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) reminds people that trapping season for many species is open and to pay close attention to their dogs while on a walk. Trapping is a legal activity. Tampering with traps is not. Grouse have become fairly scarce after the busy MEA weekend. People are still out and about taking part in fall activities including scouting for deer and placing deer stands. Bucks are starting to move during the day.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) investigated a deer poached in the Lutsen area; anyone with information on the deer that was shot late last week with a firearm is urged to call the TIP line at 1-800-652- 9093. Manning checked traps, re-checked bear bait locations and looked for deer baiting. The officer also followed up on a trespass complaint from last fall and took care of office work and equipment.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked small game hunters, ATVs and anglers. The officer returned calls relating to the upcoming deer season, wolves, car kill deer, dead raptors, becoming a game warden and possible illegal traps. Wahlstrom winterized summer equipment and started to get the winter equipment ready for the next season as it is approaching fast
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) assisted when a trapper called to report that he had caught a bobcat before season in a leg-hold trap. Between the trapper and the officer, with a little ingenuity and creativity, the rather large, angry bobcat was released unharmed.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) observed a motorcycle rider transporting a slung over the shoulder, uncased shotgun in the city limits of Hibbing. Moments after the officer spotted him, he was seen popping a wheelie. He was cited for the uncased shotgun and cautioned to ride a little smarter.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) assisted with a 911 call where a person was operating an ATV illegally in a wetland and had gotten stuck and wet. The person said he called 911 because he was cold and didn’t want to walk the mile back out to a road. The responding fire department got its ATV stuck trying to find the operator and it took several members hours to get it free.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) observed a person hide something on public property at a boat landing. The person advised he was leaving his phone there so his mother could not track where he was going.
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