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 Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted Canada wardens with an illegal trapping case. The officer also patrolled snowmobile trails and checked area lakes, anglers and fishing shelters.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) monitored snowmobile and angling activity. Snowmobile activity has picked up and compliance has been decent. Complaints were followed up on.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) had contact with an angler and when asked for a fishing license, the angler proudly stated he didn’t have one. CO Vinton said, “You don’t have a fishing license?” The angler replied he was 92 years old. He liked to fish nearly every day and give some of the fish he catches to “the old folks” at the nursing home. He admitted he’s probably 20 years older than many of them.
CO Tim Collette (Crosslake), while attempting to stop a pair of snowmobiles for no registration, reports that the male took off, leaving his girlfriend behind. Later in the day the officer took a snowmobile trespass call where the snowmobile was abandoned after driving across someone’s septic system in their yard. Upon arrival, the officer recognized it as the same snowmobile that had taken off earlier. While the officer was there, the snowmobile operator got dropped off to pick up the snowmobile by his girlfriend. Charges were filed and the snowmobile was seized. CO Kylan Hill (Zumbrota) contacted and cited a person for burning prohibited materials. Mattresses and lawn chairs were a few items of note in the burn pile, but the individual was quick to tell CO Hill he had a burning permit.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley), while watching anglers on a small area lake one morning, caught a pair of individuals destroying a muskrat house. In addition to some enforcement action taken, the individuals were educated about the importance of the houses for the muskrat’s winter survival. The responsible parties also agreed to repair the damaged house.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) seized an illegal length northern pike and donated it to an elderly couple. The couple had tears in their eyes and hugged the officer out of gratitude for the donation.
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