he was speaking with a group of snowmobile riders at a road crossing, another snowmobiler on a shiny new sled passed the group on a high snowbank. When the rider went to cross the road, he gunned the throttle, spraying the group with snow and gravel. This sort of riding gives all snowmobilers a bad image.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) spoke with one angler who was found to have too many lines out with three tip-ups outside and two lines down inside his fish house. He knew the pike season was closed, but thought he could still fish for them. He also lied about his date of birth, trying to portray himself as 15 instead of 16, since he did not have a fishing license.
CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) stopped a snowmobiler who was operating in the road ditch. The rider saw the patrol truck but did not realize it was a Conservation Officer. The rider put his head down and squeezed the throttle and exceeded 80 mph. Posner paced the sled and stopped him by activating his red lights and siren. The snowmobiler’s excuse was he wanted to see if he could go faster than the cars.
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