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) checked anglers on remote trout lakes who were struggling with the slush and a few flowages that have opened with the warm weather. Snowmobile trails remain busy with all the fresh snow. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile and fishing violations.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports conducting equipment maintenance during the week. Hill spent time closing old cases and transferring various wild animals to DNR Wildlife for research opportunities. A radio interview was done with WTIP in Grand Marais. The snowmobile trails were busy during the week and one operator was cited for having an extremely loud muffler that was not in proper working condition. Please watch decibel levels on snowmobile exhausts, as landowners do not appreciate the extra noise on the trails.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) worked sport fishing and snowmobile and trail enforcement. A drunk snowmobiler was arrested off the Paul Bunyan Trail after driving on the shoulder of a county road, carelessly passing a group of snowmobilers, including Guida, and failing to stop for two separate stop signs while traveling approximately 70 to 80 miles per hour. The operator, who tested at nearly twice the legal .08 limit, was charged with a 4th Degree DUI. The operator’s driver’s license was immediately invalidated and subject to a revocation period by the Commissioner of Public Safety for a period of 90 days based on conviction. Numerous other snowmobiler groups were contacted during the week and stated they appreciated the DNR’s efforts to keep the area trails safe.
CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) followed up on trapping cases and worked snowmobile activity and angling activity on area lakes. Ladd also stopped out at a residence upon seeing heavy amounts of black smoke in the air. She observed the landowner burning a tire. He advised it was just one tire but that he knew it was illegal.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) handled a few trespassing complaints involving snowmobile trail riders going off trail and driving across farm fields. One of the complainants was a farmer who called and then got on his tractor and quickly had one of the snowmobilers tracked down. When Grundmeier arrived, the farmer was off his tractor and expressing his thoughts to the trespasser on how he allowed the DNR to have a trail across his fields as long as riders stayed on the trail. It appeared the trespasser clearly understood and was unlikely to trespass again.
CO Leah Kampa (Annandale) checked anglers and patrolled snowmobile trails. Kampa worked a detail on Mille Lacs Lake over the weekend. Enforcement action for the week included illegal-length northern pike and walleyes, extra lines, marijuana paraphernalia, and failure to display a shelter license when required. Several ATV and snowmobile violations were addressed.
CO Mike Krauel (Mora) spent the past week checking ice anglers. Several anglers were finding success on area lakes and were enjoying the milder winter weather. Krauel also spent time patrolling for snowmobile activity. He also assisted other officers with a vehicle that went off the road where the driver was having a medical emergency. Enforcement action was taken for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, angling with an extra line, no angling license, expired ATV registration and snowmobile trespassing. Krauel also made a warrant arrest.
CO Annette Kyllo (Rochester 1) participated in a work detail on Mille Lacs Lake. It was estimated there were between 7,000 and 10,000 ice shelters on the lake this past weekend. Kyllo also talked to approximately 80 fourth-grade students about ice safety and what a job as a conservation officer is like.
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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