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 time checking ATV riders and anglers on remote trout lakes. He responded to a harassment call involving firearms in the BWCAW. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and angling violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked boating safety enforcement and escort duties at the tall ships gathering in Duluth. Fishing remained good on Lake Superior with salmon being caught along with some large lake trout. Nuisance-bear complaints continue to come in. Removing the food source is still the best advice for dealing with nuisance-bear activity.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) reports that he found one lake with at least seven different violations, with one incident consisting of using an aqua thruster to create a large crater in the lake bottom, spraying herbicide to kill cattails and removing cattails without a permit.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) cited an individual for burning a large bed mattress on his land. The black smoke from it could be seen from miles away.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) looked into a complaint of littering after pictures were taken of a truck that was on a trail where trucks are not allowed. The truck was pulling a trailer full of garbage and also had the bed of the pickup full of garbage. The investigation is still ongoing.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) had a case that included an individual who was caught attempting to shoot sandhill cranes. Callers reported that while standing outside and grilling burgers, they saw someone shoot out the window of a pickup truck and in the direction of the crane. Thanks to witness observations, Grundmeier tracked down the shooter within minutes of the poaching event.
CO Annette Kyllo (Pierz) reports that during one routine angling check, an individual stated he had an angling license but had forgotten it back at the cabin. A quick check showed he not only did not have a valid angling license but also, he had a warrant out for his arrest. Kyllo caught up to him at a private dock and took him into custody.
CO Mike Krauel (Mora) spent the week checking anglers and working boat and water safety. One individual tried to avoid an angling license check by throwing his fishing rod down and walking away from it when Krauel approached. When Krauel asked for an angling license, the individual stated he was not fishing. After Krauel advised the individual that he had been observing him angling, the individual admitted he didn’t have a license and was hoping Krauel hadn’t seen him angling. Enforcement action was taken.
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