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 Mary Manning (Hovland) helped teach defensive tactics and firearms to officers from around the state at annual in-service training at Camp Ripley. The officer also checked bear baits, answered questions on ATV operation by juveniles and Firearms Safety classes, and followed up on reports of fish over-limits and angling license issues.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) assisted with teaching firearms training during in-service at Camp Ripley. The officer responded to multiple calls regarding nuisance animals. Bear bait stations, ATV riders and anglers were also worked.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling, big game, and ATV enforcement efforts during the week. Lake trout and salmon fishing continues to be good on Lake Superior. A trapping incident was investigated and an illegal report of a beaver dam removal was taken.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spoke with a federal wolf trapper who was removing problem wolves from a farm where the owner suffered losses of cattle. The trapper reported removing six wolves from one piece of land alone. CO Frericks met with another landowner only about a mile away who is also reporting aggressive wolf behavior.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) provided assistance to Morrison County with an injury accident where a person was run over by a tractor.
CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) took a complaint of goose hunters shooting ducks and investigated, and it was found that the hunters were not shooting ducks, but were shooting non-game birds illegally. Enforcement action was taken for waterfowl hunting with a gun capable of holding more than three shells, angling with extra lines, taking non game birds illegally and angling without a license.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) took a call from dispatch about a large 12-point buck that was hit by a vehicle and people who wanted a permit to have the deer. While issuing the permit for the deer some people passing by would stop and ask to take a picture of the large deer.
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