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 checking small-game hunters and anglers. Small-game-hunting pressure has been very high on area forest service roads. Enforcement action was taken for hunting and ATV-related violations.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers, grouse hunters and ATV operators. A reminder to parents: All passengers under 18 years of age must wear an approved helmet, even inside the cab of a side-by-side ATV and even while grouse hunting on an ATV. Manning assisted the county with a medical call at one of the state parks, followed up on a report of illegal access to a WMA, and issued possession permits for road-killed deer, bear and otter.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports conducting equipment maintenance throughout the week. The grouse-hunting activity has showed no signs of slowing, but the number of harvested birds has gone down as they now are quick to fly away. Hill contacted a husband and wife who were on a “cast and blast” trip. They presented Hill with full limits of grouse and walleyes. However, they were fully cleaned and therefore were illegal to transport. The two were forced to stay a few extra days to ensure they didn’t drive home with their fully dressed critters. A routine ATV stop led to a warrant arrest for being a fugitive from justice in Wisconsin.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time completing a lengthy over-limit case during the week, which entailed two anglers in possession of a mixed bag consisting of largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, bluegills, and rock bass. The end result yielded a combined total of 68 largemouth and smallmouth bass and 60 bluegills, resulting in 56 bass and 20 bluegills over the legal possession limit. During the initial interview, it was discovered the party typically makes an annual fishing trip up to the lake where Zavodnik made contact with them. When Zavodnik asked how the fishing trip went, one of the party members stated, “not so good.” The two individuals were charged with a gross misdemeanor and gross overlimit of largemouth and smallmouth bass plus an over-limit of bluegills.

CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) attended a firearms safety class and assisted with the field day. She also responded to a buck that got its antlers stuck in a hammock.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) worked with COC Paavola checking waterfowl hunters and investigating bear-hunting complaints. They taught the law and ethics portion of the Newfolden ATV safety class. Enforcement action for the week included taking a bear without a valid license, failure to register a bear bait, no sign on a bear bait, placing bait for bears without a valid license, and operating a motor vehicle in a closed area of a WMA.

CO Chris Tetrault (Maplewood) continued training COC Violet Ohnstad for field training. They were involved with multiple contacts that resulted in citations and warnings, such as failure to have license in possession, hunting in a shotgun only area with rifle, and hunting in a closed area. In addition, Ohnstad and Tetrault seized 19 waterfowl from two individuals hunting waterfowl during the closed season.

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports the good weather and good fishing have brought out high boat numbers. Anglers were seen with limits of sunfish, crappies and perch. Archery deer hunters are reporting seeing some deer movement. Hemker also investigated a trespass complaint where a ginseng digger claimed he thought he was out for a walk in a state park when he realized he was on private property.