Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are lawabiding 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) responded to wolf complaints, checked anglers and small game hunters. Overall, grouse hunters are having limited success. The officer patrolled state parks and returned numerous phone calls.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked pheasant hunters in the Ortonville station with CO Miska. Not very many hunters and not many birds. While the COs were checking some hunters, two pickups pulled up behind to see what the COs were up to. Too bad both trucks had loaded guns in them. Waterfowl hunters with lead shot and no plugs in shotguns were also encountered. A bow hunter called the CO during the week and told him he encountered four timber wolves at his deer stand. The hunter tried to scare them off, but they appeared to show no fear. Eventually they trotted off.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) responded to an out-of-control fire at a state park campground; the occupant used gasoline to light his campfire, and subsequently the woods around it. Neighboring campers helped put it out before too much damage was done to forest or persons. Manning and CO Scott issued a Cease and Desist Order for a wetlands case and conducted a site visit on another wetlands violation. The officer also took a report of possible moose hunting in the area and checked grouse hunters in the field.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) was checking an area for grouse hunting activity and found several snowmobile trail signs that appeared to have been intentionally run over by a car. Broughten followed the path of destruction to a hunting camp where he interviewed persons who stated they were out for a joy ride, and although in hindsight it was stupid, at the time they found it enjoyable to run the signs over. Broughten documented the damage and a report will be submitted to the county attorney’s office for charging and restitution.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) issued a Cease and Desist order to an individual who illegally posted “No Trespassing” signs and blocked a public waterway to prevent duck hunters from hunting legally on public waters.
CO Angela Londgren (Princeton) received a TIP call on individuals who were shooting cranes. The hunters greeted Officer Londgren stating how they were having a pretty good day and had harvested a few cranes. Their day got worse when they were told that they were hunting in a non-crane zone; enforcement action was taken.
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