CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused enforcement efforts on bear bait stations and angling activity. The officer spent time on Lake Superior checking anglers, and some nice trout were seen in the bag. Enforcement action was taken for keeping fish in closed season and license violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers on area inland lakes. The officer also checked bear bait stations and reminds hunters that established bait stations must be registered online within 24 hours or by mail on the next postal service day. The officer also followed up on open bear hunting, littering and vandalism complaints.
CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) received a few calls on a “white” gray wolf hanging around the roadway on Highway 1 east of Soudan. By the end of the day the wolf appeared to have moved on to other areas.
CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) received a TIP call regarding a party who had two live Canada geese. Duluth PD officers assisted in locating the party and the geese were removed and sent to a waterfowl preserve.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre), on one angling check, was provided a brief view of a couple fish but before the angler could close the lid a pike jumped from the livewell into the lake in a daring escape.
CO Shane Vernier (Willmar) responded to a complaint of kids throwing fish in the roadway, causing a traffic hazard; turned out an adult was encouraging and partaking in this behavior. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports several nuisance bear reports were taken over the week as berries and other natural food sources have become scarce and bird feeders and apple trees become too tempting. One of the reports was of a bear approaching a person who was baiting bears for the upcoming season. The bear refused to leave the site and after a standoff managed to get the bait bucket from the baiter. Officer Williams was asked to come to the bait to observe the bear’s behavior and advise the hunter. When he arrived at the bait the bear was not located but the lost bait bucket was a short distance from the bait. When Williams walked up to the bucket which had been partially covered with pine needles the bear appeared out of the heavy brush and lay next to the bucket; although the officer was only a few yards from the bear it refused to move. After spending time assessing the situation the bucket could not be recovered and the group left the area.
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!
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