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 and snowmobilers on Lake of the Woods. Fishing was slow with few walleye and sauger on the ice. A joint operation with the Ontario officers was coordinated and worked along the border. The officer attended a meeting with reference to the proposed deer regulations along the North Shore. Wildlife calls were handled. Enforcement action was taken for angling, drugs and snowmobile violations.
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports the most active snowmobiling weekend of the winter was also possibly the last. With spring-like weather beginning on Saturday, large patches of trail have already started to melt down to mud. Although they are still passable, the trails were very rough and the high level of traffic was causing them to disappear quickly.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers along the North Shore in the Duluth-Two Harbors area; some small boats are also showing up on Lake Superior trying to find and catch coho salmon. The warmer temperatures have taken a toll on the area snowmobile trails – a reminder that ATVs are not allowed on snowmobile trails. An injured deer that was suspected of being shot was investigated. The deer was not located in the area and the investigation is ongoing.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) returned a call to a person who was concerned the eagles were killing local Canada geese. The caller had seen up to five eagles feeding on two dead geese. The caller was assured that the goose/eagle relationship was just as it should be, and the caller was good with that.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Ray) assisted Koochiching County deputies with a vehicle that had broken through the ice on Rainy Lake. Both driver and passenger were lucky enough to exit the vehicle safely before it sank. This should serve as a reminder to the public that there is still no such thing as safe ice out there.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reports that one off-highway motorcycle (OHM) driver wiped out in front of three officers at Lake Vermilion in the rough, rutted-up snow on the ice. He had no registration on the machine. The driver arranged for another way to get back as he hurt his hip in the spill.
Bozovsky also found litter left on the ice from a fish house removal project and followed the tracks in the snow to a home, where he addressed the litter and the 10-year expired snowmobile registration on the sled he used. Enforcement action was taken.
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