Conservation Officer Tales

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 Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a very busy weekend with lots of activity. He stopped three high-performance sports cars that were playing follow the leader and issued careless driving citations as they were using the Gunflint Trail as their own race track.

A few waterfowl hunters were out and a lesson was given in identifying grebes which are federally protected migratory birds. Too bad for the grebe the lesson came too late. Loaded firearms were encountered in motor vehicles.

One couple was thrilled at the CO’s timing as a monster bull moose stepped out in front of their vehicle during a license check. He hung around just long enough for a couple of photos. Speaking of big bulls, the CO found a moose wallow and heard from others that they’ve seen some nice bulls on the move as they get ready for the mating season.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked hunters during the waterfowl opening weekend. The officer handled wildlife complaints, checked ATV riders, small game hunters and anglers. Enforcement action was taken for hunting and fishing violations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked the waterfowl opener with only a few birds seen in the dense fog of the North Shore. Big game investigations continued and several calls of nuisance animals were handled. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations and failure to have licenses in possession.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) encountered a parked vehicle on a trail with both doors open. He believed the occupants were hunting nearby; however, they took a break to smoke marijuana and drink beer inside of it. The driver had several violations with the most serious being a gross misdemeanor for driving after cancellation.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) reports that a bow hunter thought it would be okay to put out apples in front of his tree stand and hunt over them. The bow hunter’s day ended when Frericks checked his license and found the pile of apples. The bow hunter was issued a citation for hunting over bait and his bow was seized.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) is investigating a deer that was shot by the fairgrounds with archery equipment, in a non-hunting area, from the road.

CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) reports that two duck hunters found out what happens when you don’t read the regulations – they thought shooting hours ran until sunset opening weekend and the sandhill crane season was open statewide. They eagerly showed the CO their crane permits for the bird they shot and wondered why nobody else was out hunting ducks as they banged away at birds just before dark.

Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions: