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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
checked the last few muzzleloader hunters of the season out in the bitter cold. Hunting activity was low with few success stories. The officer followed up on a trespass and litter case. Fishermen and ice skaters are venturing on the lakes. Theofficerurges people to be careful on the ice as there are still thin spots on the lakes. Wahlstrom attended a Use of Force meeting at Camp Ripley, and also helped teach a snowmobile safety class where all the students passed. A moose was hit by a car and only one person called it in. Before the officer could get there, someone else sawed off the antlers and did not call the moose in. Theofficerhelped field dress the moose and provide samples for testing with the wildlife biologist from Two Harbors.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland)
assisted DNR Wildlife with fur registration. One trapper was caught attempting to register fur taken last season; furs were seized and a ticket issued. Manning helped with snowmobile safety classes and field testing. The officer also attended training for emergency response to plane crashes. Ice is improving with the cold temperatures and lack of snowfall, but many thin and open spots exist so sledders are advised to use caution. There is still insufficient snow for snowmobiling.
CO David Schottenbauer (Princeton)
spent time on a trespass case where the violator left a blood trail from the crime scene to his house. If that was not enough, he dropped a used site tag on the blood trail with his information on it. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
assisted with snowmobile safety field day where 20 new snowmobilers received their safety certificates. He checked early ice anglers with a few perch and walleye on the ice. He also assisted local DNR Wildlife staff with fur registration. A few more trappers registered fur than last year. Also, the fur harvest appears up. Enforcement action was taken for over limit of pine marten.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth)
said another deer was reportedly shot by poachers inside the city limits. An injured goose whose banding tag had attached itself to a large block of ice was captured and released after the block of ice was removed by the local fire department. An eagle was reportedly seen crashing into a large light pole. The eagle was later found dead near the base of the pole and turned over to the Bad River Band for ceremonial use.
CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson)
investigated a case where a live juvenile loon was brought into a local bar for identification purposes; this wasn’t a good decision. The loon eventually found itself in the hands of a rehabilitator and is currently doing well. Oberg reminds residents that if they happen to find injured or stranded animals, just leave them where they are and contact a conservation officer or your local sheriff ’s office. Your local sheriff ’s office will have phone numbers of conservation officers and animal rehabilitators in the area.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud)
reported on a group of muzzleloader hunters that shot a doe in a lottery area (without an antlerless permit) then put a buck tag on it. The members of the group were cited for taking antlerless deer without a permit and hunting without blaze orange. Total fines and restitution could equal $1,179. The deer was donated to a local family who needed it.
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