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) reports that it was a busy week with lots of people around. One fellow encountered was from out of state and didn’t have canoe registration in the BWCA. When it was explained to him that the Forest Service does a good job in its orientations about the requirement for canoe registrations in Minnesota the man stated that he didn’t pay attention to that stuff. The CO gave him a reason to pay attention in the future.
One boat encountered with four people including two children didn’t have any life jackets. Other enforcement action was taken for bow riding, no kayak registration, fishing without a license, no license in possession, ATV operation where prohibited, and failing to register an ATV.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area lakes, including Lake Superior; boaters on the big lake are reminded to check expiration dates on emergency flares. Manning also patrolled ATV trails in the Silver Bay area with CO Wahlstrom. The officer attended a district meeting in Two Harbors and a work group meeting in Sandstone. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ATV on the state highway, no helmet on a juvenile ATV passenger and operating a class 1 ATV with more than one passenger.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking anglers, ATV riders and boaters out enjoying the holiday weekend. The officer worked the Moose Walk/Red Dot ATV trails with CO Manning. Riders were enjoying the nice weather and only a few violations were observed. Bear complaints keep rolling in; people are reminded to keep trash inside. Commercial netters were checked on Lake Superior along with anglers trying their luck for lake trout. Inland lakes were also worked with the walleye bite slowing down.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) stopped an ATV for operating on the highway with a toddler without a helmet as the passenger. The operator stated he thought his child was safer without a helmet because he believed helmets don’t fit well on a young child. The ATV operator was advised he should wait until his child was old enough for a helmet to fit before giving the child a ride. The child was less than 2 years old. Enforcement action was taken and the operator was forced to call for appropriate transportation for the toddler.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) gave assistance to the State Patrol when a vehicle ran off the road and into two signs. Witnesses stated occupants in the vehicle fled into the woods and came back out after a short time, got back into the vehicle, and took off at a high rate of speed. K9 Schody was sent into the wooded area to see where they had gone. About 50 feet back into the woods he alerted and retrieved a camera case that contained drugs and paraphernalia. More illegal drugs and paraphernalia were found in the same location where he located the camera case. The case is still under investigation by the State Patrol.
CO Mike Lee (Crosslake) received a call that a gray fox had been shot with an arrow and wandered into a yard. Further investigation is continuing.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) received several nuisance bear complaints. One included a bear that found its way into an elderly couple’s home. The homeowners were not home at the time. The bear climbed onto a chair on the couple’s deck. It then entered the home through a window that was open a few inches. It destroyed the screen and then slid the window all the way open. The owners returned to find their home in disarray, chocolate chips and marshmallows from their lazy susan eaten and knickknacks on the floor. The bear had exited the same way it came in. The couple stated they had seen the bear for several evenings prior to this incident.
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