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) worked the BWCAW trout opener with several officers. Hard work was put in from a few anglers clearing portages and fighting deep slush to get to their favorite fishing spot. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a decent amount of snowmobile traffic in the area throughout the week. Modified exhausts have again made an appearance and a few riders were issued citations. Registration violations were abundant with multiple sleds failing to display both numbers and the registration stickers. Some nice lake trout were seen on the ice on Saturday for the BWCA opener. However, activity was way down. Continued work was done on a background investigation for the upcoming Academy. Hill assisted the county with locating a pair of snowmobilers who buried both of their machines.

CO Matt Miller (Silver Bay) checked trout anglers in the BWCA on a warm and slushy opener. Large amounts of snow have many trails impassable with downed trees and brush. Anglers willing to work found some willing fish. Complaints were received regarding snowmobiles operating with modified exhaust, including from a local club that is worried about losing trail easements due to the noise. A reminder to snowmobile riders that any modification louder than stock is illegal and will be cited. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.

CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) worked a detail for the trout opener in the BWCA this past weekend. Mild weather made for a beautiful weekend and a few fish were on the ice. A district meeting was also attended and maintenance on equipment continued. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, failure to display snowmobile registration, and failure to transfer ownership of a snowmobile.

CO Tou Vang (Pierz) monitored snowmobiling activity, checked ice anglers, issued car-killed deer-possession permits, and assisted trappers with incidental catches. A vehicle was discovered on the bottom of Platte Lake by some ice anglers with an underwater camera. It is unknown how long the vehicle had been there as there was no report filed with local law enforcement either. Enforcement action was taken for various snowmobile violations.

CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) spent time working complaints at the end of the archery deer and pheasant seasons. Fishing activity has picked up, with area lakes seeing heavier activity. A call of an eagle with its foot trapped was unfounded. It was simply an eagle on a deer carcass, struggling to pull off pieces of frozen meat.

CO Annette Kyllo (Rochester #1) spent time this week checking ice anglers and performing snowmobile patrol. Kyllo assisted a homeowner remove a deer that had gotten its leg stuck in the individual’s retaining wall and then jumped off the wall, breaking its leg.

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports the snowmobile trails in the area are closed. He checked ice fishing, stream trout fishing, airboats, ATVs, and off-highway motorcycles on the ice. He followed up on a fishing trespass complaint where the angler admitted to being told to leave the same property when he was doing the same thing about eight years ago. There was also a bobcat that was found killed on a roadway in addition to one that was accidentally trapped earlier this year.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) continued field training with COC Matt Paavola. Time was spent checking angling and snowmobiling activity in the area and on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action for the week included angling with multiple extra lines, overlimit of walleye, no shelter license, and possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana violations.