Although the Cook County News- Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are lawabiding 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, followed up on past bear bait station complaints and checked small game hunters. The officer gave an aquatic invasive species presentation at the Cook County High School. Time was also spent on nuisance animal complaints.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked grouse hunters, ATVs, and whitefish netting activity during the week. Calls were answered on wolf concerns and about an eight-point buck that may have been taken unlawfully. The designated trout lakes are producing some nice fall brook trout and splake. Enforcement action was taken for unlawful transport of game birds and for no hunting license in possession.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked the whitefish opener in the BWCAW. Almost all of the boats that were at Pipestone did not have the required navigational lights to operate after sunset and most of those intended to motor out in the dark after picking their nets. One group encountered had all been drinking heavily and had a long list of violations including: no BWCAW permit, possession of cans, littering fish guts into the water, damage to campsite trees by throwing knives into them, not enough PFDs, nets set too close to other nets, no fishing license in possession, no legal net buoys, possessing two northern pike illegally and no navigational lights. The group was planning to motor out in the dark without lights in a couple hours after they sobered up. They were a happy group and said they were proud that they had been whitefish netting this way all their lives.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) reports that a group of teenage waterfowl hunters decided to stash a shotgun under their decoys in the bottom of their boat upon seeing the officer. One of the young hunters was without a Federal Waterfowl Stamp, had a previous contact over the same issue and said he was just watching. It didn’t sit well with the officer when the loaded gun was dug out with the safety off.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) provided assistance to one angler who accidentally backed his boat, trailer and tow vehicle a little too far down a boat ramp. Thankfully nobody was injured as the entire truck and trailer ended up fully submerged and needing a tow.
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