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) worked bear opener checking hunters and bait stations. It was a busy weekend for ATV operators, most of whom were violating at least one law. Riders are reminded that everyone age 12 and older and born after July 1, 1987 must complete a safety class prior to operating an ATV. One operator was stopped on the state highway running a machine with expired registration and carrying three passengers, two of whom were very young children without helmets. Manning also answered calls about the upcoming deer season, attended training at Camp Ripley, and checked anglers.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent the week checking bear bait stations, bear hunters and following up on wildlife-related calls. He attended training at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, big-game and firearms violations.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked commercial enforcement on Lake Superior in the Tofte/ Schroeder waters, which led into an investigation of an illegal gill net. Anglers and boaters were checked in the Two Harbors waters of Lake Superior as well. Anglers report catching king salmon. Inland lakes were also checked; anglers report fishing was spotty to slow on most lakes. Bear-hunting questions were fielded in advance of the opener.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV, watercraft, and bear-hunting activities during the past week. Murray monitored wild rice harvesting and investigated a litter complaint. Good weather cooperated for the holiday weekend, bringing many travelers to the North Shore. Some birds have begun their fall migration and leaves have started to change as we once again close out the summer season.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) and CO Goodman witnessed a neartragic vehicle accident on a state highway. A woman stopped her vehicle almost completely in the driving lane and another vehicle had to swerve around her to avoid rear-ending her. When she was contacted by CO Osborne and asked why she stopped in the traffic lane, the driver said because she was waiting for the butterfly to fly out of her vehicle. Osborne observed a monarch butterfly cocoon hanging from her rearview mirror with a freshly hatched monarch butterfly crawling on the outside of the cocoon. She didn’t seem to notice the near-miss that just had occurred because she was paying too much attention to the butterfly.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) checked a group of young goose hunters who never fired a shot; on their way to the hunting spot, their boat capsized and they all went into the water, including a shotgun that’s currently on the bottom of the river. Luckily, they all made it out of the water.
CO Kylan Hill (Zumbrota) contacted a person who was illegally harvesting wild ginseng before the start of the season Sept. 1. The same person was contacted last year for the same violations. Citations were issued and their ginseng roots were seized.
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