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 deer-hunting activity was minimal during the week as a pile of snow blanketed the Arrowhead, pushing deer even closer to the shore. He did, however, contact a youth hunter who bagged a dandy of a buck. Hill traveled to Red Wing for a jury trial in his previous station. Hill assisted Cook County with a call for service and contacted an individual in Temperance River State Park without a valid park pass. A party was contacted in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) checked deer hunters during the last week of the firearms season. Hunter success slowed throughout the week. He followed up on past investigations, which led to several big-game violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) wrapped up another firearms deer season. Numerous hunters were checked, many of whom were slow-rolling county and forest roads in their vehicles and tempting fate in the event of a big buck popping up near someone’s home. Manning assisted COs Wahlstrom and Hill with deer cases and followed up on bear-hunting issues.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked a quiet close to the firearms deer season with few hunters checked in the field. Several ice anglers were checked on shallow lakes enjoying the early ice season, with the ice depth averaging 5 to 6 inches. Enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and licensing violations.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Cook) followed up on a possible big-game violation. During the interview, the suspect stated he “couldn’t remember” whether or not he had harvested a buck in 2018, but later admitted to shooting a six-pointer. Enforcement action was taken for a lend/borrow violation and illegal party hunting with restitution.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) stopped a pickup truck, and the driver said he was out doing some hunting and teaching his two young sons how to hunt safely. On the back seat of the truck, next to one of the sons, was an uncased, fully loaded rifle. A citation was issued and some extra time was spent explaining the true rules of safe hunting to the two young passengers.
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