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) patrolled by snowmobile most of the week. Lake conditions are still pretty good with a little slush creeping in, but not bad. The snowmobile trails are also in pretty good condition. Fagerman finished up a trapping case with charges pending and dealt with ice fishing and snowmobile violations.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) focused primarily on angling and snowmobile enforcement over the course of the week. Time was spent on lakes in Cook and Lake counties. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile and angling violations.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) checked ice anglers and fishing houses on area lakes. The officer attended a meeting at Camp Ripley to prepare for upcoming statewide training. While patrolling GIA sled trails, the officer stopped to check a lone rider who was separated from his group and heading down a trail going the opposite direction as his destination. After a quick review of his map, he was sent on his way, very happy to have run into the officer.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers along the North Shore and the Duluth- Superior Harbor, and reports catches of coho salmon have been showing up during the morning bite.
CO Gary Forsberg (Pelican Rapids) received a report of a fish house being struck by a vehicle. Upon investigation, it turns out the owner of the vehicle struck his own fish house, stating when he pulled up to the fish house he forgot to put the vehicle in park. The fish house appeared to be damaged beyond repair.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) found an unattended tip up that was frozen in 4 inches of ice. Upon chiseling the tip up out, a lively pike was caught and released. A nearby angler who watched the events humorously asked for CO Starr’s fishing license.
CO Ed Picht (Montevideo) is looking to find a set of antlers that was cut off a deer in the city of Granite Falls. The buck was a local Facebook celebrity because he was feeding in the back yards of houses and commonly watched vehicles drive by.
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