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 that some hunters have ditched the gun for the ice rod as the CO checked his first ice anglers of the year. He also patrolled by snowmobile for the first time this season. Some of the hunters that are waiting for the big buck don’t believe the rut is in full swing quite yet as some have seen many does with nothing following behind. Other hunters report that wolves are responding to grunt and bleat calls thinking it’s the dinner bell. One person described what he saw as a fight between a doe and a wolf, but the fight soon ended as other wolves joined in. The CO has never heard it described this way.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) worked a snowy week of deer season. The officer investigated a trespass case involving deer hunters and took calls on wolf depredation. While there is some snow on the ground, conditions are not good for snowmobiling in most places, and the lone group of sledders seen was towing a broken down machine down the road back to the cabin.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked multiple hunters with success rates varying. Hunting and trespass complaints were handled. Enforcement action was taken for hunting, state park and trespass violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports numerous cases resulting in deer violations with several noteworthy incidents over the past week. One individual was caught hunting from the same baited stand twice in seven days with a citation and seizure of equipment both times. Enforcement action was taken against two people who shot deer off the road, one of which was transported untagged in a vehicle. Two people were apprehended for killing deer over baited areas, one of which was shot right next to a cabin over a feeding trough.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) checked deer hunters and followed up on numerous complaints. Multiple citations were issued for baiting, untagged deer, unvalidated tags, and lend/ borrow a license. Assistance was provided to other CO’s on a search warrant and shoot from the road violations. CO Peterson also followed up on one hunter’s complaint that another hunter pointed his rifle at him. After responding to the location and locating the suspect, the suspect twice raised and pointed his rifle at CO Peterson while approaching. The suspect hunter stated he was using his scope to see other hunters better because he left his binoculars in his truck. Formal criminal charges are pending for pointing a gun at another person.
CO Darrin Kittelson (Int’l Falls) reports another busy weekend with deer hunting. One individual reported that he had shot, tagged, and skinned his deer and had it hanging underneath a lean-to attached to his house ready to butcher the next day. Someone cut the body from the head and walked off with his deer, only leaving the head. Enforcement action involved hunting deer over bait, criminal damage to property, borrowing and lending licenses, and OHM violation.
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