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 Mary Manning (Hovland) attended annual firearms and tactics training at Camp Ripley. She also handled phone calls and followed up on open cases. Spring warmup and rain have caused a deterioration of snowmobile trails and led to more slush on lakes.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports checking anglers during the last week of the winter trout season. A few limits of lake trout were seen. Snowmobile activity was minimal with snow conditions deteriorating. Hill conducted some equipment maintenance as a seasonal change is upon us.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV and litter complaints during the week. Ice fishing continues on some lakes, but ice conditions are becoming unsafe in shallow areas and flowages. Nuisance-animal complaints are starting to occur as skunks and bears find food at backyard bird feeders.

CO Stephen Westby (Little Falls) continued to work area lakes for angling activity and ATV enforcement. Westby assisted two people on Moose Lake whose ATV went through the ice. Both individuals were wearing float bibs and jackets. The ATV was removed shortly after. Westby also located a stolen ATV at the Pillager dam. With the assistance from the Baxter Police Department and Cass County deputies, the ATV was returned to the registered owner and charges for receiving stolen property were filed. Westby also assisted Morrison County rescue a kayaker who had tipped over in the Mississippi River and was stuck within the ice flow.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) worked anglers along the North Shore and area lakes. Some Kamloops were seen along the shore, but the rivers are still locked up with ice. Time was spent working area trails, and a complaint of an ATV on snowmobile trails was handled. Trespass issues are beginning to pop up with the snowmobile trail closures.

CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking ice anglers and following up on open wetlands cases. The ice held up for another weekend of fishing and anglers had good success, but this week’s forecast could mean the end for the ice fishing season. Landmark also issued a permit for a road-killed otter and investigated a report of a number of snow geese found dead in a field. Several snow geese were collected by Wildlife staff for sampling.

CO James Fogarty (Prior Lake) worked anglers and boaters on the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Fogarty checked anglers who were angling without a license and boaters with expired registration. He received a phone call in regards to a “protected bird” in a homeowner’s garage. Fogarty identified the bird as a chukar partridge, which is a nonnative/unprotected bird. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, expired boat registration and dog off-leash in a state park.

CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports flying wolf pack counts and two rotary training flights.

CO Pilot Tim Gray (Bemidji) flew with the Upper Red Lake officer to check over the lake for past due shelters and trash. Two shelters were spotted, as was half a V-plow, but other than that the lake looked clear of debris.