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) reports angling activity remains high on trout lakes that are easily accessible. Success was decent for both lake and stream trout. Time was also spent meeting with Fisheries to discuss upcoming plans for lakes in the area. Enforcement action was taken for an overlimit of fish and snowmobile, ATV and license violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) spent some time on the local snowmobile trails checking riders and conditions. A little fresh snow that fell over the weekend will allow some grooming to happen, but trails are still rough in many places as snow cover is thin. She also checked anglers, handled trapping questions and assisted Cook County with a couple calls.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports monitoring angling activity throughout the past week. Small trout of various species were seen in multiple buckets. A few no-license-in-possession violations were encountered. Even with minimal snow, snowmobile activity is ramping up in the Grand Marais area and snowmobile registration violations are common. Cross-country skiers are also looking to the sky for some snow.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked primarily trout angling enforcement and snowmobile enforcement this past week, as well as following up on cases from the deer season. Enforcement action included taking an overlimit of deer, taking a doe without a permit, unlawful use of a bonus tag, failure to display snowmobile registration, and fishing with extra lines. Bermel and CO Williams encountered a group in the BWCAW with a gas-powered auger and a 24 pack of beer cans. They also rode their snowmobile into the wilderness, and one individual provided a fake ID with a false date of birth. Appropriate citations were handed out.
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked anglers and snowmobile enforcement in the Duluth and Two Harbors areas. Olson reports the trails have been in tough shape in and around the Duluth area. Trail conditions improved somewhat around Two Harbors. Anglers had some success over the past weekend with crappies and northern pike on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for registration violations and a snowmobile-trespass complaint was followed up on in the Meadowlands area. Reports continue to be heard of great grey owls still being seen with some frequency in the area.
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