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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked anglers on area lakes and monitored snowmobile trails, and reports that snowmobile and ski trails are in good condition with the recent snowfall. The officer assisted a State Trooper with an uncooperative individual during a traffic stop. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that every single lake he was on this past weekend had lots of slush. Being that the snow is not too deep on many lakes, most people had no problem sledding through it. Angling activity was way down even with the nice warm weather. The CO saw some catches of pretty nice splake and brook trout. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked snowmobile and angling activity throughout the week. Time was also spent checking state parks along the North Shore as well as cross country ski trails and passes. Snowmobilers did a good job of staying safe and kept speeds down while the John Beargrease sled dog race was using the North Shore State Trail.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) encountered an angler who was frustrated because his underwater camera that looked like a perch was chomped and wrecked by a large northern. He replaced it with one that deters bites, but now he does not see fish!
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) investigated an overlimit case where two anglers had more than their limit of sunfish. One of them said his father had just left the lake not feeling well, explaining the extra fish, but a quick phone call to the father dispelled that excuse as he had been at work all morning.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) assisted two concerned sportsmen with a deer that had gotten its eight-point rack caught in the neighbor’s hammock. A nearby pack of wolves was howling as the ropes were cut.
CO Chris Tetrault (Isle) checked anglers on Mille Lacs Lake. One angler was filleting an illegal length walleye when checked. The angler looked at the CO and stated, “Well, this is awkward.” Enforcement action was taken.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley), while approaching a spear house with intentions to check licenses of the occupants inside, saw a 10-year-old come barging out the door screaming and hollering, and running around the spear house. The dad also followed out the door in a hurry, soon to be followed by a muskrat that had just came up through the spear hole and into the spear shack.
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