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) did a canoe patrol in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, checked anglers on lakes at the end of the Gunflint Trail, and did boating safety checks.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked area lakes over the opening weekend of the fishing season. Several folks forgot their licenses and more than a few forgot throwable devices for their boats. Steelhead are still the tributaries and anglers were also checked along the shore. Manning helped in the classroom for a firearms safety class and handled an unpermitted brush pile burn. The fellow burning brush said he didn’t contact Forestry or seek a permit because a family member told him that he didn’t need a permit for his fire. Perhaps they can split the cost of the citation issued.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) responded to a TIP call in which surveillance and observations resulted in eight citations for four individuals. Violations included fishing with extra lines, overlimit of crappies, and possessing bass in a closed season. Another TIP call was investigated where bowfishermen were taking walleyes and northern from an area stream. A bear in the city limits of Bertha was found late at night up a tree. Plautz responded and with the quietness of the night the bear crawled down and ran off.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) reports a busy fishing opener in the area. One angler felt he needed to report his catch. He caught two deer legs out of an area river. It turns out someone dumped deer parts in the river and left them there. This most likely occurred last fall. This is considered littering and an investigation is under way to try to find the responsible party.
A complaint of a wolf pup that was stuck in a window well was also received. The pup was able to be removed and left in the area to see if its mother would return. If she doesn’t return, the pup will be brought to a rehabber.
CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) took a dumping report at the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area. Upon looking at the garbage that was dumped, Fogarty went to the address listed on some mail found in the pile. He located the dumpers and requested they return to pick up their trash. The suspects said they thought they dumped their trash at a recycling center. They were advised the SRA is not a recycling center.
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