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) checked bear hunters and anglers during the week. He also assisted the Forest Service with a BWCA detail.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent the week focusing on bear hunting activity. Time was also spent checking ATVs and anglers and following up on complaints.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked bear hunting and ATV activity during the week. Archery deer hunters were out preparing stands and looking for deer activity ahead of next week’s opener. Fishing remained good on inland lakes and the annual fall colors have started to turn along the North Shore.
CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad North) responded to a call of a bear with his head stuck in an old 10-gallon milk can. He worked with the reporting party to free the bear from the can. Holes had to be drilled into the can so that the bear could breathe while efforts were being made to free him. After two hours of gaining no ground and with options running out, Benjamin enlisted the help of the Roseau Fire Department. Within 20 minutes of their arrival, using the jaws of life and a spreader, Benjamin and rescue personnel were able to free the bear unharmed. Exhausted but alive, the bear regained his composure and made his way back into the woods.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) observed a 14-year-old, with legs hanging overboard, along with a 9-year-old, in an 8-foot, very tippy kayak that was designed for one person. They had no life jackets whatsoever. Bozovsky didn’t have a boat but was concerned for their safety and had the occupants come to shore. He followed that with a long chat with their mom.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) reports that while checking some remote fishing spots late one evening, a single boat and three occupants were found that had the lake to themselves. After visibly having a good time and catching northern pike, the trio quickly got quiet and nervous as they returned and found conservation officers waiting at the dock. The anglers had no fishing licenses and no life preservers in the boat.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls), while working fishing and ATV enforcement, noticed black smoke coming from behind a residence. It turned out to be a family cleaning out a storage shed. The homeowner said they were just burning cardboard and old clothes but in checking the burn pile it was found they were burning household garbage, cans, bottles, metals, plastic, furniture and old clothes.
CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) received a call regarding a deer that found itself tangled in the grape vine netting at a local winery. Upon arrival, Hauser and a sheriff ’s deputy located a small buck whose antlers had become ensnared in the netting. With assistance from two vineyard workers, the netting caught in the antlers was cut free and the deer leapt with joy back into the woods. It was advised to lay off the grapes.
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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