Although the Cook County News- Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are lawabiding 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 time in the BWCAW checking anglers. A few of them travelled long distances, got their permit, and packed all their gear but did not buy angling licenses or registration for their watercraft. He worked on Lake Superior with CO Schottenbauer checking commercial fishers and anglers. Some nice lake trout were in the bag. He also completed equipment maintenance on his patrol boat and squad. Enforcement action was taken for fishing and boating violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked a detail with an Ontario CO along the border. He was also called out for a wildfire investigation in the northwest part of the state.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers, boaters and areas closed to fishing this past week. She participated as part of the DNR Honor Guard at ceremonies at the Law Enforcement Memorial in St. Paul for Police Week and attended a firearms instructor meeting.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers and smelters along the North Shore. A smelt netter was cited early one evening for netting smelt in a closed river and fish sanctuary directly behind a sign that read, “No Smelting.” A few hours later in the night, the same smelter returned and was again caught netting smelt in the closed river farther into the protected spawning sanctuary. Enforcement action was again taken, including equipment confiscation.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) cited a lake home owner for shooting several muskrats on the water that were causing damage. He didn’t notify Lawler and also was shooting in an unsafe direction.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) investigated two beaver-carcass dump sites (one had six unskinned beavers), issued a number of beaver permits, and handled a number of bear-related complaints.
CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) reports that a dog was attacked by a wolf near Aurora. Luckily, the dog will survive its injuries and should make a full recovery.
CO Annette Kyllo (Pierz) worked with a neighboring conservation officer on a complaint involving unattended fishing lines. The COs located the lines, one of which was doing a slow bob when it was first seen. It continued to do so through the whole observation process as the officers waited to see if anyone would tend them. Contact with the responsible people was eventually made and they admitted to going to town to run errands while leaving the lines out. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Shane Zavodnik (International Falls) responded to a call involving a vehicle that drifted off the road and had caught on fire. When he arrived at the scene, the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames, and Zavodnik learned that both the driver and passenger side doors were blocked shut due to the surrounding trees. Luckily, a passing motorist had noticed smoke in the ditch and decided to turn around. The quick-thinking individual was able to open the back hatch of the SUV and pull the driver and her dog out to safety unharmed. The individual’s attention to smoke in the ditch and quick thinking made for an incredible day to see everyone walk away from the scene unharmed.
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