Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks, there are a few who 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 Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) followed up on a TIP report from the previous week regarding wanton waste of a whitetail deer. The investigation revealed that a whole unprocessed, un-field dressed whitetail buck from the firearm deer season continued to hang in a garage until early June. Enforcement action was taken and restitution was charged for the deer.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) has been doing a lot of OHV patrolling the past two weeks. Manning participated in patrol details in the Nemadji and General Andrews Forests and in Silver Bay. Manning also responded to complaints of illegal ATV operation by a large family group camping on forest land. The officer also checked horse passes in the St. Croix Forest where they are required on designated horse trails. Manning assisted county deputies with an illegal burning complaint and a felony flee from law enforcement on an ATV. Manning completed office work, tended to vehicle maintenance issues, and represented the DNR in a pistol competition. Enforcement action was taken for no boat registration, failure to display ATV registration, failure to transfer OHM registration, illegal burning of garbage, and operating an ATV in a wetland.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that people are leaving their campfires burning after they pack up and leave for home. Complaints have come in from campers about people burning garbage in their campsites and stinking up the whole campground. Enforcement action was taken for unattended campfires, prohibited burning, unregistered boats and illegal length fish.
CO Tom Wahlstrom (Tofte) completed a Use of Force Firearms Instructor training course which was held in White Bear Lake with three other conservation officers and several other law enforcement departments. The officer worked the world record ATV parade that was in Silver Bay.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) was in Silver Bay to assist with the influx of ATVs as that city set a new world record for the longest ATV parade. Time was also spent working Lake Superior for angling activity and the public accesses for invasive species. A complaint of untagged minnow traps was received and investigated. Enforcement action ranged from unregistered ATVs to angling with extra lines.
Officer Mike Lee (Isle) dealt with a bear causing problems in Father Hennepin State Park. In one instance a camper had a close encounter with the bear looking for food that was stored in his tent. The camper stated that he was awakened from his nap by the bear attempting to enter his tent from the correct zippered side of the tent. He stated at that point he attempted to exit the tent from the other end. In the chaos of trying to escape from the tent, the individual was able to scare off the bear. A trap was then placed in the park, and at this time the bear has yet to be heard from again.
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