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 patrol in the BWCA, checked anglers and boat and water safety equipment. An ATV patrol was also done into remote designated trout lakes.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) spent most of the week helping teach handgun skills at the DNR Academy at Camp Ripley. The officer handled a call about a dog chasing deer and took reports of an abandoned vehicle on DNR land as well as contractor and beaver damage to a couple forest roads.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked a border detail in the Grand Marais area. It’s been some time since an angler used the phrase, “I didn’t think I needed a license if I was only catch and release fishing.” The unlicensed angler’s rationale was wrong and he was cited.
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports he assisted the USFS after he was contacted about a large group on Basswood Lake with a campsite full of federal and state violations. After several hours of travel, he and other local law enforcement officers contacted the group and a total of five citations were issued. After the contact, the leader of the group told officers he was sorry for the way they had acted and that he realized they were guests in the BWCA.
CO Tim Collette (Brainerd) mediated a continuing dispute between lakeshore property owners and bow fishermen who wake the property owners up in the middle of the night by shining their bright lights into houses and cabins and making noise with generators and loud music. One property owner decided to fight back and started shooting the bow fishermen with paint balls. Both sides received warnings and/or tickets.
CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) observed a lawn service provider blowing leaves into Lower Prior Lake. Upon talking to the lawn service provider, he did not know he couldn’t place leaves and grass clippings into the lake. The lake service provider cleaned up his mess and was educated about the laws concerning filling a public water body.
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