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 few people are taking advantage of the early season snowmobile opportunities. The snow and slush have made ice thickness unpredictable as the CO found 11 inches of ice and moved 50 yards and found 5 inches. A few anglers have ventured out in the extreme cold to try their luck, but fishing has been very slow.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) followed up on baiting cases from the past season. The officer also helped prepare fur for sale by the Division of Enforcement and, after a difficult deer season, took a report of wanton waste of a deer near Hovland.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) monitored snowmobile trails and ice anglers. The snowmobile trails are in excellent condition with the new snow along the North Shore. The officer finished up an ongoing big game investigation that occurred during the bear season.
CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette), while checking anglers on Lake of the Woods, came upon a rental house with an individual who was known to be revoked from angling. The individual stated he was just hanging out and denied angling or having any fish, but possessed fishing rods. Gorecki observed a covered bucket in the back of the individual’s vehicle and it possessed 23 walleye and sauger. Numerous charges are pending and fish and equipment were seized.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) reports that most of the week’s enforcement activity dealt with a handful of snowmobilers driving at excessive speeds and driving out of control. One operator who was clocked at 80 mph slid uncontrolled through a stop sign and highway intersection, right in front of the officer’s squad car. The operator said it was a good thing his sled topped out at 80 or he would have been going faster and might have hurt himself.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) stopped a snowmobiler for multiple violations. Upon stopping the machine and asking the operator where his registration was he replied that he had not registered it after purchasing it. When CO Silgjord asked how long ago the sled was bought the operator stated he bought it approximately five years ago. Enforcement action was taken.
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