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) checked angling and snowmobiling activity during the week. The snowmobile trails were in excellent condition with very little use during the middle of the week. Designated trout lakes are still doing well while the laker action has been a little slow to this point. The CO assisted the Ontario Ministry of Fisheries with how our laws and regulations work in regards to photographing fish that are caught when it is unlawful to possess them. Snowmobile and angling violations were also dealt with.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers in and around the BWCA; slush has been less of a problem and fishing success was mixed. The officer patrolled snowmobile trails and forest roads checking sleds. Manning also spoke with a group regarding traps and trapping, how to avoid traps and how to release a dog that gets caught.
Pilots Brad Maas and Jason Jensen took part in the media day event for the moose capture project at Grand Marais. They flew news crews in close behind the capture helicopter to watch the work crews as they attached new GPS collars and gathered vital health information from each animal.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) received a complaint of an individual plowing across a lake to a fish house leaving large piles of snow. He felt a law should be written against such to protect snowmobilers who may hit the piles. He also received a call of a deer caught up in a barbed wire fence with a broken leg.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) investigated a report of a possible shot deer that was found to be bleeding. Turns out it was a deer with an injured leg that reopened the wound when it fled from the complainant.
CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River), while checking an angler who had two extra lines, was told that his brother had a bathroom emergency and that was why he had extra lines down in the fish house. He stated his brother had gone to a local gas station and ran out of the house so fast that he didn’t have time to reel up his lines. The angler said he didn’t notice that his brother’s lines were still in the water.
Speldrich advised the angler to call his brother and hand the phone to her. The angler complied. Speldrich began talking to a man and realized she could hear a familiar echo in the background. That is when the brother advised he was in the bathroom as they spoke. Speldrich advised him of his wrongdoing and then let him “go.” Needless to say, the angler was telling the truth!
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud) took several calls about a possible sighting of a long-tailed duck on the Mississippi in Sartell. Long-tail ducks are not normally seen in this area but it was confirmed.
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