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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) worked the trout opener with several officers. Some nice rainbow and lake trout were seen on the ice. He attended training at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for angling, snowmobile and drug-possession violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy trout opener. Easily accessed lakes were busy while many smaller lakes remained untouched. Many anglers remembered their gear but left their license back at their cabins or vehicles. Slush was spotty. In some places it was very bad and threatened to take the boots and skis right off Manning. Snowmobile traffic was high, and compliance was overall good. She did take a complaint of three riders driving aggressively and driving at and very close to other folks snowshoeing on an area lake.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports conducting interviews for a background investigation. Hill also hit the trails and lakes around winter trout opener. Some gorgeous fish were seen in the bag with multiple anglers going home with limits. A few angling and snowmobile citations were given for extra lines and no snowmobile safety. Other violations included no license in possession, failure to display snowmobile registration, and operating an unregistered snowmobile. However, Hill wants to highlight that compliance was very high even though a few enforcement contacts were made.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked a busy trout opener on area lakes. While traveling from lake to lake on the snowmobile trail, Schottenbauer found a snowmobile engulfed in flames. Nobody was in the area and the snowmobile had burned to the ground, leaving a hole in the trail. Schottenbauer decided to check the “nearby” bar, and as he entered, he was greeted by a patron who stated, “I bet you are looking for the owner of a burning snowmobile.” Schottenbauer took the report and gave the owner instructions on how to clean it up.
CO Nate Benkofske (McGregor) reports checking snowmobilers and anglers. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license, extra lines, expired registration, no shelter license, and controlled substances. Benkofske also assisted other agencies with an unfortunate fatal snowmobile crash in Savanna Portage State Park.
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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