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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) checked remote trout lakes in the area. Anglers were out enjoying the nice weather and decent fishing. ATV trails were monitored and wildlife-related complaints were handled.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked ATV operators, boaters and anglers this week. Manning provided security assistance on a prescribed fire in the Swamp River WMA that will improve habitat for numerous bird and animal species, including moose. Manning worked with CO Hill, U.S. Forest Service Officer Belmore, and volunteer safety instructors to hold a field day for firearms safety class students. Manning and Hill also assisted Cook County sheriff ’s deputies with a domestic assault incident.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) hit the water and monitored ATV routes throughout the week. Hill spent time in the BWCA and found multiple people in possession of empty beer cans and a glass vodka bottle. Pay attention to the video you watch before you enter the BWCA. All of the laws are gone over. If you forget, just look at the back of your permit. Everything is on there. Fish were hit and miss throughout the station. Some anglers were skunked while other anglers went home with limits. Permits were issued for possessing moose skulls and antlers and a permit was issued for nuisance beavers. Hill assisted Cook County with two domestics over the weekend.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling activity and answered calls of nuisance-beaver and nuisance-bear activity. Beavers have been busy trying to save what water they have left during this dry period and sometimes that activity is in conflict with property owners’ plans. Likewise, bears are now out searching for food after the long winter and are drawn to backyard bird feeders and other food sources.
CO Zachary Larson (Hutchinson-East) continued to focus on fishing and boating activity throughout McLeod and Sibley counties. Area lakes continue to be busy with anglers out enjoying the new season. Nuisance-beaver calls are becoming more common throughout the station. Larson would like to remind people to make sure you have the correct number of life jackets in your watercraft prior to putting your boat in the water.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent time in the boat and on an ATV this week. Due to lack of rain in the area, the waters are low, and the trails are dusty. Numerous bear-related complaints were received, and property owners are reminded to remove all attractants such as bird feeders and garbage to prevent damage. Enforcement action this week included no angling license, no PFD, failure to display lights in a watercraft when required, and numerous ATV-related violations. An investigation is ongoing into the illegal killing of a bear cub in western Cass County.
CO Tim Gray (Bagley) dealt with various animal-related issues. Gray advises people to not pick up baby animals or birds as they are often not abandoned.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to a complaint of an individual taking game fish with a cast net below the dam in Thief River Falls and fielded numerous calls about a cougar sighting near Alvarado. Enforcement action for the week included angling without a valid license, taking fish by an illegal method and no headlights on an ATV.
CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) worked fishing, boating, bowfishing and AIS education and preventive work this week. Concerns about bowfishing continue to make up most of the calls he is receiving. VanderWeyst advised one group that a capacity plate on a boat is the most people and weight for the boat. They were intending to launch with five people on a steel platform mounted on the boat. They had no life jackets. The very next bowfishing group into the access, who were previously out on an infested lake that night, attempted to launch without cleaning out their boat. They were encouraged to call it a night.
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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