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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 Mary Manning (Hovland) checked pine marten, fisher and otter sets. Snowmobile trails were also patrolled. Temperature swings and lack of good snowfall continue to cause varied trail conditions.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports seeing an uptick in trapping activity compared to the first weekend. Trappers utilized snow machines to get to some hard-to-reach areas. Some success was seen. Enforcement action was taken for an illegal body-gripping trap. Cross-country ski activity is ramping up with some recent snowfall and ski pass compliance has been excellent. More work was done on an ongoing trapping case.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ice angling and snowmobile activity. Deer-season case work was also followed up on with cases being closed out. Many people were out during Christmas break getting out on the ice and catching panfish and walleyes. Enforcement action was taken for failing to have an angling license and failing to possess an angling license. Sutherland also responded to a snowmobile crash where an individual fell from his snowmobile and broke their ankle.
CO Dan Starr (Onamia) monitored early ice fishing activity, with some chunky walleyes showing up. A fish house fell through on Mille Lacs Lake after a crack came right by the house. Trapping activity was also monitored with very low water. Road-killed deer permits were issued and a trespass issue was addressed.
CO Bret Grundmeier (Hinckley) spent much of the week checking trapping activity. Trappers were found running trap lines on state forest lands and having luck catching fisher and bobcats. There was also a handful of hunters found utilizing state forest areas to pursue bobcats with hounds. Ice fishing activity increased as lake ice conditions improved enough to support ATV and snowmobile travel.
CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports the poor ice conditions have kept people off the area fishing spots. There has been a lot of snowmobile trail maintenance after the high winds. Several fall deer investigations were closed. A Christmas walk resulted in a question about a foreign object found in some coyote scat. It was later identified as a latex gutting glove.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports anglers are starting to take ATVs and larger fish houses out on area lakes. Reports of 7 to 9 inches of ice on some of the larger lakes are enticing some anglers to take risks. Vinton assisted the sheriff ’s office with a pickup truck that had gone through the ice on an area lake on Christmas day. Remember: 12 to 15 inches of ice is recommended for small vehicles, though ice is never considered 100% safe. Several car-killed deer possession permits were issued and a TIP of a possible overlimit was received. Vinton, along with several dozen other representatives from other law enforcement agencies, attended the funeral for New York Mills Police Officer Ron Smith. Smith was a 14-year veteran officer who lost his battle with COVID-19.
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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