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) monitored ATV activity and bear bait stations up to the opening of the season on Monday. The officer checked several bear hunters after the first evening hunt of the season. Several hunters reported their baits hit and some passed on smaller bears. The officer attended an instructor shoot at Camp Ripley and worked a Great Lakes Task Force shift with officer Schottenbauer.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports another wolf attack on two dogs in Grand Marais. He also received reports on two misbehaving woodchucks. The CO himself has had a family of woodchucks living in his woodshed all summer and he reports that no wood is missing. The CO believes that this proves that woodchucks really don’t chuck wood. The CO checked bear hunters on opening day of bear season. Enforcement action was taken for big game, boating and fishing violations. A Canadian lynx walked in front of the CO’s truck one evening on the Gunflint Trail.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked bear bait stations throughout the week. The bear opener saw lower than usual activity and success. ATV activity was monitored as well as angling activity, both on Lake Superior and on inland waters.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) checked anglers who thought it was too late into the summer to buy a fishing license, so they would save money by just not purchasing one. They were wrong.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) stopped several ATVs being operated illegally by young girls. The officer asked the girls if there was an adult who could pick them up. Their reply was no, they’re all drunk.
CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) took a complaint of an injured owl and injured raccoon, unrelated to each other.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) monitored bear baiting activities and investigated a sweet corn patch that was torn up by bear and raccoon. The owners of the corn patch indicated they put a radio out at night to prevent the animals from eating the corn, and it was found that country music did not work, while rock and roll did help keep them away.
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