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) worked the very warm firearm deer season opener. The officer responded to TIP calls, and a lot of questions about state park hunts and rules relating to deer hunting were handled. Enforcement action was taken for hunting without a license and hunting over bait.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports assistance was given to Duluth area officers on the opening day of firearms deer season. People were encountered hunting over bait piles, rifles were seized and charges are pending. The Grand Marais No. 1 station was extremely quiet as more fishing licenses were checked than deer licenses.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a very warm deer opener checking hunters afield. The officer followed up on baiting and illegal stand complaints. Sunshine and warm weather lulled at least one hunter into a nap; he was so startled by the officer’s arrival that he fell out of his lawn chair. Manning also followed up on a litter complaint; the litter bug cares enough to purchase organic baby food for his child, but not enough to properly dispose of trash and leave the child a clean environment.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette) received a call of an eight-point buck that may have been poached. While investigating, CO Prachar found a penetrating injury to the rear of the animal. Upon further examination he was able to determine that it had most likely been gored by another buck while sparring.
CO Kyle Quittschreiber (Blackduck) was patrolling by ATV in a large chunk of public land when he came upon a shotgun lying in the grass. It was discovered that the firearm had been stolen in Texas in 1996.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) reports that a group of illegal hunters were surprised when they showed up for an evening of hunting and found the CO waiting for them by the deer stand and giant pile of corn they placed in the woods. The hunters tried to make up a story about how they were intending to hunt somewhere else but eventually admitted to the violation of hunting deer over bait. Another hunter was found and caught trying to hide his rifle behind a tree.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) responded to a call of an injured loon walking on a paved county road. The farmer who called it in and a deputy were able to capture the loon, put it in the back seat of the squad car and transport it to some water where it could take off.
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