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) spent time checking trout and pan fish anglers. Fishing was slow with only a few fish seen on the ice. Very few sleds are out on the trails. Questions were answered about bear hunting and angling in streams along the North Shore.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) checked anglers and ice houses as well as patrolling snowmobile trails. The rain and melt off followed by cold temperatures and no new snow have resulted in little snow being left on lakes and icy conditions left on sled trails. Several riders were temporarily stranded along the trails as they waited for machines to cool down enough to ride. The officer also answered questions on injured deer, fish houses, and moose.
CO Thor Nelson (New Ulm) received calls regarding injured animals and assisted CO Howe in releasing a cooper’s hawk that was trapped under a deck.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) reports that the wind earlier in the week opened up some water and re-froze, making for some dangerous conditions. One unsuspecting group learned that the hard way by breaking through on an ATV. The three anglers were able to get back safely on the ice. A local angler assisted in getting the third man out and a professional diving team retrieved the machine the next day. As cliché as it sounds, ice conditions change and it is never 100 percent safe. Anglers are reminded to use extreme caution if going out on the ice.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) assisted the Becker County Sheriff ’s Office in the search for a missing child who followed the family dog into the woods.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Brookston) spent time during the week conducting follow-up on a case where two small bear cubs were illegally shot. Charges in the case are pending. A call of a bobcat being dumped off an area bridge was also investigated.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) received the first bear complaint of the year. The bear sounded like it was just waking up from hibernation with a face full of porcupine quills, and it was hungry.
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