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 grouse hunters, anglers and bear-hunting activity during the week.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled the woods checking bird hunters, archery deer hunters and ATV operators. The most frequently encountered violation was again juvenile passengers riding in Class 2 machines without helmets. Manning answered numerous questions about the firearms deer hunts in local state parks. Letters from these parks may include incorrect dates and hunters need to be aware that the season dates are the same as the surrounding Permit Area 126. Manning also assisted Cook County in searching for a group of overdue backpackers who turned up a day late, but in good health.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked smallgame hunters, ATV riders and fall anglers. Enforcement action was taken for firearms and hunting violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a wet and stormy week with Lake Superior flooding shoreline areas with gale force winds. Time was spent searching for the owner of a watercraft that had broken free of its mooring lines and drifted across an area lake in the wind storm. The owner was contacted and the watercraft was retrieved. Big-game investigations continued and a training session was also attended during the week.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) investigated a complaint of individuals shooting ducks on the closed game refuge and then hiding their guns when confronted by the landowner. A follow-up investigation is required with several charges pending. Also, a complaint of individuals shooting ducks and not attempting to retrieve wounded birds was taken and investigated.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked ongoing hunting seasons and investigated complaints of moose parts dumped in the road ditch and property being unlawfully stored in a state park.
A balsam bough buyer who had already purchased over 10,000 pounds of boughs had no buyer’s license and his records were missing key information on bough sellers. The buyer was cited.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato) worked a busy pheasant and waterfowl opener. A trespassing complaint resulted in several citations being issued to a group of goose hunters as well as for a deer that appeared to have been shot with a shotgun.
CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) received a TIP call regarding out-of-season waterfowl hunters. The hunters were located and found to be in possession of five ducks. They were informed of the waterfowl zones and reopening dates and enforcement action was taken for multiple violations.
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