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) spent the week checking anglers, boaters, ATV riders and AIS. The officer patrolled a few days in the BWCAW where the compliance with registered canoes was very low. Wildlife calls were returned and handled. Wahlstrom assisted in teaching an ATV class in Silver Bay. Enforcement action was taken for angling and watercraft violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) talked to a group of youngsters about ATV laws and safety for the classroom portion of the ATV training certification. He also did remote patrols by ATV and patrolled lakes by boat.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted volunteer instructors and members of the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office teach ATV safety class in Grand Marais. Officer Manning checked anglers and ATVers, helped with annual firearms qualification for the division, helped teach at the CO Academy and took reports of a mangy wolf in Hovland and bears on the prowl.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) worked a very slow fishing opener. Twenty-degree wind chills and flurries kept most lakes in the area pretty quiet. One angler who did brave the cold weather on fishing opener morning was unable to produce a fishing license and told Grundmeier that the license was at home on the counter. Later that morning, while buying coffee at a local gas station, Grundmeier saw the same individual at the gas station counter buying a fishing license. The unlicensed angler told Grundmeier, “Today is just not working out like I had hoped.”
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) had a person report he found a canoe and through the old registration numbers was able to locate the owner – who had lost the canoe 10 years ago!
CO Hannah Mishler (Warroad) assisted a motorist who was hauling another truck on a trailer, when the truck fell off on the highway. The operator was thankful for the help even after he was issued a citation for driving after suspension.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports handling a sunfish over limit case on an individual with a long history of game and fish violations including past over limit convictions. The majority of the sunfish seized in the case were quality to trophy size, resulting in much higher restitution costs to the violator, who stated at one point that he went to school to be a game warden.
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