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 anglers, watercraft and bear-baiting activity. He responded to several nuisance-wildlife complaints. Enforcement action was taken for angling, public lands and watercraft violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) reports a busy start to bear baiting. Hunter conflicts are being reported and handled by Manning as some hunters still think of public-land bait stations as “theirs.” Manning also checked ATV riders and boaters. Both groups are reminded to read the regulation books for their chosen activity before hitting the woods and water.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a lot of bear activity in the station throughout the week. Bears have already been hitting baits after the baiting season started August 14. Unfortunately, bears are still getting into dumpsters and garages along the shore. A reminder to bear hunters: Consult with U.S. Forest Service and DNR regulations regarding off-trail ATV travel. Although it may look like a road/trail to operate your machine, it very well could be an illegally maintained trail. Also keep in mind that longstanding bait stations on public land are first come, first serve. Hill took a report of a male party arguing that it is “his bait” and that he has been baiting it for many years.
This kind of behavior is unnecessary and there are many opportunities elsewhere to establish a bait station. Hill spoke with a person for illegally harvesting wild animals within the Highway 61 State Game Refuge.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) investigated an early bearbaiting complaint and also took nuisance-bear calls in the area. Assistance was given to the State Patrol with a vehicle that was ramming another vehicle on the interstate. The suspect vehicle ended up in the median and the victim on the side of the interstate. The suspect driver was arrested for DUI. An investigation was started in regards to a complaint of a stolen minnow trap in the Wrenshall area. If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the TIP line.
CO Tim Collette (Brainerd West) responded to calls of illegal cattail removal, public waters and wetland filling, injured deer, and an injured goose in the middle of a four-lane highway. A call of a four-wheel drive vehicle that had “slipped inadvertently” off an ATV trail into a wet area turned out to be an individual showing off to his passenger that he could drive his Jeep-type vehicle through a beaver pond. He got it buried, with swamp water up to the seats inside. After getting it pulled out, he got a ticket to go with his tow bill.
CO Luke Gutzwiller (Redwood Falls) spent time this past week working angling activity. A good catfish bite was found on the Minnesota River. Enforcement action was taken for angling license issues. Assistance was given to the Lac Qui Parle Sheriff ’s Office involving an abandoned snowmobile.
CO Ryan Hanna (White Bear Lake) patrolled lakes for continued angling enforcement. One angler believed that if you lived on the lake, you did not need a license to fish. The angler was advised differently and the situation was dealt with accordingly.
CO Jim Robinson (Slayton) spent the past week checking anglers and enforcing boat safety laws. Numerous deer-hunting questions were fielded. Complaints about crop dusters flying over houses and lakes were received.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports the river was in great condition with limits of sunfish, crappies and perch found. He checked ATVs on local trails and patrolled ginseng areas. Hemker also was involved with a trespass incident involving people collecting seeds. He also checked on a complaint of a person possessing a wild animal illegally.
CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports flying an aquatic plants management program enforcement flight, illegal tree stand in a state forest and a Wetland Conservation Act photo flight. Jensen also assisted in attempting to locate a drowning victim near Detroit Lakes. A boat/water detail was also worked with enforcement action taken for no current watercraft registration displayed, insufficient personal floatation devices, no observer while pulling tubes and allowing riders on the bow while underway. A fallen tree was also removed from a state trail.
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