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) checked trapping, muzzleloader, and ice fishing activity. Some anglers are walking out onto ice without a care in the world. Not checking ice depths as they go, and not having any ice picks on them.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) checked traps and trappers during the short fisher/ pine marten season and assisted with fur registration. The officer also continued to follow-up on registration issues from the recent firearms deer season, checked muzzleloader hunters, and assisted a pair who had underestimated the time they needed to complete their hike and return to their vehicle before dark.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) met a muzzleloader hunter who was excited that he killed a nice buck with his new muzzleloader. The problem was he trespassed to do it and neglected to buy a muzzleloader license. The deer and muzzleloader were seized.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) responded to a fire where the landowner attempted to burn a brush pile without a permit. The fire spread very rapidly and the local fire department and DNR wildland fire personnel were contacted for suppression.
CO Leah Weyandt (Mound) reports that several injured snowy owls were found on the side of the freeway in Maple Grove. All owls have made it safely to a rehabilitation center.
CO Dustin Miller (Windom) received information regarding a large whitetail buck rack that was stolen from a meat processor in Redwood County. The buck was harvested near the city of Franklin. Local officers and the Redwood County Sheriff ’s Office are requesting anyone with any information related to the theft of the rack to contact them.
CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) assisted with a call regarding a group of hunters who had seen a bunch of deer quarters hanging in the woods near the Cannon Valley trail. With the help of a deputy, the deer quarters were located hanging in a tree and contact was made with the individual to whom they belonged. The individual stated that they were deer that he had found lying in the ditch. The individual was informed that he still needed a permit to possess road kill deer. Upon further investigation, the individual was found to also be in possession of a car kill red fox and two opossums that he admitted to trapping. The individual did not have any permits or licenses to justify possession of the animals. A citation and multiple warnings were issued for the various violations.
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