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 checking traps and ATV activity and monitoring the spring fish run. Trout anglers along North Shore tributaries were checked. He assisted the sheriff’s office with calls and met with trappers about incidental takes.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled forest roads and trails and checked lakes and rivers. Stretches of some forest roads still have snow, making travel difficult even by ATV. Travelers are urged to use caution when traveling these as some frost boils can easily sink a car or truck. Lake conditions are looking better for the opener, although the cold snap may slow the melt.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports another busy week of fishing enforcement on the tributaries. Hill contacted multiple people in violation of the no-camping and no-campfire order issued by the U.S. Forest Service. They were also in possession of marijuana. A few ATVs were seen, and compliance was great. The spring fish run is starting to pick up.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) spent time following up on litter complaints and checking angling activity in the area. One resident of Wisconsin was found angling with a resident Minnesota license. After receiving a citation, the angler decided to go out and purchase the proper non-resident license so she could continue fishing. A waters complaint was investigated where work was being done in an area lake. The current work done was found to be legal and did not need a permit. Dog training continues with K9 Schody and other new K9s.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) found high numbers of people out at popular shore-fishing spots. Several people were caught targeting bass out of season and trying to bring them home. One individual was found sitting on his 5-gallon pail with his fishing pole hidden in the grass a few feet away. After initially refusing to stand up from the pail, he finally had to get up to retrieve his billfold and ID, which revealed a few smallmouth bass inside the pail. Another group was caught hustling through the woods, to their truck, with a pail containing over a dozen smallmouth bass.
CO Nathan Benkofske (Milaca) reports enforcing ATV and fishing laws in the area. A great-horned owl was freed from a barbwire fence and managed to fly away. A car was followed after it was seen doing donuts and burnouts, resulting in a DWI arrest with the help of the State Patrol. Benkofske also stopped an ATV for traffic violations. The ATV was found to be stolen. The real owner was happy to have it recovered.
CO Derek Schneider (Zumbrota) arrested an intoxicated boater on the Mississippi River after the boat tipped over near a public access. The intoxicated man went to retrieve the pickup/trailer and left a juvenile holding onto the boat. The boat was taking on water due to strong waves and tipped over near the dock. Schneider also handled several trespass complaints and a citation was issued to a trout angler who was trespassing. A TIP call about a walleye being taken out of season on the Cannon River resulted in enforcement action.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) monitored spring fishing, ATV and fire activities. Enforcement action was taken for burning without a permit, failure to stay with a permitted fire, angling without a license, angling while license is suspended, no helmet on a juvenile ATV passenger, no life jacket, possession of drug paraphernalia, possessing a small amount of marijuana and watercraft/ATV registration violations.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) monitored angling and fish-run activity. She answered questions about rough fish regulations and patrolled wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas. Warren monitored areas of burning and checked for permits. A call of a bear and two cubs found shot near the Mahnomen/Norman county line is being investigated. Anyone with information is asked to contact Warren.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) checked anglers, investigated litter complaints, and worked AIS and ATV enforcement. Plautz found morel mushroom hunters out over the weekend and high numbers of anglers in the area. Miscellaneous wildlife-related calls were handled such as a car-killed hawk and a dead swan on the roadway.
CO Tyler Ramaker (La Crescent) contacted a nonresident trout angler fishing Pine Creek without a license. The angler had three brown trout in possession. The angler said he wanted to go trout fishing, but his state’s trout season was not open yet so he took a chance. Enforcement action was taken and the trout were seized. Angling easement conflicts were responded to. Assistance was also given to Winona County Sheriff’s Office.
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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