CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked ice anglers and snowmobilers during the week. Fishing was slow and the walleyes caught were small. Ice conditions on the smaller lakes are good with the deeper lakes just freezing over at the end of the cold snap so they won’t be safe for travel for a while. Remember to check for yourself and check often as ice conditions can change in short distances, especially with the insulating snow we’ve received just after the bigger lakes froze.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) reports reckless operation of a snowmobile for water skipping. The water skipper actually sank his snowmobile in the lake and had to hire a company to remove it.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) was patrolling along one stretch of county road when he saw drag marks coming from the ditch. A quick check showed a deer had been taken possibly with a firearm. Tire tracks left at the scene matched up with tire tracks farther down the road and a short interview with a suspect revealed he shot the deer with a handgun. The suspect now faces gross misdemeanor charges.
CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) heard from a farmer who found a bear that made a den in his cornfield. He requested to have the animal removed. The bear was not an immediate threat to persons or property so it was suggested to leave the critter alone and let him sleep.
CO Brett Oberg (Hutchinson) found multiple violations on the lake including a contact where two anglers were caught with five lines down. The two anglers decided they would play rock, paper, scissors to see who would receive the citation. The eventual winner said he would help the loser pay the fine.
CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) reports that an angler found himself in a predicament with a curious and possibly sick raccoon. The angler could not exit his truck without the raccoon walking towards him. When the angler entered his vehicle the raccoon would back up. This went on for several minutes while the angler attempted to access the lake. Officer Schettler placed his vehicle in between the two of them and the raccoon walked off.
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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