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) spent the fishing opener checking anglers and ATV riders. Wahlstrom attended training on Lake Superior with the U.S. Border Patrol in Duluth. He helped instruct the ATV field day at the Cook County school. Enforcement action was taken for several ATV, boating and angling violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked an enforcement detail with CO Fondie in the Voyageurs National Park and the western side of the BWCAW during the fishing opener.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports numerous anglers were disappointed to find their destination lakes still mostly frozen, but with not enough to ice fish on. Manning checked steelhead anglers, Lake Superior anglers and a few folks who managed to find some open water for opening day. After another round of snow, the following warmup had bears, foxes and grouse out and about; grouse numbers look promising for the fall season. Manning also assisted Cook County sheriff ’s deputies with a couple calls and attended an Honor Guard meeting.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a sunny fishing opener on the North Shore. Most anglers checked reported a slow bite but ended up with enough fish for dinner.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) took a call from a concerned angler who allowed his grandsons to cast lures and catch fish prior to the season opener. The angler knew they couldn’t target species during the closed season and it bothered him all night so he was calling to “turn himself in.” Vinton asked if they caught any fish or kept any. The angler stated they did catch some but threw them all back. Vinton told the angler we’d just use this as a “learning lesson” and the angler agreed to never do it again.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) received a call of a bear with cubs in a tree and advised the public to give the bears time and space to leave the area.
CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) reports that an angler attempted to buy his license online while being checked. He lied and stated he bought his license online a week earlier. Unfortunately, he was caught in the act and issued a citation for fishing without a license.
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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