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 a much slower week in the backwoods. Even with the leaves gone in the lower brush areas, hunters are reporting poor results as far as grouse go. Most success has been with young of the year birds. Many walking trails are impassable from the heavy snow from last December that has pushed the alder brush and willows over the trails. Enforcement action was taken for abandoned boats on public lands.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports an uptick in numbers of grouse hunters, although not in numbers of birds taken. A few hearty waterfowl hunters were also checked and they reported spotting a few ducks over the past week. A very nice bear was also taken over the weekend as bear season winds down. Anglers and campers were also checked; several reports regarding a group of hunters with ATVs camping near Lake Superior were investigated as was a call regarding a camper with live minnows on a designated trout lake.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) assisted a young bow hunter on a recovery of a legally harvested seven-point buck. Not only was the archer excited about the recovery of his antlered deer, Guida also learned that the archer had proposed to his girlfriend in the very same evening, making it very eventful. Congratulations!
CO Kyle Quittschreiber (Blackduck) while driving down a gravel county road, met a vehicle driving very slowly. As the vehicle went past it was noticed that the driver could barely see over the steering wheel. For safety concerns the driver was stopped and it was discovered that the reason the driver was having difficulties was because he was only 10 years old. The child’s father was in the passenger seat. The father thought it would be a good idea to have his son drive, so that if they came upon a grouse he would be able to get out and shoot it quicker. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) addressed beaver issues and investigated a tile line that was plugged; it was found that a turtle was stuck in the line.
CO Leah Weyandt (Mound) spent the week responding to multiple TIP calls including duck hunters shooting at gulls, an angler taking fish using game fish as bait, duck hunters hunting during the week days when the season was closed, and a deer carcass left on private property with the meat cut out.
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