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 the week checking anglers along the North Shore streams. The officer attended training at Camp Ripley, checked border lakes, and followed up on complaints.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) attended an awards ceremony and training at Camp Ripley during the week. Back roads that were impassable during the first part of the week are now mostly clear of snow. Many of those roads have trees down across them from the winter. North Shore rivers and inland lakes were checked.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) attended annual Enforcement Safety Training and Awards at Camp Ripley. She also patrolled area WMAs and state parks in addition to checking anglers on Lake Superior tributaries. Closed sanctuaries on tributaries were also patrolled. The officer responded to an ATV complaint in the Silver Bay area and reminds riders to check online and at trailheads before heading out as most trails in the northeast are currently closed to allow things to dry properly.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked the North Shore fish run. The smelting has been slow in the Duluth- Two Harbors area. The kamloop and steelhead bite has remained decent in the tributaries around Duluth. Boat anglers are still in pursuit of coho salmon and lake trout. Area lakes north of Duluth are becoming ice-free and the crappies are starting to bite.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) assisted a neighboring officer with a report of an individual shooting from a motor vehicle on a township road. The vehicle was stopped and it was determined the individuals were transporting a loaded firearm and had shot a porcupine from the vehicle.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) received a call of a turkey that had run after two kids playing in a sandbox. The children ran to their father who attempted to chase the tom away but the turkey wouldn’t run off. The father ran the turkey off with a pitchfork.
CO Tim Collette (Crosslake) encountered a group driving around the closed forests drinking beer and shooting porcupines. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) reports that some early boaters showed off their peeling registrations, mouse-chewed PFDs, and gummed-up carburetors. Remember to inspect your gear before hitting the water.
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