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) worked a complaint of angler harassment. Lakeshore property owners are reminded that their ownership ends at the waterline and recreation is permissible on the entire surface of public lakes, including right in front of your cabin. Manning is currently following up on reports of nuisance beaver, problem bears and wolves.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) attended armorer class at Camp Ripley. The officer answered multiple nuisance animal calls in Cook County and the Silver Bay area. Wahlstrom met with state park managers and the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office about safety concerns within the Temperance River.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) responded to a call about a dead eagle, which was actually a sea gull.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) found two canoes that had capsized in the BWCA. When he paddled over to the wet canoeists he was told they were practicing “sea rescues.” The next day the officer found a father/daughter duo who had improper knives or know-how on how to clean fish. The officer filleted the fish catch of smallmouth bass and northern pike so they could eat boneless fish. The father mentioned that the help was part of the license fee they paid.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) took a nuisance wolf complaint that involved an area farmer who saw a gray wolf circling his pasture and stalking his cattle. The farmer was able to remove the wolf before it had a chance to attack and kill his livestock.
CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) found one goose hunter without any license, stamps or a plug in his gun. The hunter also tried to hide his gun and walk away from his hunting party when he saw the conservation officer walking into the field. During the contact it was determined the hunter was already revoked from hunting. When he was trying to explain his actions to the officer, the hunter stated, “Can’t a guy have any fun anymore?” Enforcement action was taken.
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