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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
worked anglers along the US-Canada border. A few nice fish were bagged. The officer performed equipment maintenance on his patrol truck and ATV. Wahlstrom checked shore fishermen along the North Shore. Some nice steelhead have been caught down closer to Duluth while fishing farther north is slower in the colder waters.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland)
worked Canadian border and inland lakes as well as Lake Superior tributaries. Ice conditions are quite varied lake to lake and on individual bodies of water. A great
deal of blocking material and some trash was left behind by anglers
The
pulling shelters off one inland lake. Manning recorded shelters and
Minnesota
registered owners on GPS earlier this season and paperwork will be
sent to those leaving behind messes. Theofficeralso continued seasonal equipment maintenance, checked area roads and trails, and patrolled state parks.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby)
received a phone call from a concerned
sportsman who noticed suspicious fishing activity resulting in an
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investigation where two individuals were found in possession of
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137 sunfish (97 fish over limit) and numerous bass out of season.
Several of the sunfish were of trophy size, ranging from a pound Your newspaper
to a pound and a half and the bass were of quality size as well. The has agreed to participate
poachers face fines and restitution totaling $3,370.
in the 2×2
2x 2 & 2×4 a ds to run ONE T IME, th e CO Je remy Wo ina rowic z (Thief River Falls)
and other officers contacted one angler who had taken the time to read the part of the regulations for the spring walleye harvest concerning the limit of walleyes for the Rainy River, but he stated he did not read the next sentence that stated all walleyes over 19.5 inches must be immediately released back to the water. The angler was in possession of a 30.5-inch walleye that he had caught in the river about an hour before officer contact. He stated he was going to mount his trophy, but officers then informed him of the regulation and seized the trophy fish. Unfortunately the trophy walleye was not in good enough condition to be released safely back into the water. Charges and restitution for the illegal walleye are pending.
CO Rhonda Keniston (Long Prairie)
encountered a man on the third day of his permit who lit a fire in the “back forty” prior to his wife calling the activation number. After the fire was burning quite well, his wife told him she was unable to activate the permit because restrictions had been put in effect!
Another gentleman refused to admit to starting his cattails on fire, yet three firemen saw him re-light them as they were trying to put the fire out. He had two other fires burning in his yard. He admitted to starting them. When reminded he had been warned last fall about burning leaves without a permit, he said he was not burning leaves, he was burning rubbish!
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena)
received a call of a young man who had shot a goose and buried it. After paying the man a visit, he admitted he had shot a goose and put it in an abandoned silo. The goose and the shotgun were produced for the officer and enforcement action was taken.
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