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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) patrolled back roads and visited deer camps. Combining low deer numbers and large amounts of snow in Cook County, hunting success was very low. He responded to complaints and followed up on big-game investigations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) wrapped up a snowy finish to the firearms deer season. Extreme snow depths inland hampered access and good hunting for many. Snowmobile trails look inviting, but early snow will not translate to early grooming until swamps and water flowages freeze so groomers can get through. There is lots of open water on the trails right now.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a slow and blustery end to the firearms deer season. Success overall was very limited, and no violations were detected during the last weekend. Online training was completed, and equipment was switched out with the changing of the seasons after over a foot of snow fell on most of the area.
CO Matt Miller (Silver Bay) checked grouse and deer hunters as winter began and deer season drew to a close. Hunters reported tough conditions and low deer activity in much of the area. Some snowmobile riders were out, with the Finland area receiving almost 2 feet of snow in some spots. A reminder to snowmobilers that many trails on state forest lands area closed during firearms deer season, and Grant-in-Aid trails do not open until December 1. A few skiers were also seen on the fresh snow. Enforcement action was taken for big-game and snowmobile-related violations.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the last week of the regular firearms deer season fizzled into the least active weekend of any deer season in memory. Miles of empty, snow-covered roads and clear-cut pull-ins revealed that hunters’ interest did not return after a very disappointing first week of the season. Few hunters were contacted and fewer still reported seeing deer. Violations included hunting with insufficient blaze orange.
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