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 Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) took a fire team callout to Littlefork for a fire investigation. A burning permit doesn’t allow you to set it and forget it. He also checked North Shore rivers and steelheaders. Enforcement action was taken for various fire and burning permit violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled Lake Superior tributaries and checked anglers. Compliance was good and anglers were happy with numbers of fish in the rivers. The officer took a report from the west end of the county of a black bear waking up with a hankering for fresh chicken. Forest trails and roads are thawing out and ATV riders are reminded that many trails are closed this time of year to prevent excessive damage.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked a busy week checking anglers along the North Shore tributaries. Time was spent armoring rifles and handling wildlife complaints. Enforcement action was taken for angling and ATV violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling and illegal garbage dumping activity during the week. Area streams were full of anglers trying to catch steelhead along the North Shore with some success. The officer responded with other local law enforcement to a call of an overdue angler in a canoe. Fortunately, the person was found safe and in good condition.
CO Hannah Mishler (Warroad) assisted county law enforcement with a call of a female being held at knifepoint and not being able to exit the vehicle she was in.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) encountered an ATV operator driving down the middle of a county highway. During the contact it was quite apparent the operator had been drinking. The ATV operator admitted to driving the ATV down the road because he cannot drive a car as he does not have a license due to prior DWIs. Regas checked the operator’s driving record which revealed four prior DWI convictions. The ATV operator failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for DWI again.
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
Loading Comments