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 ATVs, waterfowl and grouse hunters and anglers. Complaints of trespass, nuisance bears, illegal ATV use and shooting from the road were worked. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and hunting violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked grouse hunters and ATV operators during another busy week of small-game hunting. She took reports of possible overlimits of grouse being taken; the caller was concerned that good grouse numbers are leading to the hunters filling their freezers back home with more than their possession limit. Another party reported watching a hunter fire out of his Jeep window at a grouse near a residence. This was the fourth report of problem hunters in a 5-mile stretch of road this season. Hunters are reminded to double check firearms before putting them back in their vehicles. A few hunters this weekend received the reminder along with some paperwork.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) took care of equipment maintenance and outstanding administrative duties throughout the week. Anglers were monitored in the tributaries, as vulnerable fish are still plentiful. Multiple bear calls were taken and advice was given on how to live with them nearby. The Minnesota DNR website has excellent information on the subject.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent time checking duck hunters, small-game hunters, and a few archery deer hunters. Waterfowl hunters who put in the effort to paddle their way into remote river backwaters did fairly well finding wood ducks. Bow hunters who were checked, reported seeing a lot of deer coming into oak stands looking for acorns. Assistance was also provided with the apprehension of a group of thieves that ran and hid in a cornfield after crashing their car. In addition to stealing property and running from cops, the suspects also made poor decisions by running into a cornfield, on a cold rainy morning, while wearing flipflops and pajama bottoms.
CO Keith Bertram (Long Prairie) responded to a bear in a corn chopper call this past week. The bear was apparently spooked by the chopper and ran into the machine while it was cutting corn. It was injured and took off into a swamp. Bertram received excellent assistance from the Morrison County Sheriff ’s Office. The bear had to be put down due to its injuries and the meat was salvaged.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) focused enforcement efforts this past week on waterfowl hunters and fall anglers. Duck numbers are steady in the area with teal and wood ducks the most common birds harvested. Panfish success continues and muskie activity has picked up with colder weather and light winds. One pair of anglers took out a State Park rescue boat without authorization and upon returning to shore, it was discovered that neither had a fishing license and no PFDs were brought onboard. Citations were issued to both people.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports fall is in full swing with more than the usual number of visitors using the great north woods to get away and relax. Dispersed camping has become more prominent although tent camping has become less popular as the temperatures drop at night. Grouse hunters have mostly been successful, with good reports heard. A popular and disturbing violation encountered in recent days has been the transport of loaded firearms in/ on a motor vehicle. In one instance the individual had a loaded shotgun in the cab of their pickup with the safety in the fire position with an excited dog also in the cab stepping on the gun. Situations like this are prime for a bad ending to a good day. A few minutes thinking about safety fundamentals for outdoor recreation will allow everyone to go home at the end of the day. Various hunting and ATV violations were encountered.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Cook) encountered the same individual who was cited the previous week for transporting spruce tops without a permit. Again, he was found to be driving a borrowed pickup truck and transporting spruce top bundles illegally. The subject’s spruce tops were seized again. A 50-year Volunteer Firearm Instructor Award was also given to an instructor from the Cook/Orr area. His dedication to the program and the students definitely do not go unnoticed. Thank you, sir!!
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) monitoring hunting and angling activity, ATV riders and checked on a wetland fill complaint. A duck hunter who was transporting a loaded shotgun was arrested on a felony warrant. Everyone has heard of distracted driving, but distracted horseback riding was observed for the first time. The rider, however, continued on with the smartphone without incident. Enforcement action was taken on transport loaded firearm and a number of ATV violations.
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