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) assisted with a couple of firearms safety field days. He did a work detail with Officer Murray and took his first nuisance bear call of the year. It’s time to bring in the bear/bird feeders.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted Cook County with an abandoned vehicles complaint on a wildlife management area and followed up on illegal camping complaints. The officer checked anglers and boaters over the extended weekend. Boat owners and operators are advised to consult Minnesota boating laws before heading out. “How long has that been a law?” was a common question Manning received during safety equipment checks.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a sunny holiday weekend with the Grand Marais officer up the Gunflint Trail. Fishing success was on the slow side but the weather was so nice not many people were complaining. Conditions are still very dry, increasing fire danger along the North Shore. Enforcement action was taken for illegal-length walleyes and licensing violations.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) reports the Memorial Day weekend provided beautiful weather in the Duluth area. On Saturday it was 49 degrees on Lake Superior. Ten miles inland, the temperature was 93 degrees – a 44-degree difference!
CO Al Peterson (Osage) assisted on a theft case involving an Arctic fox pup. The suspects took the fox and left without paying. They were located and identified by Hubbard County.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked lots of boaters and fisherman this past week. One boater failed to turn on any navigation lights while fishing well after dark. The officer found it interesting when the boater started yelling profanities at him as he slowly approached his boat because he thought the officer was getting too close to him as he fished. Lawler told him he should have his boat lights on if he wants other boats to see him. He didn’t have much to say at that point, and a citation was issued.
CO Chelsey Best (Remer) took several calls of dead deer, cows and dogs floating in the lake. Best retrieved what were actually two partially decayed deer carcasses that were causing boating hazards on Roosevelt Lake.
CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) assisted stranded boaters on Lake Koronis after a call came in that they were having watercraft issues and had no way of getting back to their cabin. It was found upon checking the watercraft that the fuel line was not hooked up to the motor. After attaching the fuel line, the boaters were on their way to enjoy the weekend again.
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