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) checked anglers on a very busy BWCA trout opener. Several folks had to be reminded to have their license in possession and to leave their aluminum beverage cans at home. Manning and CO Hill assisted the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office with a deer on the ice in the downtown harbor. The deer was safely escorted off the bay and onto shore. Manning also checked snowmobiles and an ORV and helped DNR Wildlife with fur registration.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time in the BWCA for the trout opener. Lakes were busy with anglers and the lake trout were cooperating for most of them. Enforcement action was taken for drugs, angling and snowmobile violations.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports working the BWCA trout opener with other officers in the area. The wilderness was full of people angling, skiing, snowshoeing, and camping. Anglers had great success with multiple limits of lake trout seen on the ice. No license in possession was a common violation seen over the weekend. A few people left with citations after bringing aluminum cans into the wilderness. Hill saw an influx of snowmobile activity, which also brought numerous registration tickets. Not only do you need to register your snowmobile, you need to display it. You cannot keep it in your pocket. Hill rescued a cross-country skier lost on a ski trail, along with a deer that decided to ride around the Grand Marais Harbor on a floating ice chunk.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored trapping activity and worked snowmobile enforcement. Fairbanks and his K9 partner Si were also requested to assist in locating a firearm that was thrown by a fleeing suspect. K9 Si was able to find a handgun buried in the snow. Enforcement action was taken for license issues, possession of illegal-length northern pike, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked ice fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, and ATV activities. Numerous violations were found for extra lines, minors with alcohol, illegal fish, and fishing license requirements. Starr found a juvenile fishing with extra lines, only to find out the juvenile’s father was issued a citation three years prior, by the same officer, in the same fish house, and in the same location on the lake. A lengthy conversation was had with the father/son on how to break this family habit.
CO Rick Reller (Buffalo) captured three trumpeter swans this past week that could not fly due to lead poisoning. There were transported to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for treatment. Ice fishing has increased in the area with some good ice conditions for traveling on foot. Some anglers are using ATVs. Keep in mind some lakes still have areas of thin ice and extreme caution should be used.
NR Pilot John Heineman (Bemidji) flew three wolf pack count telemetry flights and a Duluth fish house creel survey.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) worked a New Year’s Day detail on Lake of the Woods. During the detail, a report of a skinned mountain lion along the ice road was received. Investigation showed it to be bobcat carcass, and not the aforementioned cougar. Enforcement action for the week included possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, angling with extra lines, angling with unattended lines, possession of dressed fillets on a special regulations water and snowmobile/ATV registration violations.
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) took reports of snowmobiles through the ice. Luckily, there were no injuries. The holiday weekend saw beautiful weather and a lot of activity around the lakes. Pheasant hunters were blessed with great conditions for the last weekend of the season. Enforcement action was taken for fishing violations along with recreational vehicles on or near the lakes.
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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