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 week at Camp Ripley assisting in firearms training for the attending officers. The officer worked the moose walk ATV trail in the Finland area. Wahlstrom responded to a TIP call on a lake in the BWCAW for early fishermen.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland)
checked stream trout and steelhead anglers. Manning spoke to the Grand Marais Lions Club on fishing, boating safety and VHS issues. Manning patrolled the Moose Walk ATV trails with CO Wahlstrom. Trails were in generally good shape but a great deal of trash and cans accumulated from the winter at rest shelters was scattered around several encountered. Manning also responded to questions on hook use on Lake Superior tributaries, moose hunting, and vehicle registrations. She also represented the DNR pistol team at the Craig Backer Memorial Match.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
checked stream trout fishermen inland from Lake Superior. Suckers have replaced walleyes in the creeks. A law talk was given at a firearms safety class.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora)
discovered something of a mystery — a butchered sturgeon found on the bank of the Embarrass River with its head propped up on a post.
CO Aaron Kahre (Minnetonka)
received a call from a concerned citizen about a young skunk that had a peanut butter jar stuck on his head. Theskunk was gone on arrival so the CO was not able to determine if the skunk liked chunky or creamy peanut butter.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany)
investigated a TIP call regarding two men who were shooting in the direction of a pond. A vehicle description was given. The truck was found two hours later. The investigation found that the two men had shot four Canada geese, one mallard, and one wood duck. The suspects were using .22 caliber rifles. Enforcement action was taken and guns seized.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud)
responded to a call of smallmouth bass being kept out of season on the Mississippi River. When he interviewed the anglers, they did not have any bass. The bass had been released, but two of the three anglers didn’t have licenses to fish. Enforcement action was taken.
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