|
|
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) saw most of the area snow melt away, leaving trails and portages bare. Lake conditions are slightly better, but angling has been slow and very wet. Snow melt-off and windy conditions also mean restrictions to burning permits. One homeowner was contacted regarding a pile that had flared back up and had a small amount of illegal material.
CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) worked snowmobile trails and closed forest roads for illegal ATV operation. Time was spent working the North Shore for shore and river anglers. Anglers were checked returning from Lake Superior at McQuade Harbor and success was mixed but most were having some kind of luck. Nuisance-animal complaints were handled.
CO Vang Lee (ELCOP) checked anglers and monitored ATV activities on the metro-area lakes and trails. He took calls about a muskrat that injured a dog in Coon Rapids and trout fishing in Farmington. He also assisted with fishing regulation translations and took enforcement action for fishing without an angling license.
CO Ryan Hanna (White Bear Lake) received a complaint of a structure on one of the area lakes. Multiple times the lake was checked with no structure. Hanna also responded to an area residence to help a deer free himself from a child’s swing set. The deer was separated from the swing and ran off without a scratch.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports the river to be in good condition with all accesses open and limits of perch being caught. He worked the river in the Red Wing and Dresbach areas and assisted CO Ramaker with airboat training. Hemker also received several nuisance wild animal calls and questions, including one about a squirrel in a chimney.
CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) spent the majority of the week focused on angling, snow goose hunting, and recreational vehicle enforcement. With the nicer weather, more people have been observed out riding ATVs and angling at area dams. Wood encourages people to brush up on the ATV regulations before heading out for a ride. She’s observed varied angling success at the area dams and has received questions regarding the “bubbles” that seem to be around the eyes of the walleyes being caught. According to the Ortonville Fisheries supervisor, the bubbles are likely the result of gas bubble disease. The fish that have these most likely wintered in Mud Lake, which has high oxygen levels. Violations encountered during the week included angling without a license, angling without a license in possession, operating an ATV without headlights, operating an ATV without ATV safety, juvenile passenger on an ATV without a helmet, operating an unregistered ATV, failure to display ATV registration, and failure to notify of transfer of ownership of ATV.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports ice conditions have deteriorated, nearly to the point anglers can’t access. Please use caution and plan on rescuing yourself if you fall through. Life jackets, ice picks and a plan to crawl out should be considered. Vinton discussed possession limits with a couple of out-of-state anglers and took enforcement action on unpermitted fires. Vinton assisted the Otter Tail County Sheriff ’s Office with a call in rural Otter Tail County where it was reported someone was threating to burn another person’s house down and now their house was on fire. The sheriff ’s office apprehended one person at the scene.
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked pike anglers on Lake of the Woods. Several arsons were investigated in Marshall and Kittson counties. Charges are pending for a grassland arson in Kittson County.
CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) spent the week patrolling for area angling activity on the open water of the Mississippi River. While checking a group of anglers, an individual was found to not have the proper angling license. It was then discovered that the individual also had multiple warrants for their arrest. With the help of a Goodhue County deputy, the individual was placed under arrest and transported to the local access where they were transferred to an awaiting squad car. Enforcement action was also taken for various boating and fishing violations.
CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) spent the week patrolling for anglers. Several complaints were filed against anglers targeting bass and pike out of season. Enforcement action was taken for targeting bass out of season, providing a false date of birth to a peace officer, and fishing without a license.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) patrolled area lakes for angling activity. Due to recent warm weather, ice in the area has been deteriorating rapidly. A complaint of ATVs operating on a grant-in-aid trail during closure was investigated. Numerous ATVs were contacted operating on the closed ATV trail. Someone who didn’t agree with the closure had removed the “trail closed” sign at the trailhead, but it was located in the woods. ATV trails are set to open Saturday, May 1. Any operation prior can cause excessive damage to the trail bed. Enforcement action was taken.
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
Leave a Reply