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 the past week checking whitefish netters. He worked a detail in the BWCAW on Basswood Lake. Enforcement action was taken for whitefish netting, trapping and firearms violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) followed up on cases from the bear season and began the hunt for early stands and deer bait. She spoke with local radio regarding firearms safety and the upcoming hunting season safety issues. Manning also worked with U.S. Forest Service law enforcement on a deer-possession and extended camping case. She checked a scattering of grouse hunters, checked trap sets and checked a few anglers still able to find open water and catch a few fish before the close of the inland trout season.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports conducting bear-hunting interviews after a few registration violations were uncovered that occurred during the season. Hill checked whitefish netters coming off of fall, Newton, and Basswood lakes in the Ely area earlier in the week. Those who went in a long distance found the most success. A citation was issued to a person for a canoe-registration violation, and multiple warnings were issued to people for leaving their licenses at home and for transporting their boat to the access with the drain plug still in. A medical call was responded to in Lutsen and an abandoned kayak on Cascade River State Park property was investigated.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) worked with COC Stephen Westby this past week. An archery deer hunter, hunting with a permitted crossbow, was checked afield hunting over a baited area. The hunter had a crossbow and a handgun seized for this violation. The hunter faces a one-year license revocation from the date of conviction, a hefty fine, and forfeiture of firearm/ archery equipment used in the violation.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked on shining complaints and issued several permits for deer hit by vehicles. Trapping activity appears to be down as fur prices are very low. Fall anglers were checked, with some walleyes being caught from shore. Assistance was given to a novice motorist who blew out a truck tire and was driving on the rim.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) took complaints of feeding deer in areas with CWD restrictions, poaching deer at night, and other illegal taking of deer. One suspect was interviewed about a poached deer and initially denied any wrongdoing. After explaining strong evidence, which included the finding of a dead deer and a blood trail that led to the suspect’s back porch, the poacher finally admitted to shooting a deer over bait, from the porch, and with no license.
CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) patrolled for waterfowl hunters and archery deer hunters. Additional time was spent fielding questions on the upcoming firearms deer season. Seamans received a call from a waterfowl hunter on the Mississippi River who supposedly found a dead swan. The hunter claimed that someone upriver shot the swan and it floated by his decoys. While on the phone with the hunter, a nearby landowner called to report that a hunter just shot a swan. The waterfowl hunter who accused someone upstream of shooting the swan was now being accused of the crime. The hunter eventually admitted to shooting the swan and making up the story. He was cited for shooting a swan and his firearm was seized.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports warmer weather has melted much of the snow and many of the lakes are reopening after freezing with light ice. Several car-killed deer permits were issued for deer struck by cars. Drivers are reminded that over the next few weeks, deer will be moving as bucks start seeking does. Vinton assisted the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office with the rescue of three duck hunters who lost power in their trolling motor battery and became stuck in wild rice and ice. Before the officers could reach the hunters, another hunter contacted Vinton and advised he was hunting close to the group and offered to tow them to the launch. The hunters were uninjured and very thankful for all involved. Hunting this time of year requires more preparation than when temperatures and conditions are milder. Those who venture out should be prepared and have a plan if they get into trouble.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Cook) spent time finishing decorative material cases and completing vehicle maintenance over the past week. Zavodnik received multiple complaints regarding spruce-top theft during the week, including one where an off-duty forester observed suspicious spruce-top activity. Initially, the suspect denied taking spruce tops on private property without permission, but quickly changed his tune when there was clear evidence that he was the culprit. Over 1,200 spruce tops were seized at the individual’s residence and enforcement action was taken. Zavodnik also assisted local law enforcement with several physical domestic assault cases over the week and arrested an individual who was charged with a fourth-degree DWI.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) assisted for Vice President Pence’s visit to Hibbing and fielded calls with questions in regards to trespass and upcoming hunting seasons. Miscellaneous wildlife-related calls were dealt with. In one instance, an individual had been watching a deer off and on most of the summer when it had been fleeing from wolves and seeking safety by standing in the river. On the day of the call, the caller found the buck after being alerted to the scene by birds. The caller showed several pictures that told the tale throughout the year, with the wolves ultimately winning the cat-and-mouse game. Decorative materials harvesting and netting activity filled out the remainder of the week.
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