Conservation Officer Tales

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) along with CO Phil George worked in the BWCAW by canoe and did a border operation with the U.S. Border Patrol during the week. Overall, the activity level was down in the BWCAW over the July 4th weekend. However, there was not a lack of enforcement activity as many boat and water safety and fishing violations were encountered.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) investigated an illegal dumping of household and hazardous trash and an illegal campsite in a WMA. Assistance was given at Magney Park to a family with a member who was experiencing medical distress; fortunately, the woman was able to walk out of the park on her own. The officer patrolled area lakes checking anglers and boaters and was able to enjoy a holiday pontoon parade on one lake. Several boaters checked had no idea of all required safety equipment they needed – whistles/air horns being the most frequently lacking item.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking anglers, boaters and ATV riders. Enforcement action was taken for firearm, angling, boating and ATV violations.

CO Chris Vinton (Perham) assisted the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office with a boat crash that resulted in minor injuries to occupants of the boat. The operator of a jet ski was attempting to jump the other boat’s wake when the rider misjudged the speed of the boat and collided with it. Vinton also assisted with the search for a young boy who became lost in a cornfield. The boy was located by helicopter sleeping between corn rows.

CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) investigated a complaint between a cabin owner and a fisherman. The cabin owners were playing fetch with their labs in the water which upset several fishermen in the area. The fishermen then began casting their lures towards the labs, causing the dogs to chase the lures further away from the cabin to the middle of the lake. One of the dogs had to be rescued by the owner when it became tired and disoriented.

CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) handled complaints of turtles laying eggs in people’s yards, and an injured fawn deer and great horned owl.

Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions: