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 a high volume of snowmobile traffic over the weekend. The vast majority of the sleds had registration numbers and year of expiration decals properly displayed. Remote designated trout lakes were also checked.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) attended instructor training and planning meetings at Camp Ripley. Along with U.S. Forest Service Officer Belmore, Manning assisted Cook County with a search for a motorist stranded on a snowmobile trail. Manning also worked with CO Willis and St. Louis County sheriff ’s deputies on a snowmobile water-skipping detail.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) inspected a turkey complaint area. It was unknown if the turkey was wild or illegally released. Without many formal sightings it is hard to tell. Schottenbauer encourages Lake and Cook county sightings of turkeys to be reported to the area wildlife office.
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports he and other area law enforcement officers responded to Orr to assist with the search for a suspect after a bank robbery attempt. Two bank employees were sprayed by pepper spray and a suspect was taken into custody near town.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) assisted with a call of a student threatening to get a gun and return to shoot another at a local high school. No guns were involved.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) has received complaints about bobcats going after chickens and rabbits, and being around towns. One got in a scuffle with a couple dogs.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) assisted the Two Harbors officer with a report of a homemade Viking ship being launched at McQuade Small Craft Harbor without life jackets aboard the boat. The Vikings had departed the water prior to the officers arriving.
CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) assisted the Scott County Sheriff ’s Office on Prior Lake with an ATV through the ice. The driver was able to exit the water after his machine sank to the bottom. The driver felt lucky to be alive as he was completely submerged and could have easily been trapped under the ice. A local tow agency located the ATV and removed it from the water.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom
218-370-0244
Darin Fagerman
218-370-1717
Mary Manning
218-475-0121
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