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) focused on angling and snowmobile enforcement. Complaints on snowmobile violations were followed up on and wildlife-related calls were handled. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) focused on winter activity during the week and prepared for an upcoming work detail.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked the odd combination of snowmobile enforcement and open-water fishing on Lake Superior this past week. The warmer weather and calm winds brought out plenty of anglers trolling for salmon off Agate Bay. Meanwhile, most area trails are being groomed, allowing for some great snowmobiling conditions. Most area lakes are slush-covered, making access a bit more challenging.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) checked on a possibly sick moose. It turned out the moose was very content and just didn’t feel like leaving.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) investigated a taking-deer-out-of-season complaint in Brown’s Valley. It turned out to be a car-killed deer. The subject learned a lesson that it isn’t wise to brag about shooting a deer out of season on social media.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) received a call that a bobcat was injured by a car and was picked up and brought into a home and acted almost domestic, lying around and purring. The bobcat was brought to Duluth for rehabilitation.
CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) followed up on a snowmobile-throughthe ice complaint. After several days, no reports had been filed and the operator of the snowmobile was still unknown.
However, the snowmobile was backtracked to a nearby home where the resident admitted to sinking the snowmobile.
CO Luke Gutzwiller (White Bear Lake) followed up on a call of an injured bald eagle that reportedly had been taken into possession and placed in a box inside an office building due to inclement weather. Upon arrival, Gutzwiller identified the bird as a pigeon, which took flight in the building and was found to be in good health. The pigeon was recovered and released outside the building.
CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) assisted the sheriff with the rescue of a snowmobiler who broke through the ice on Lake Pepin. Using two airboats, the snowmobiler and a deputy who had waded into the water in an attempt to reach the snowmobiler were pulled out of the frigid water. The snowmobiler was semiconscious when rescued but had remained with his head and shoulders above the water thanks to a knife he had used for an ice pick. He was transported by helicopter to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
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