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 Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports he had a close call with a hole in the ice created from water coming up because of all the snow weighing down on the ice. The CO saw a trail marker on Devil Track Lake leaning over. When he went to put the marker sign back up he began to slide into a bowl created by the moving water. He was able to use the sign post in his hands to keep him from sliding into the open hole. The hole was large enough to swallow an ATV or snowmobile. We always hear that ice is never safe and this is truly an example of that. There were 15 inches of good ice in the area. The CO was comforted by the fact he had his ice picks handy in case he went for a winter swim. This should serve as a good reminder to anyone who uses the state’s frozen waters to always be aware of potential dangers.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked cross country ski passes and found less than 20 percent of skiers had current passes. The officer also checked anglers and lakes, and found fishing taking a back seat to concerns about slush and ice conditions. Manning patrolled snowmobile trails, responded to a complaint of an injured bobcat and answered questions about use of forest road snowmobile trails by loggers.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) released a deer from a fox snare. The deer was caught by the hind hoof and held perfectly still for the CO to cut the cable.
CO Mike Lee (Crosslake) received a call of a swan that had been shot with an arrow and was still alive on the ice. Upon arrival on the scene, Lee was able to identify the swan as a domesticated goose species. The goose was dispatched, and further investigation into the incident is continuing.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) was called out on Christmas morning for a complaint of somebody shooting from a car on the roadway at 5:45 .am. He continues to investigate deer hunting complaints.
CO Robert Gorecki (Baudette) educated one group of out-of-state anglers when they were found using spring-loaded set lines that would set the hook automatically when a fish would bite. Anglers are reminded that these are unlawful.
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