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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) worked inside and outside the BWCAW this past week. Snowmobile trails and area trout lakes were also worked. He responded to another snowmobile accident in Cook County. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile and fishing violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked snowmobile trails and saw good compliance among late-season riders. All were pleased with the grooming crews’ efforts with the limited snow amounts. Warm weather forecast for the coming week could diminish trail conditions further. Manning also checked anglers and spoke with several folks planning end-of-season trout-fishing trips. Manning also took a report of a car-killed deer and an incidentally caught bobcat that was immediately reported by the trapper.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports checking anglers in the recreation area. A few were having some luck catching trout and panfish, but most were just happy to be outside with the warm weather. Park staff were assisted with a park issue and park permits were checked throughout the week and weekend. He received a call to respond to a local DNR office where some damage had been reported. Fitzgerald met with the local agency and was told the culprit had broken out a lower window in the building but could not gain entry. The culprit then went to the entrance doors by jumping up two layers of landscaping and broke another window but could not get into the building. The culprit then tried another window and, with no luck there either, jumped off the steps onto a lower roof and fled the scene. The witnesses only description of the culprit was that it had four legs, hooves, brown fur and a fluffy white tail. DNR staff were contacted to secure the windows and the culprit is still running free. Why it wanted to get inside the building is a mystery. Enforcement action for the week included various SRA, ATV and fishing violations.
CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) patrolled for anglers and recreational vehicle operators. Time was spent working a detail on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for failing to display valid snowmobile registration, angling with extra lines, angling with unattended lines, and placing a non-portable shelter on the ice without a license. One angler was contacted in a portable shelter off by himself. When Seamans knocked on the window, the angler threw a fishing pole out of his hands. The check revealed the angler was fishing with extra lines and fishing after having his license revoked for a gross overlimit in 2020.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the past week checking angling activity on area lakes. Anglers are finding a good panfish bite on almost all lakes, but conditions are deteriorating rapidly with the warm weather. Anglers are urged to use extreme caution on lakes, as one vehicle fell through the ice on South Lida Lake over the weekend. Fortunately, the angler was able to make it out safely. Anglers are reminded to purchase new fishing licenses and read the regulations book as numerous lakes in the area have new sunfish regulations. While working new special regulations lakes with CO Swedberg, one angler was found to have misread the regulations and possessed an overlimit of sunfish. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, angling without a license in possession, sunfish overlimit, illegal-length crappie, failure to renew ATV registration, juveniles on ATVs without helmets, and other ATV-related violations.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) primarily worked ATV riders, anglers, and a deer-taken-out-of-season complaint. (The animal had a bullet hole in it and was hanging in a garage.) The deer case should get wrapped in coming days with enforcement action. An organized ATV ride was worked with the help of CO Frericks. An estimated 200 ATV riders participated, and a large violation rate was encountered. Later in the day, a hit-and-run ATV injury crash was reported. The driver hit the ditch, was launched from the ATV and hit a tree with his head. He reportedly was intoxicated and did not stick around. In another case, Bozovsky was nearly hit head-on in his truck by an inattentive driver. The driver had a suspended driver’s license and no insurance. Enforcement action was taken for numerous ATV violations, ORV violations, driving after suspension and no insurance.
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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