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) reports checking anglers and monitoring snowmobile trails. Trails are holding up with only a few bare spots around some corners. He completed required training.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) followed up on an unattended-line complaint from the previous weekend and checked area anglers. She assisted CO Hill with a snowmobile safety field test at the local school. The number of volunteer instructors in the community is dropping quickly as older volunteers retire and no one new takes their place. Parents and community members with an interest in helping kids safely enjoy outdoor recreational pursuits are encouraged to contact any Cook County conservation officer to learn how they can become certified volunteers.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports monitoring lakes leading up to the shelter removal date. There are only a few remaining, and if they belong to you, please have them off by the end of the day on March 21. The first steelhead anglers of the year were contacted, reporting some luck. With the recent stretch of warm weather, ice is already starting to break up and the water is picking up. Be sure to update your license and stamp, and take a look through the tributary regulations.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked snowmobile, angling, and litter complaints during the week. Area trails went from good to poor condition this week very quickly with nice spring weather. Area lakes had slush conditions making travel difficult. Murray also investigated a reported case of buildings being placed on state forest lands.

CO Vinny Brown (Northome) checked anglers and monitored snowmobile and birch pole activity. Brown checked two anglers on Round Lake, and it appeared to be a normal check with no issues. As Brown began to ride off on his snowmobile, he noticed two fish that appeared to have been hidden under the slush, away from the rest of their fishing gear and bucket of perch. Brown quickly realized the two fish were northern pike and questioned the anglers, who admitted to catching them. Both anglers were cited for taking northern pike in the closed season and the fish were seized.

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked a special detail in Lake County and investigated a possible trespassing and camping on state land with COs Murray and Schmidt. Snowmobile enforcement was focused on in the waning days of the season. Olson assisted the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office with the evacuation and search of the Esko High School as a result of a bomb threat. He also assisted the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office with a call about a gun within the City of Floodwood. North Shore anglers were also checked over the weekend. The tributary streams are still iced over but will be free-flowing very soon.

CO Dan Starr (Onamia) worked late-season northern pike anglers and monitored litter as the snow melts. Assistance was given to the local sheriff’s office by finding a litter violator who had numerous car parts falling off a trailer as he was traveling. A work detail in Cook County found numerous snowmobilers still enjoying good trails. Loud exhaust continues to be an unnecessary violation.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) worked snowmobile enforcement on area trails as the season comes to a close. A complaint of a deer that was shot was investigated. It turned out to have been injured by a vehicle prior to being dispatched. Schmidt assisted with a complaint of a squatter on state property and also handled questions related to ice conditions in the area.