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 anglers on remote trout lakes, small-game hunters, and ATV riders out enjoying the trails. He took individuals from the Cook County High School AP Environmental Science class and Cook County Soil and Water on Lake Superior to collect water samples. Time was spent working on equipment maintenance.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports Cook County was full of small-game hunters and ATV riders throughout the week. The leaves are all but down, giving hunters a great view of the forest floor. Bird harvest is still very, very high with near-limits being consistently seen. A reminder to leave a wing on your bird if you plan to transport them in your vehicle. Hill spoke on WTIP radio about the fall hunting and fishing seasons. Hill responded to a trespass and possible-poached-moose call up the Gunflint Trail. The homeowner claimed to have seen two hunters dragging a dead moose across the driveway. Further investigation showed that the homeowner was actually watching their driveway via security camera as they were sitting in their other house a few states away. The “hunters” were the neighbors, and the “moose” was actually a large tent.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) continued to work night shining complaint areas within the district. Time was spent working archery deer-hunting locations. ATV enforcement was monitored in past complaint areas and small-game hunters were worked during the week. A variety of calls were investigated, which include hunting from a motor vehicle, trespass, decorative material harvest, litter, and assisting the Duluth Police Department with a hunting violation within their city.

CO Ryan Brown (Karlstad) reports a good turnout for the youth deer season. Reports of several nice deer have been taken. Brown wants to remind hunters to check the regulations book for bag limits and bonus tag usage for the youth season. Prior to the start of the youth season, Brown was left a voicemail by an individual stating there was a wounded deer in the field with the head flopping all around. Once Brown received cell phone service, he called the individual back. The caller stated, “After a closer look, I see that it is a wet cardboard box, so you don’t need to come dispatch it.”

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) checked multiple waterfowl hunters, with very poor success found. The early antlerless deer season and youth season were also monitored, with registration violations found. A youth deer hunter mistook a gray wolf for a coyote and killed it. An accidental river otter was also killed in a nuisance-beaver trapping site. Enforcement action was also taken for solid waste litter.

CO Leah Kampa (Annandale) checked hunters and anglers. Waterfowl hunters checked over the weekend had little success. Deer-possession permits were issued. Area lakes were checked, and the fall crappie bite has started. Enforcement action for the week included insufficient number of life jackets on a watercraft, knowing allowing a minor to hunt illegally, transporting a loaded firearm, no pheasant stamp, blaze orange violation, failure to have a burning permit and a turkey overlimit.

CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) checked hunters and anglers. Plenty of youth hunters were out attempting their luck and skill during the youth deer hunt. Fogarty stopped in at a local youth hunting event and had great conversations with up-and-coming hunters. Fogarty checked some remote archery deer hunters camping in the SRA. Fogarty also observed a driver come into the SRA with an open tailgate and a truck box full of yard waste. The driver got back into his vehicle when he noticed Fogarty approaching him. One traffic stop, and a long conversation later, the driver thought it might be better to place his yard waste at his local city compost pile. Enforcement action was taken for failure to have a vehicle permit for the state park and failure to have a plug in a shotgun while waterfowl hunting.

CO Brittany Hauser (Red Wing) spent the week following up on various hunting complaints. Assistance was also given to the Goodhue County Sheriff ’s Office for a vehicle crash and a burglary in progress. Enforcement action for the week included no license in possession.

CO Annette Kyllo (Rochester #1) spent the week checking goose, pheasant and deer hunters. A highlight of Kyllo’s week involved checking some youth hunters at a WMA access where the youngest member of the group had just shot his first deer. The juvenile was excited to tell Kyllo the story of his hunt, with many good-natured interjections by his brothers and cousins.