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 spring beaver trappers and recreational vehicle activity. Time was spent following up on past angling investigations. The officer assisted the county and worked on equipment maintenance.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports winter is in full swing in the Arrowhead. He did a remote snowmobile patrol during the week checking anglers along the border and snowmobilers getting in their last rides of the season. Many of the lakes look more like early February than mid-April. Enforcement action was taken for fishing in closed spawning sanctuaries and for illegal length walleye. Beaver sets and trappers were also checked.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked remote forest roads and trails checking snowmobilers out for one last ride. The officer also checked anglers and patrolled state parks and forest campgrounds. Forest road conditions are extremely varied and warm temperatures will likely mean fast deterioration, so drivers are advised to use caution when exploring the back roads so they do not become stranded in remote areas. If the road looks bad, it probably is.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) investigated a dead cow to see if it had been killed by wolves, but determined the animal had died and been fed on by wolves or coyotes later.
CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) spent time handling calls on a crippled deer and a car hit turkey.
CO Dustin Miller (Windom) fielded a call regarding 10 white-tail buck heads that were cut off and had the antlers sawed off. The heads were located in Pat’s Grove County park. The case is being investigated.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) reports that an injured loon was captured and analyzed, then released into a larger body of water because they need 30 yards to a quarter-mile of open water for flight take off.
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