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 Mary Manning (Hovland) worked trappers and assisted with fur registration. Some trappers were again tripped up by the regulations on sets in the northern lynx zone, which differ from the rest of the state. The officer also helped volunteer instructors and COs teach snowmobile safety to a small but attentive class. Enforcement action was taken for incorrect tags on traps, lynx zone violations, and operating a snowmobile without a safety certificate.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) assisted with the field day portion of a snowmobile safety course. Big thanks to all the volunteers who make this happen. The CO did check some ice anglers during the week and the reports on ice thickness vary with some coming off lakes where only three inches was reported. Some of the bigger lakes are still wide open and some lakes that were completely frozen over have now begun to open up with the warmer weather. Waiting for colder weather would be the best option, but ice picks are a must if you venture out. The CO also checked muzzleloader hunters, registered pine marten, fisher and otter, and checked trappers.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent the week checking trappers. The officer assisted in teaching a snowmobile safety class and the riding day. All the students passed and are ready to ride their snowmobiles when the snow arrives. The officer worked at fur registration in Finland with officer Schottenbauer. Enforcement action was taken for trapping violations.
NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) was able to complete the moose cow/calf checks in the northeast. Of the 44 cows with collars, 41 were found (three collar malfunctions). Thirty cows still had calves, and there were three sets of twins observed. Animal health was good. Another calf health check will be flown at the end of winter – late March, early April. Many nice bulls were observed as well.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked complaints of night hunting in town, and moose remains being dumped (which turned out to be a farmer’s cow).
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted the Carlton Fire Department in rescuing a deer that was stuck in an area lake. After the deer was removed, attempts were made to warm it up and get it up and moving again. Unfortunately it died a short time later.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo) assisted a neighboring officer with a call of an injured swan on a local lake. The COs were able to break ice to get to open water and capture the swan that had a broken wing.
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