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) reports a very quiet week as about 10 inches to a foot of snow fell among the higher elevations along Lake Superior. Grouse hunters seemed to call it quits and the grouse disappeared also. The season seemed to be pretty good to those who got off the beaten path and hunted in areas not pounded by the masses. The snow has showed that deer are on the move and that a fisher had a meal of snowshoe hare.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) watched fall turn quickly to winter, when up to a foot of wet snow covered unfrozen ground and stuck, making for sloppy conditions on forest roads and trails. The officer took a report of a dog chasing deer and spoke with the pet owner. Manning also checked WMAs, state forest land, and private property for deer bait and illegal stands. Manning also worked with a landowner regarding river access for anglers on a popular trout stream.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked an ATV detail with Officer Osborne checking bear bait stations for litter/signs left after the season, small game hunters and archery hunters. The officer assisted the county, responded to ATV complaints, and answered wildlife calls. Enforcement action was taken for AIS, alcohol, bear hunting, and traffic violations.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) worked with CO Wahlstrom in Grand Marais checking bear bait stations and grouse hunters. The first snowfall of the year was encountered in Grand Marais with close to a foot of snow.
CO Nick Prachar (Baudette West) reports a busy week in Lake of the Woods County. Prachar assisted the county with the search for a potentially missing hunter. Crews searched for more than two hours in inclement weather before learning that the hunter had parked his car and walked into the woods a few miles to a camp. It is a good idea to let someone know where you are going and when you plan on coming back. CO Thephong Le (ELCOP) responded to issues at Fort Snelling State Park that included a pet pig that got loose (owners spent three days of trying before re-capturing it), an abandoned/stolen bicycle, and a report of a stray dog that was running around on Pike Island.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad North) responded with CO Huener to a call of a stranded motorist in the Beltrami Island State Forest. The COs were able to locate the motorist and provide assistance. The individual was out hunting grouse when he lost control of his vehicle and ended up in a steep ditch.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom
218-370-0244
Darin Fagerman
218-387-9751
Mary Manning
218-475-0121
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