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 the week checking snowmobilers on the North Shore State Trail and local trails. The trails are in great condition. Time was spent in the BWCAW checking trout anglers. The lake trout were cooperating for most anglers. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) reports both cross-country ski and snowmobile trails are in great condition, and with mild temperatures and sunny skies lots of folks were seen out and about. Another successful Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race was held over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for modified snowmobile exhaust, expired registration, and no state trail stickers.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports continued work on a background investigation for the upcoming Academy. Time was spent on snowmobile and a few registration issues were handled. Hill also answered questions regarding trapping and winter camping. Hill also attended department-wide safety training.

CO Matt Miller (Silver Bay) checked ice anglers and snowmobilers. A complaint was received of an injured deer stuck in the rocks along a rugged piece of Lake Superior shoreline. The badly injured animal was located and dispatched. Complaints of snowmobiles operating with loud exhausts and on closed trails were received and will be monitored. Conditions on lakes are varied for the upcoming trout opener. A little scouting and a saw for downed brush will be good ideas for the upcoming weekend. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.

CO Victoria Griffith (Isle) responded to a call of a snowmobile that went through the ice on Mille Lacs Lake. Griffith also assisted with a local snowmobile safety class. Snowmobile activity was monitored and time was spent on area lakes checking anglers. Shelter license violations were a common theme throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for extra lines, expired snowmobile registration, and ice shelter violations.

NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) continued with helicopter maintenance follow up. He repositioned a helicopter to prepare for the moose survey in Ely. He also completed administrative tasks and attended a safety webinar.

CO Pilot Charles Scott (Grand Rapids) completed wolf and bear telemetry flights. Telemetry training flights were conducted. He assisted in helicopter repositioning for the upcoming moose survey. Scott assisted Aitkin County with a search for a missing person.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled area snowmobile trails, checked ice anglers, and monitored trapping activity in the area throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for violations including no shelter license, unattended lines, no valid fishing license, expired snowmobile registration, and targeting trout on a designated trout lake prior to the open season. Area snowmobile and cross-country ski trails have been in great shape. Fishing success was moderate, though fishing on the south end of Leech Lake was quite slow over the weekend.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time patrolling the area snowmobile trails and checking angling activity. Favorable temperatures and improving snowmobile trails have led to an increase in outdoor activity throughout the region. Several snowmobile operators were stopped due to registration and excessive-speed violations over the course of the week. Riders are reminded to slow down, as several complaints were fielded over the weekend regarding oncoming snowmobilers traveling too fast into the corners. Zavodnik and several other COs assisted the sheriff ’s department and Rescue Squad with a tragic, fatal snowmobile crash over the weekend.