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 seeing more anglers out this past week as many younger people are in the middle of winter break. Perch are being caught in shallower lakes in around 10 feet of water. Hill picked up a road-killed wolf near Grand Marais. A trapping investigation began as Hill located approximately 25 illegally set box traps. Hill was finally able to contact the trappers on the last day of the season as they were picking up their boxes. Charges are forthcoming and illegally taken fur was seized. Other than this case, Hill did not see much for fisher and pine marten traps, and he did not hear of many people in the county who took part in the season.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked snowmobile trails and riders this past week. She also assisted CO Hill on an illegal trapping case that included numerous violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked an abundance of snowmobile activity along the North Shore with freshly groomed trails. Slush continues to be problematic on area lakes as heavy, wet snow continues to fall. The most common snowmobile violation continues to be loud modified mufflers and licensing violations.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) reports anglers are catching fish off the Two Harbors break wall in the early mornings and reports the heavy, wet snow continues to be problematic for slush on area inland lakes.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) investigated a wanton waste and deer-dumping case where a whole deer was tossed out on the side of a road.
CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports working a pine marten trapping enforcement detail in the northeastern part of the state, and responding to issues of road-killed turkey and owl, a stolen fish house, and an incident where somebody took an ATV with tracks and ripped up the groomed mountain bike trails in the Sagamore Unit of the Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area.
CO Chris Tetrault (Maplewood) seized an estimated 167- inch green-scored buck that was illegally taken over corn. The deer was a late-season archery harvest.
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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