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) patrolled area lakes and accesses. Manning also attended training, handled equipment maintenance and took a call regarding concerns over commercial netting of fish. She also took a report of a bear refusing to leave a meal at a bird feeder, which is normal bear behavior this early in the season.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports anglers and boaters were dodging an onslaught mosquitos and blackflies throughout the week. Walleye success was not the best, but muskies were hungry on Crescent Lake. A citation was issued after Hill found an unattended campfire. With high fire danger once again, it is important people are more careful with their fires. Other violations addressed were failure to display watercraft registration, failure to transfer watercraft title, and failure to remove a boat plug. Hill attended a Cook County Coalition of Lake Associations meeting at the Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports he patrolled areas within the BWCA over the week. He found some campsites half submerged and portages that resembled narrow rivers due to continued spring flooding in the Lac La Croix area. Angling success was good and the reduction in permits at the Moose River North entry point was noticeable with a number of groups found on lakes being much lower. Violations included angling without a license in possession and failure to display current registration.

CO Trent Seamans (Big Lake) fielded several wildlife-related calls over the week, including one from a local police department involving a fawn. The fawn was located in the back of a vehicle and the driver stated they were going to bring it to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Seamans contacted the Center a couple days later and discovered the fawn was never delivered. Luckily, the suspect’s vehicle was discovered by the same police department several days later with the fawn in it. Seamans responded to the area, seized the fawn, and took enforcement action against the suspect. The fawn was successfully delivered to the rehabilitation center.