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 checking anglers and ATV riders. He also armored rifles at Camp Ripley during in-service training. Time was spent on Lake Superior and in the BWCAW.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) spent a busy week at Camp Ripley. She received training and trained at the current Academy.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked angling activity this past week. He spent time checking boaters on the water and at accesses.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked Lake Superior, with reports of salmon starting to show in the Grand Marais-area waters. AIS enforcement was also worked at the public access points along the North Shore.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley), reports that while checking an angler’s license and boat equipment, the angler was very excited to show off all the sunfish, walleyes and catfish he had caught that day. As he pulled his morning’s catch out of the water, a look of shock came over his face as he realized there were only two sunfish in the basket. His fish had been swimming out a big hole in the side of his old, metal fish basket as fast as he was putting them in.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent time on boat and water safety enforcement during the Detroit Lakes Water Carnival. A jet ski operator was stopped for operating 45 minutes past legal operating hours. Signs of impairment were observed during the contact. The operator was subsequently arrested for fourth-degree operation of a motorboat while intoxicated.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) conducted follow-up on a snapping turtle taken with an arrow before the season was open.
CO Dustie Speldrich (Willow River) handled two wolf calls this past week. One involved cattle getting run through fences when two adult wolves and four pups were seen on the complainant’s property. The livestock owner was concerned that someone could get hurt if they hit his cattle, which had been out several times prior to the wolf sighting. The other call involved a 350-pound calf that was confirmed to have been killed by wolves.
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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