Not too far from this deer is a “No Hunting” sign. It should be safe as long as it continues to read the posted signs in the area. File photo
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) reports most of the small inland lakes have frozen over, but it’s going to take more cold weather before anyone should even think of venturing out. Ice picks should always be at the ready, but that’s especially true on early ice. Baited deer stands were checked and assistance was given at an ATV safety field day.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked deer hunters, stands, and deer camps. Manning helped with an ATV safety class field day at Cook County Schools. Snowfall in the Arrowhead is making travel conditions on unplowed forest roads more challenging and folks are reminded to be prepared and know the route before getting too far down the road.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a busy second weekend of the firearms deer season. Most camps reported seeing deer with fresh tracking snow and many had deer hanging on the camp pole. Biggame hunting investigations continued this week with enforcement action taken for no license in possession, taking deer over bait, untagged deer, and failure to validate a deer tag. Even with severe penalties such as license revocation and firearms forfeiture, some hunters still choose to illegally hunt over bait.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked deer hunters and netters this past week. Deer hunting was slow and some lakes skimmed over with ice on the weekend. Several calls about nuisance animals were received as well as about the new pike regulation in regards to spearing.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports cold weather took hold in the Ely area and after a week of below-freezing weather the small lakes are now frozen over with ice. Deer-hunting success seems to be fair overall around the city, with much fewer deer being reported up the Echo Trail. Williams assisted area officers with an investigation of a deer being shot from a roadway and trespassing.
CO Jayson Hansen (Bigfork) and COC Nathan Benkofske worked deer-hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for unregistered deer, overlimits, lending and borrowing of tags, parent directing a minor to violate the hunting laws, taking an antlerless deer without a permit, tagging violations, no blaze orange, hunting without a license, transporting loaded firearms, and possession of drug paraphernalia. They also assisted Itasca County with a search for a lost hunter.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked deer hunters, investigated baiting complaints, assisted with a medical alongside the road and checked waterfowl hunters. Fairbanks and his K9 partner Si also assisted with a felon in possession case. Si was able to locate a spent rifle casing, rifle and articles of clothing that had been left in the woods. Enforcement action was taken for license issues and failure to register deer.
CO Corey Wiebusch (Mankato #2) spent the week training COC Tony Flerlage. They worked the firearms deer season, talking with many hunters and answering calls. They worked late nights checking for shining activity. Violations for the week included transporting loaded firearms in vehicles and motorboats, failure to register deer, lead shot, no duck stamp, shining, and transporting untagged deer.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) and COC Jacob Swedberg spent the week checking deer hunters and dealing with deer season calls and complaints. A check of one hunting property resulted in finding a shed full of deer with no site tags attached. Another group was found hunting and harvesting deer prior to purchasing the correct deer license. Citations issued for the week included transporting loaded firearms, failing to tag deer, failing to validate site tags, failing to register deer properly and burning prohibited material.
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