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 Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time in the BWCAW checking anglers. He worked snowmobile trails and area lakes. Wahlstrom responded to loud snowmobile exhaust complaints and enforcement action was taken.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers and snowmobilers. Lake conditions are much improved over last week and snowmobile trails are looking good. She also took a call about trapping.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked deer cases and patrolled by snowmobile throughout the week. Snowmobile trail conditions are good and are seeing fairly high use. Enforcement action included taking a doe without a doe permit, a parent cited for a youth deer-hunting violation, and deerregistration violations.
CO Ashley Whiteoak (Malmo) spent time patrolling ice angling, snowmobiling, and trapping enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for unattended lines, failure to display ATV registration, unlawful-size body gripping trap, and failure to have proper recess from the opening on a body-gripping trap.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked fishing, snowmobile, ATV, and trapping activities. Wheelhouses showed up in full force this past weekend, with numerous folks falling prey to the full moons magical powers? Partygoers and hardcore anglers seemed to be enjoying some thicker ice conditions. Starr encountered an angler who was tending 10 lines inside a fish house. Oddly enough, the lines were placed in only six open holes.
CO Mikeena Mattson (Wealthwood) attended snowmobile operation training in International Falls this past week. Additionally, she contacted anglers on Mille Lacs Lake. Violations encountered included no fishing license in possession, no shelter license, no shelter identification, failure to display ATV registration, and unattended fishing lines.
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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