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 Mary Manning (Hovland) assisted with a waters complaint where someone obviously altered the shoreline and channel of a flowage between two lakes. The area will be restored after an evaluation is completed. Investigation into the responsible parties is continuing. Manning also issued a road-killed deer permit, checked boaters and anglers and worked area boat accesses to check for AIS compliance by boaters. Anglers are reminded that even if they fish only one lake they are still required to drain their boat and leave the plug out anytime the boat is being transported.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) took calls about an injured loon and a public access dock floating away.
CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports that although nuisance bear reports had subsided for several weeks, there seemed to be a resurgence. Berry crops continue to ripen but are weeks behind a normal year. Williams has been asking residents to be vigilant with bird feeders and other attractants.
CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) was among the officers who responded to a bear attack east of Ely. The victim sustained a bite to her leg. After being treated at the hospital, the victim was released.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports that a complaint led to two citations being issued to intoxicated individuals drinking at a public access/ day use area.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) received multiple nuisance bear and beaver complaints during the week. Humphrey also investigated a report of a live goose found shot with a hunting arrow at Park Lake near Mahtowa.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) spoke with an angler who told him how much of a difference there was between fishing in Oklahoma and Minnesota. He said in Oklahoma catching sunfish turned into catching large catfish. He was surprised that in Minnesota you can’t use panfish as bait. He was glad he checked the Minnesota fishing regulations book before going fishing here.
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