Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority
of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks, there are a
few who 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 whitefish nets, ATVs, boating equipment, and deer hunters. Complaints were taken on road hunters and trespassing. Enforcement action was taken for hunting over bait. A few diehards are still fishing as the water temps hover near the mid-30s.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland)
worked deer hunter shiners. Manning investigated reports of deer being hunted over bait and shots being fired during the night. One young deer hunter contacted was unfamiliar with ATV regulations, including safety requirements and hours of operation. Manning also checked ATV operators and grouse hunters.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
investigated TIP calls involving baiting, shooting in the game refuge and illegal deer stand use. Theofficerworked shining complaint areas with area officers. There is still some confusion with the new law about uncased guns. Firearms MUST be unloaded while being transported in the motor vehicle. Theofficerhad to remind a very young hunter about loaded firearms in a vehicle; the mother was also contacted. Fewer hunters are afield as fewer deer have been harvested so far this year. Bear hunters are reminded that everything needs to be removed from the woods at the end of the season: trash, signs and stands are still being found.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors)
located one area in which the hunters still had the Halloween spirit, as they were using their old jack-o-lanterns to bait deer.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena)
investigated a trespass complaint in which the individual exited the vehicle and crossed over the ditch prior to shooting a deer from private property. The fawn was seized and the shooter, who faces nearly $700 in fines, asked if he could keep the tenderloins and if he would make the weekly report. The deer was donated to an elderly gentleman in the area and the shooter is probably reading his biography now. Other enforcement action included shooting from the road right of way, transporting a loaded firearm, and trespassing.
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls)
investigated a complaint of a fox trapper who caught a live fisher and was holding it until martin and fisher season opened; enforcement action was taken.
CO Dan Starr (Tower)
said for the first time in his career, he took a cell phone call from a hunter who shot a deer and the wolves surrounded it, making the hunter afraid to retrieve it. The wolves were brazenly bold, resulting in the hunter fearing for his safety. Numerous hunters complained about the numbers of wolves that were seen.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz)
found several individuals drinking at a public access late at night. Besides consumption of alcohol violations, they are suspected of removing, basically, every sign at the access and throwing them into the lake.
Leave a Reply