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 Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area parks, lakes, accesses, forest campgrounds and cross-country ski trails. She also handled calls on bear hunting, road-killed deer, snowmobile traffic and fishing licenses. Park visitors are reminded that social distancing does not mean driving past the unstaffed self-service registration kiosk and avoiding buying a park permit. Please enjoy the outdoors close to home and don’t forget to get your current licenses and registrations.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) checked some last-minute trout anglers during the week. Very few fish were seen in the bag but spirits were still high. Anglers are starting to fish the tributaries as the ice is beginning to recede with a longer stretch of warm weather hitting the area this past week. Snowmobile trails in the area are showing mud and rock, so if you plan on snowmobiling be sure to ride as far north as possible on the G-Trail and the X-Trail to avoid beating your sled up too much. DNR facilities and state parks were monitored and Hill noticed high usage with the statewide push to get people outdoors during this time of uncertainty.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked fishing activity and a litter case where a large pile of trash was dumped at a public access. Many people were encountered from out of town venturing outdoors. Although outdoor activities are allowed, do not travel across several counties to get to your favorite fishing hole at this time.
CO Tim Collette (Brainerd) found lots of people out fishing during the “Stay at Home” order. Some, but not all, are observing safe distances from each other. Ice conditions are deteriorating fast, with a pickup and a four-wheeler going through the ice this past week.
CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia) reports some anglers are still out and about along the rivers. Just a reminder that closed doesn’t mean catch and release for walleyes, northern pike, and bass. A littering issue was addressed at a local boat launch and enforcement action was taken for a juvenile with multiple ATV violations. The juvenile was traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour on a county road on a Class 1 ATV.
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports flying a mission to search for a possible missing trapper in a local river system. The trapper was found upstream setting his traps. Jensen also responded to a TIP complaint of an over-limit of crappies and spent time in local state parks monitoring property and buildings.
Water Resources Enforcement Officer (WREO) Julie Siems (SE) took a complaint regarding pumping manure through public water. Assistance was given to another agency related to individuals driving in a WMA. Follow up is also being done on ongoing wetland and public water cases.
CO Hannah Mishler (Bemidji #2) checked anglers on area lakes, as well as the Rainy River. Time was also spent on ATV and OHM enforcement as well as training with K9 Storm. Mishler and Storm assisted the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office with attempting to locate a firearm thought to be discarded from a vehicle.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports seeing angling pressure waning as ice conditions on the shore deteriorate. An increase in people walking the trails in area state parks seemed to pick up with the nicer weather and the shelter-at-home order that went into effect. A permit was issued for a car-killed bobcat. A call from a new resident to the area was taken looking for advice on area public lands to hunt during the upcoming spring turkey season. A dead eagle was collected and delivered to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
CO Ben Karon (Pine City) spent this past week assisting local agencies. Time was spent handling a TIP about a person using a cast net on the Snake River. Ice conditions continue to worsen. Please use caution when ice fishing and remember to buy a new fishing license.
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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