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 that a background investigation continues. Hill assisted the State Patrol with a vehicle rollover after a string of nasty weather. A few snowmobiles were seen in the area and even more were seen being pulled on trailers. A reminder to make sure all registration is in order before hitting the trails.
One notable contact from the week came when Hill encountered an individual loading a broken-down snowmobile on a trailer in the ditch of a county road. Further investigation determined that the party purchased the sled earlier in the summer and “had every intention of registering it and transferring the title” before taking it out. The 2017 registration displayed on the hood was actually from another snowmobile. Hill found the correct information and determined the registration expired in 2012. The rider was cited.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time checking ice anglers, snowmobile riders and hunting activity. The state trail is shaping up nicely with the recent snow.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area lakes and snowmobile trails and checked cross-country ski passes at Pincushion Trails. Manning also assisted as a member of the DNR Honor Guard with the funeral of National Guard Sgt. Kort Platenberg.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked snowmobilers during a snowy North Shore weekend. Modified mufflers that are much louder than stock have been quite an issue this season and clubs are receiving many complaints, endangering trails. If you put an aftermarket exhaust can on your snowmobile in Minnesota, you are endangering our trail system and will risk receiving a ticket and still have to change the exhaust back to stock.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) encountered a littering angler who purposely buried and left a one-pound disposable propane tank in the snow. When he was cited, he admitted he knew it was wrong, saw plenty of garbage left on the ice in his days and wasn’t thinking when he did it.
CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) came off a lake from checking anglers when a person pulled up and asked if the ice was safe enough to drive a side-by-side ATV on. Bertram advised he wouldn’t drive on the lake yet. Later that afternoon, Bertram was called to respond to an ATV through the ice on the same lake. Bertram couldn’t believe it when he arrived – it was the same person who asked if the ice was good. Luckily, no one was injured.
CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia) responded to a call of a truck through the ice on Lake Waconia. Upon arriving on the scene, he saw a half-ton truck through the ice near shore. The owner had parked along the shoreline and the truck broke through the ice. Luckily, nobody was in the truck.
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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