Cook County News Herald

Conservation Officer Tales




CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked a BWCA detail with other officers. He checked anglers and completed a couple of snowmobile patrols on area lakes and trails.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) taught snowmobile safety at the Cook County Middle School with a volunteer instructor. The officer followed up on complaints of motorized vehicles driving on non-motorized trails and loud exhaust on snowmobiles. Enforcement action was taken for multiple snowmobile violations.

CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) received a call regarding a sick swan. With the help of a citizen, the swan was captured and transported to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) interviewed an individual who wanted to register a deer he supposedly shot during the 2017 archery season. It was discovered the individual’s son shot the deer while the individual remained in his house. Enforcement action was taken on the son for failing to register the deer.

CO Kylan Hill (Zumbrota) observed a person fishing on a river in the Zumbrota station. Hill noticed the fisherman making large, exaggerated jigging motions. When contacted, the subject was found to be in possession of snagged fish with visible hook marks and holes throughout the body of the fish. The angler was cited and the fish were seized.

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) wrapped up a deer shining case from last fall with an individual who pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor shining. Penalties included a several-hundred dollar fine, three-year revocation of hunting privileges, and confiscation of a very expensive bow.

CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) looked into snowmobile trespass complaints in which snowmobilers illegally drove across farmers’ alfalfa fields and in wildlife management areas. She also investigated a report about someone putting out shell corn to feed deer in the central Minnesota zone where deer feeding is banned. The pile of shell corn was found by a deer stand and enforcement action was taken.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.