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) checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior, inland lakes and in the BWCA. Fishing remained slow on most lakes. He gave a presentation to the firearms safety class at the Cook County Middle School. Commercial minnow enforcement was also focused on. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked anglers, boat and water safety equipment, and BWCAW accesses during the week. A burning pile of tires and burning without a permit was also dealt with.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked state forest and park campgrounds and boat accesses. Fishing success was mixed and angler and boater compliance were good. One pair of boaters realized they had forgotten their life jackets and made the 75-mile round trip to purchase new ones in town just before an equipment check at the access. Manning spoke with WTIP radio about boating safety and the importance of proper preparation before boating. She also checked burning permits and minnow retailers and attended a district meeting. Manning wrapped up the holiday by cleaning up after the irresponsible parent of a toddler who tossed out dirty diapers and soiled paper towels and newspapers in a public parking area.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) received a call from a gentleman trying to remove a rodent from his vehicle, the rodent biting the gentleman, and the gentleman shooting the rodent – and his car.
CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) focused on boat and water safety over the busy holiday weekend. Fogarty checked a kayaker on Lower Prior Lake who had an unregistered kayak and no life jacket. The kayaker said a coyote had stolen her life jacket while she was on a nature hike.
CO Andrew Goodman (Elbow Lake) took three goslings from kayakers who said they didn’t see the mother goose in sight before collecting the birds and bringing them two miles downstream.
CO Shane Zavodnik (International Falls) assisted in finding a lost morel picker who had gotten turned around in the woods. Luckily, the individual was able to give a fairly accurate description of where he was and was able to find his way out by listening to the emergency sirens sent off by a squad.
CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) reports that a TIP call led to a couple camping near Upper Red Lake who had 11 walleyes over the legal limit. Enforcement action was taken and the extra walleyes were gifted to a family in need.
Seamans also captured a turkey with an arrow stuck in its leg. A volunteer transported the turkey to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota.
Leave a Reply