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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) attended an M4 rifle course held at Camp Ripley. He worked a Great Lakes task force shift on Lake Superior with other officers. The officer spent time in the Grand Marais harbor in his patrol boat with Officer Schottenbauer during the dragon boat races, prepared for any rescues if needed. Enforcement action was taken for watercraft violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended a weeklong rifle course at Camp Ripley to develop skills and enhance teaching of division staff. The officer also worked on Lake Superior with CO McGowan; the officers saw numerous lake trout including three that were taken by an angler without a license. They turned out to be much more expensive to the young man than the license and trout stamp would have been.
CO Angie Warren (Detroit Lakes) received and investigated complaints of a deceased dog left at a public access.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent time investigating a complaint of a Canada goose gosling that had been taken by a local family from an area pond. The young goose was released back into the wild
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) was pumping gas at a gas station when he was asked a question about which herbicide works best for getting rid of the “grass” growing in the water around his dock at his newly purchased lake lot. His neighbor had told him it was okay to clear a strip 80 feet wide in front of his lot. After further discussion about the “grass,” it was determined that it was really wild rice, which can’t be removed at all without a permit. By asking the question the landowner saved himself a costly ticket and lake bed restoration.
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