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) spent time at Camp Ripley armoring the Division’s handguns. He checked a few snowmobilers getting their last ride in and a few shore anglers were checked along Superior.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) helped out with annual training for conservation officers at Camp Ripley. Manning also attended the Career Expo at Cook County School and checked Lake Superior tributaries in search of steelhead anglers.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports attending yearly training at Camp Ripley throughout the week. Hill also monitored rivers and noticed accelerated melting, which only means tributary angling is right around the corner. Preparation was done for upcoming court testimony.

CO Mike Krauel (Mora) spent the week checking anglers and patrolling for ATV activity. Two anglers were found to be sharing more than just a fishing pole while angling for bass in a closed season. The first individual who was fishing when officers approached presented a valid fishing license to the officers. The second individual stated he had not been fishing, but when Krauel advised him that he had been observed angling, the second individual admitted to angling without a license. That individual then proceeded to give Krauel a false name and stated he didn’t have any identification. When that individual was advised of the law regarding giving a peace officer a false name, the first angler quickly admitted he was the one without the license and that when he took the fishing rod from the second individual, he also took the second individual’s license because he did not have one. After admitting the truth, both individuals quickly produced valid IDs from the wallets in their pockets that officers had asked about earlier when told there were no IDs. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, gross misdemeanor false name, targeting bass in a closed season, and lending/borrowing a license.

CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) patrolled for anglers and ATV operators. Additional time was spent investigating a dumping complaint on an area WMA and presenting for a firearms safety class. Seamans participated in a detail focusing on illegal smallmouth bass angling along the Mississippi River. Violations encountered during the detail included fishing without a license, targeting and possessing smallmouth bass out of season, possessing an overlimit of catfish, fishing with an extra line, lending/borrowing a fishing license, and giving a false name and date of birth to a peace officer.

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) attended annual in-service training and checked anglers along the North Shore. Two Harbors and the McQuade public access have recently been open enough to launch small boats. Boat anglers have been targeting and catching coho salmon with the occasional lake herring in the bag. Many people were just happy to be back on open water.

CO Tony Elwell (Thief River Falls East) monitored ATV activity and prepared for the upcoming turkey season. A presentation was given to Newfolden-area ATV safety students and assistance was given to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office with searching for a suspect who fled on foot from a deputy.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked anglers and boaters as an access was finally cleared of its ice. Anglers excited to get on the water found willing lake trout but not very many salmon. A few icebergs had to be moved by boats near Duluth to get clear of the ramp. A firearms safety class was taught, and seasonal maintenance items were handled. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports more cool and wet weather made for slow angling activity for most of the week. The few warm and dry days saw a good amount of anglers although success was limited. ATV closures have also taken effect on the Taconite and Prospector trails until May due to the seasonal thawing.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing and ATV activity. Anglers reported moderate success this week. Ice is deteriorating slowly as temperatures remain low. ATV riders are reminded it is their responsibility to check trail status before operating on them. Broughten also fielded calls regarding trespass, ATVs on snowmobile trails, and goose hunting.

CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports working angling activity on area lakes as the panfish bite picked up with the warm weather. Regas received reports from anglers of varied success for bluegills, crappies and perch. Regas cautions anglers venturing out on ice as conditions are deteriorating quickly and snow early in the week has hidden thin ice hazards, there have been several reports of ATVs breaking through the ice on area lakes. Time was spent assisting the sheriff’s office with reports of ATVs breaking through the ice and monitoring boater AIS compliance. Violations encountered and addressed this past week include ATV registration and watercraft AIS violations.