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) spent the week checking hunters and anglers, and monitored ATV trails. The officer assisted the county with several calls, responded to wildlife calls and was involved in an ATV work detail in Lake County with area officers. Enforcement action was taken for hunting and ATV violations and transporting a loaded handgun in a motor vehicle.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) attended meetings and training during the week. He took phone calls regarding blaze orange requirements for small game and beavers causing problems for roads and snowmobile trails.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy week checking grouse hunters and a few anglers. The officer also participated in a work detail on the trail systems in the Finland and Silver Bay areas; compliance was generally good and many riders were out enjoying the fall colors.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) encountered three hunters on a golf cart operating on a county road. They showed him two birds they had shot and asked what they were; they were identified as grebes. (The pied-billed grebe is a protected migratory bird that passes through the area on its way south like other migratory birds this time of year.) They also were found to have a loaded shotgun in the golf cart. Fredin also took care of a cow and calf moose that were hit by a train.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked Lake Vermilion one day and encountered an out-of-state angler who was using an extra line and in possession of a closed season smallmouth bass. He said he hadn’t bothered to look at the regulations in Minnesota, and he was also unaware of the walleye and northern slot limits on the lake. Other violations included walleye over limit, no type IV PFD, and no license in possession.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) was out checking waterfowl hunters at a remote access, and found a pickup truck that was blocking the exit road. After waiting a short time and the truck still not moving, it was noticed that the cab was full of smoke. Staples approached the vehicle to see if they needed assistance and found that the occupants were smoking meth. The driver of the vehicle was taken to jail and is facing numerous drug charges.
CO Tim Collette (Pequot Lakes) came upon one duck hunter who was in a small kayak with two large dogs, decoys, a gun, shells, a dead goose and a few ducks. He was very nervous when the officer pulled up to him as he was afraid the dogs would react and swamp him. There were only a couple of inches of freeboard above the water. The one thing left out was a life jacket. He also said his 12-year-old son was on the river somewhere in a kayak without a life jacket as well. He was given paperwork to help him remember to bring them along next time to avoid a potential tragedy.
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