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) reports one of the busiest fall weekends he has ever seen. Lots of leaf lookers, photographers, and grouse hunters. Grouse can be found off the beaten path and a few people have reported some success. The officer came across a woman who was road hunting with a fully loaded shotgun in her vehicle. When asked why her shotgun was loaded, CO Fagerman was surprised when she stated that she didn’t know how to load or unload the shotgun so her husband loaded it for her. Then he’d unload any rounds left after she got done hunting. Enforcement action was taken for AIS, ATV violations, and loaded shotguns in motor vehicles.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked hunters and anglers this week. Fall is bringing an increase in traffic in the forest and an increase in complaints. The officer took reports of a hunter leaving a gut pile in a hiking trail parking lot, people parked blocking forest roads and driveways, and people camping illegally. Deer regulations for some state parks have changed, so deer hunters should read up before the season opens. Manning was also busy issuing nuisance beaver permits and answering questions on nuisance bears. Enforcement action was taken for loaded firearm, no license in possession, and unattended fire.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked waterfowl hunters, and checked grouse hunters and anglers along the North Shore rivers. With cooler weather many people were in the woods sightseeing and traveling the backcountry roads on a busy weekend.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) received a complaint on the Munger Trail of some substance that a complainant thought might have fallen from a plane or come from aliens. Further investigation found it to be a large fungus known as a Puff Ball that someone smashed on the trail.
CO Mike Krauel (St. Cloud) took a call about two eagles with talons locked together and were unable to separate from each other. When Krauel pulled his vehicle up to the birds at the scene, the birds flew off separate from each other. Krauel explained to the caller that often eagles will hold on to each other as a show of dominance, but when threatened by a human, they release each other to escape.
CO Angela Londgren (Cambridge) checked waterfowl hunters and received a report of a hunter shooting a sandhill crane. The hunter was located and stated that he shot at something earlier but wasn’t sure if it was a duck or goose, and didn’t know where it was. After searching for a while Officer Londgren located the crane 15 yards behind where the hunter was sitting.
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