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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers on inland lakes, Lake Superior and in the BWCAW. Walleyes are cooperating with anglers on inland lakes with many limits seen in the bag. ATV complaints were handled with multiple violations occurring. Nuisance bear complaints are rolling in. People are reminded not to leave trash/bird feeders or any other food outside. The majority of the complaints have had trash left out for the bears to get into.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers and boaters on inland lakes. Manning patrolled BWCAW lakes with CO Mueller and found very good compliance. Equipment maintenance was also performed.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) noticed a truck pulling a camper at a high rate of speed on the adjacent nonmotorized bike trail. When stopped, the driver said he had been drinking way too much and he was driving on the bike trail because there was a lot less traffic there. It earned him a night in jail and pending DWI charges.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) received a call from the Pope County Sheriff ’s Office about a stranded boater in the river outlet of Gilchrist Lake. Baumbarger and Deputy Sheriff Nelson responded to the area and located the stranded boater approximately two miles downriver from the lake. Using a small duck boat with a go devil motor, officers were able to tow the 17-foot bass boat back upstream, into the lake to the access. Upon asking the boater how he ended up in the river, he informed the officers that his 150 H.P. motor was not running, so he decided to try and use his trolling motor to navigate the river. The boater then told officers that once he realized his trolling motor was not strong enough to get him back up stream, he decided to continue fishing farther down the river. The boater was thankful to be rescued, and officers tried to inform him that if he wanted to fish the river, he should use a canoe and not a 17-foot bass boat.
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