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) checked snowmobilers on the North Shore State Trail. The officer also took numerous calls on a wolf with mange that has been hanging around downtown Hovland.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused enforcement efforts on snowmobile activity. The trails were packed this past weekend with the warm weather and fresh snow. The officer assisted the county with a suicide call. Online training was completed and area lakes were checked. A lot of slush still remains on the lakes. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad) worked angling and snowmobile enforcement. A large lake trout (39 inches, 25 pounds) was pulled through the ice just outside of Springsteel. The responsible angler contacted DNR personnel to check if the fish was in season as he wished to keep it, but then found out that due to the fact he did not have a trout stamp at the time, he had to release it. It made for some good pictures and a little added excitement on a slow day of fishing.
CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) took a call concerning a sick bobcat that had to be put down. It was determined the bobcat had been starving due to porcupine quills that were stuck in its mouth, lips, paws and other places.
CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) contacted an angler who she had contact with a few weeks ago when he was fishing without a license. He again tried to convince CO Ladd that he had a license but forgot to bring it out with him. She checked and verified that he still did not have a fishing license. He explained that because it was so cold, he thought no game wardens would be out. Enforcement action was taken.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom
218-370-0244
Darin Fagerman
218-387-9751
Mary Manning
218-475-0121
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