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 Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports checking multiple hunters during opening weekend of the firearms deer season. The weather was cold and hunters on the shore were not as successful as they would have liked. Hill did notice, however, that the majority of the hunters who he spoke with who harvested deer were successful during late morning/early afternoon. It pays to stay in the stand while others go in for coffee. A trio of hunters was cited for hunting with the aid of bait after they scattered leftover apples near their stand location. Hill assisted a neighboring officer by tracking down a hunter suspected of transporting an untagged deer.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time checking deer hunters during the opening weekend. The officer responded to complaints and followed up bait cases. Enforcement action was taken for hunting over bait, transporting loaded firearms, no blaze orange, fail to tag deer, fail to validate tag and ATV violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy deer opener and week leading up to it. Numerous deer stands and hunting locations were scouted for illegal baiting. Manning and CO Hill contacted one group on opening morning – relieving them of some apples and firearms before sending them off with some paperwork. The process was repeated the following morning, but with the most delicious smelling bait block the officer has encountered.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) encountered one happy hunter on her first year at deer camp. Peyton, 10 years of age, was the only one in their camp to harvest a deer on opening day. Her smile was almost as big as the rack on her very respectable 8-point buck.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) took a TIP call the day before the season opened that a person had shot a deer and was dragging it to their garage. Vinton contacted CO Swedberg (Detroit Lakes), who was near the area, and Swedberg was able to make contact with the suspect before they were able to hide the deer. The shooter admitted to shooting the deer, over bait, from their upstairs bedroom window.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) reports that one hunter mistook an elk for a whitetail deer and attempted to take the wayward ungulate. Fortunately for the elk, the hunter’s aim was as bad as his species identification. Charges are pending.
Contact local DNR Conservation Officers to report violations or ask questions:
Thomas Wahlstrom 218-370-0244
Kylan Hill 218-387-4393
Mary Manning 218-387-5285
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