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 Matt Miller (Lake Superior Unit)
checked anglers and boaters on Lake Superior around Duluth and at the Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic. Salmon and trout continue to cooperate for many anglers, with an unfortunate number of steelhead being reported and found in anglers’ live wells due to misidentification. Boaters are reminded to check for the proper safety equipment each time they hit the water to avoid an expensive reminder from an officer. Enforcement action was taken for boating and angling violations.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Unit)
worked on equipment maintenance. He checked boaters and anglers on Lake Superior from Duluth to Grand Marais. He assisted area CO’s with extra water traffic associated with the Fisherman’s Picnic celebration in Grand Marais. He also checked boaters and anglers on some inland lakes in Cook County.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland)
patrolled area forestry roads for early bear baiting activity. Manning attended defensive tactics and firearms qualifications, assisted local law enforcement with a domestic assault case and checked on reports of illegal camping and a vehicle stuck on the beach of Lake Superior. Manning also worked a joint boat patrol with the Forest Service in the BWCA checking anglers and campers. Enforcement action was taken for illegal OHM operation and no angling license in possession.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
monitored boating and angling activity on Lake Superior where the salmon and trout continue to cooperate. Wahlstrom worked Fisherman’s Picnic with area officers; there was a good turnout for the event. Theofficerinstructed use of force and firearms training to area officers in Hibbing. Enforcement action was taken for boating and angling violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
checked boaters and anglers on Lake Superior during the Fisherman’s Picnic. He patrolled inland lakes. A problem bear call was also taken.
CO Joe Stattelman (Detroit Lakes)
responded to a call regarding a missing PWC passenger who fell off the machine without the driver realizing it and was found to be OK on shore.
CO Mike Martin (St. Cloud)
encountered one angler who was using two lines while fishing on the Mississippi River. When Martin questioned the angler about using the two lines the angler denied that he was fishing with both because he was “just trying to straighten my line out” while casting a beetle spin.
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