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 Tom Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked anglers on Lake Superior where the lake trout are biting off reef bottoms. Theofficer responded to a sick moose in the area, and checked fishermen on inland lakes where the walleye bite remains slow. Enforcement action was taken on watercraft and fishing violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) dealt with several unregistered canoes and kayaks during the week. Your home state may not require canoe registration, but Minnesota does. People were also found fishing in closed spawning areas. The lack of throwable personal flotation devices rounded out the violations for the week.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) assisted with a wildfire investigation in the Brimson area. Luckily the fire was quickly contained as it could have threatened a state forest campground. Several complaints were handled in the state parks and campgrounds over the busy holiday weekend. Angling and boating safety were also worked heavily during the long weekend. Finally, if you happen to find a whitetail fawn, please leave it where you found it. The fawn is not an orphan just because you cannot see the doe. The doe is typically not far away and the fawn’s instinct is to lie perfectly still to be undetected. Removing the fawn will almost assure that it becomes an orphan.
CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) had many positive contacts over the Memorial weekend with people out enjoying the beautiful weather. Some not so positive contacts were made for allowing illegal operation of ATV by a juvenile, failing to empty live wells, fail to have license in possession, insufficient PFDs, and camping in nondesignated areas (trespass). One encounter, due to a life jacket violation, turned into a person taking a snapping turtle out of season.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) fielded numerous bear complaints. Bears are looking for food right now so bird feeders and hummingbird feeders turn into broken bear feeders. Officer Guida also responded to a call of two suspects stealing a watercraft. Both were arrested.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River) worked boaters and anglers over the Memorial Holiday weekend. One angler was very excited to be checked by the game warden until he realized he left his fishing license back at the cabin. Violations encountered included no angling license in possession and expired boat registration, and for failing to empty water from live wells. Heaton worked ATVs over the weekend. Several citations for operating on the roadway were issued. The old excuse “everyone else was doing it” wasn’t flying.
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