CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that winter is in full swing in the Arrowhead. The CO did a couple of snowmobile patrols with the U.S. Forest Service LEO. Not many people were out enjoying the winter weather, though, as snowmobilers and ice anglers were pretty scarce. Six unattended tip-ups were found that were left by one group as they went to have lunch at a cabin. A couple of fish that were caught on the unattended tip-ups were returned to the water and citations were issued to four anglers.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) patrolled area lakes and checked anglers and fishing shelters. The officer continued to follow up on deer registration issues from this past firearms season. Conditions have not allowed for grooming of snowmobile trails, so conditions are quite varied and riders are advised to use caution on stretches of trail where logging operations are under way.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) attended Use of Force training at Camp Ripley. The officer checked ice anglers on area lakes and followed up on big game investigations.
CO Sam Hunter (Park Rapids) reports that three ATVs and four people have fallen through the ice in Hubbard County over the last week. One of the incidents resulted in a fatality.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) responded to a call of two dogs that had chased down a deer and were eating on it. Two witnesses chased off the dogs and Plautz tracked the wounded deer and dispatched it. She is attempting to locate the owners of the dogs.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) issued a citation to a spear fisherman for not having a spearing license. He first said he was new at spearing and didn’t know the requirements, but a quick license history check revealed he purchased one last year.
CO John Slatinski (International Falls) received information in regard to wanton waste of a deer. The responsible party went as far as harvesting, field dressing, and skinning the deer but then discarded all the most commonly used portions of the deer intact, dumping it on the shoulder of a county road.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) investigated cases of illegal lending and borrowing of deer tags where the husband shoots the deer and uses the wife’s tag who doesn’t hunt. Multiple citations were issued for this offense with one wife stating that she is not a gun person and doesn’t hunt. Another couple were found who were not married but had been buying the husband/wife fishing license.
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!
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