Cook County News Herald

Conservation Officer Tales


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 bear hunters and bait stations. Most hunters had good success over the weekend. Nuisance-animal complaints were handled. Enforcement action was taken for big-game, ATV and firearms violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) spent a busy week working bear hunters and checking bait stations. Most stations were clean, but some trash and animal carcasses were located and numerous ATV violations were noted. Manning also checked anglers and boat accesses and continued to enforce the current burning restrictions. Nuisance-beaver complaints and bear-related complaints continue, including one bear that managed to lock itself inside a truck.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports an exciting week of bear hunting, angling, and ATV contacts. Bear hunters reported excellent success during the first few days of the season with some 300-plus-pound bears checked. Hill dealt with multiple hunters illegally concealing loaded handguns. A reminder to follow all handgun laws as there are serious consequences if you are found without a carry permit. ATV traffic is getting busier as the hunting seasons have arrived. Enforcement action was taken on a group of riders after Hill determined they illegally drove through a lake that had recently fallen victim to low water levels, leaving mud and sand exposed. Another local lake is seeing high numbers of fish in the cooler. Because Hill promised the anglers he wouldn’t divulge the name of the lake, all he can say is that the bite has been superior.

CO Chelsey Best (Pequot Lakes) spent the busy holiday weekend enforcing fishing, waterfowl and bear-hunting regulations. A three-officer detail was worked in the Foothills State Forest. Enforcement action was taken for no licenses in possession, no PFDs, registration and transfer issues, no helmets, operating OHMs and ORVs on non-designated trails, operate off-trail in a state forest, careless operation and burning during a ban. One ATV contact began when officers came around the corner on one of the Spider Lake ATV trails to see a class 1 ATV buried in a beaver pond, and a second machine’s operator attempting to attach a tow strap to remove the swamped machine. The officers assisted the pair with directions how to safely tow the stuck machine out of the pond. Both operators received enforcement action for various violations.

CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) checked anglers and teal hunters. Fogarty checked several teal hunters during the busy teal season opener. Most hunters seemed to have one or two birds in hand. Fogarty checked anglers along the Minnesota River and its backwaters. Violations encountered were angling without a license, angling with an extra line, shotgun without a plug and out-of-season wood duck. Fogarty assisted in rescuing a family of four from the Minnesota River. The family set out for a kayak camping trip but became stuck in a downed tree. Their kayaks went under the water and became stuck in the tree. Two of the kayakers were able to get out of the tree, but the other two were left hanging onto the tree. All four were picked up by COs and returned to the landing.

CO Tyler Ramaker (La Crescent) patrolled state forest lands and private property for people harvesting ginseng before the season. Duck hunters taking part in the state’s first early teal season were contacted. Hunters were cautious about species identification and, therefore, not many teal were observed in the bag. A report of illegal take of protected turtles was investigated.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) worked the bear, teal and early goose openers. Area lakes and ATV trails were patrolled. He responded to a call of an individual being shot.

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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