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) finished up fire investigations, attended training at Camp Ripley and checked anglers on a slow fishing opener. Some people in canoes were encountered paddling in white caps, over 48-degree water, without life jackets on. A few paddlers were turned away at BWCAW entry points because they didn’t have their canoes registered. Enforcement action was taken for boating violations.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the fishing opener, ATV riders and anglers hitting the back streams for brook trout. It was another opener with snow and strong winds; the hardcore anglers who braved the weather did all right. The officer saw some nice limits of fish. Time was also spent working in the BWCA. Enforcement action was taken for angling, boating and traffic violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked a couple campfires to insure compliance with burn restrictions in the northeast. The officer worked a chilly fishing opener checking inland and steelhead anglers. Manning checked ATV operators and a few folks working to clear last winter’s storm-damaged trees and brush. The officer was also flagged down by a distressed motorist; turned out the elderly driver nearly hit a large snapping turtle and the officer assisted in removing it from the roadway to prevent any future accident.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) spoke with a canoe group that had no BWCA permits and aluminum cans, but claimed to have been visiting the BWCA for 30-plus years without knowing the requirements.
CO Paul Parthun (Lake George) worked with Officer Holt to rescue a kayaker from the Mississippi River. The kayaker was stranded on a mud flat in a large marshy area of the river. As the sun was setting, officers used push poles and paddles to reach him. Officers found he was wet and disoriented, had frostbite and was suffering from hypothermia. Officers were able to free his kayak from the mud flat and then began the long trek, towing the kayaker against the river current and the wind, to a waiting ambulance. The kayaker had been traveling on the river for over a week and was unprepared for the snow, cold temperatures and cold wind chills. With temperatures dropping to 25 degrees that night, the kayaker said if he had not been rescued, he would have perished.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena) received nuisance bear calls, one concerning a person who was transported to the hospital after a bear with cubs attacked her on the deck of her house.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers on a snowy and windy typical-Duluth fishing opener. Some anglers found success, but many found cold fingers. A burning complaint was checked where a swamp was reportedly lit on fire, but luckily endangered no buildings. A report of a dumped moose carcass turned up a cow skeleton that was disposed of by a farmer in a less- than-responsible way.
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