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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 early ice anglers and muzzleloader hunters. He worked a complaint of a person living on state land, assisted with a case and followed up on past investigations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) investigated a report of a person staying in a camper on a WMA. The person was advised to find a new camping location. Manning also handled equipment-maintenance issues, trapping issues and a report of an injured bald eagle.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports checking a few lateseason muzzleloader hunters during the week. While on patrol, Hill noticed a vehicle parked on the side of Highway 61 by Cascade River State Park, with a set of footprints leading up the hill. A brief track led Hill to a hunter illegally hunting deer. A citation was issued. Hard-water anglers are starting to appear, and the fishing report wasn’t great, but roughly 5 to 6 inches of ice was common. Snowmobile maintenance was conducted as the region was hit with a large snowstorm on Sunday.
CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checked ice anglers and monitored trapping and decorative material harvesting activities. An unmarked bear-bait site was located in the woods containing a bait drum and was found to have been left out since the 2020 bear-hunting season. The hunter who established the bait site was tracked down and enforcement action was taken for an unmarked bait drum, failure to pay the bait drum surcharge, and failure to remove the drum at the close of the season. The drum was promptly removed by the hunter. An ice angler was found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The marijuana and paraphernalia were seized, and enforcement action was taken. Two anglers were found in possession of fully dressed walleyes taken on special regulation waters. The walleye fillets were seized, and enforcement action was taken.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) took deer-dumping, trespassing, and early fishing complaints. A warrant arrest was made on an ice angler who did not know he had a warrant. A fish house fell through the ice on an area lake, underscoring safety concerns for those who continue to venture out on thin ice. Starr would like to remind early ice anglers to carry safety gear, rope, and PFDs to avoid death. Angler checks have revealed an extreme lack of safety items.
CO Mike Krauel (Mora) spent the week checking muzzleloader hunters and small-game hunters. During a small-game-license check, Krauel noticed the individual who was hunting did not match the description on the hunting license. When he asked to see ID, the individual stated he did not have ID with him even though Krauel had just seen ID in his wallet when he took out the hunting license. The individual then admitted that he gave Krauel his brother’s license because he didn’t have one. The hunter also claimed he was alone, but when Krauel asked about the three other gun cases in the back of the car, the hunter stated he was with one friend. That friend was found later and after a brief search for his hidden firearm, he also admitted to hunting without a license. Enforcement action for the week included hunting without a license, giving a peace officer the name and date of birth of another, lending/borrowing a license, and hunter harassment.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked area lakes for ice conditions and angling activity. He patrolled area state parks and worked the special muzzleloader deer hunt held in Jay Cooke State Park. Humphrey responded to a trapping trespass and closed out a case on a property trespass and dispute from deer season. Calls of an injured swan and illegal tree stands on state land were received and seasonal equipment preparedness was completed.
CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checked ice anglers and monitored trapping and decorative material harvesting activities. An unmarked bear-bait site was located in the woods containing a bait drum and was found to have been left out since the 2020 bear-hunting season. The hunter who established the bait site was tracked down and enforcement action was taken for an unmarked bait drum, failure to pay the bait drum surcharge, and failure to remove the drum at the close of the season. The drum was promptly removed by the hunter. An ice angler was found in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The marijuana and paraphernalia were seized, and enforcement action was taken. Two anglers were found in possession of fully dressed walleyes taken on special regulation waters. The walleye fillets were seized, and 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
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