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 with several officers checking anglers during the trout opener. Time was also spent patrolling snowmobile trails. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) reports opening weekend of the regular inland trout season saw mild success among most anglers. However, warm weather and light winds created ideal conditions to be out trying your hand a catching trout. Enforcement action was taken for fishing with an automatic hook-setting device and fishing with no license in possession.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports a busy weekend of trout angling and snowmobile activity in Cook County. Hill worked with other officers on Saturday and Sunday, contacting large groups of anglers chasing lake and stream trout. Stream trout lakes saw the best success, with anglers chasing lake trout reporting tough conditions. Activity as a whole was largely down compared to previous years, much like the BWCA opener. A few snowmobile violations were handled. A trapping case was opened after Hill was notified of a pine marten trap left after the season. Hill’s work on a background investigation is nearing completion.

CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) reports the Nisswa 100 cross country snowmobile race brought race families and race fans to the area. Area lakes are seeing lots of ice angling activity. Everyone using area lakes should be knowledgeable of the lakes they are traveling on and research ice conditions. Sullivan also responded to a fire on Roy Lake. Two fish houses were a total loss due to the fire.

CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia) spent most of the past week conducting angling and snowmobiling enforcement. One snowmobiler was stopped for trespassing and was also found to have registration more than two years expired. The excuse for expired registration is that he owned so many snowmobiles he couldn’t keep up with the registration. The rider was cited and advised to choose a sled with current registration next time or keep all of his machines current.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports the slush conditions on many local lakes have improved. Although they continue to be rough, traveling has become easier. Trout angling activity was extremely high over the opening weekend. Success was only fair and most fish seen were of a smaller class than previous years. Violations included angling without a license in possession, angling with extra lines, and operating an unregistered ATV.

CO Hanna Wood (Wheaton) focused this week’s enforcement efforts on snowmobile riders and anglers. Follow up from the deer season and alcohol enforcement were also worked. She worked with a South Dakota warden on Lake Traverse and encountered numerous violations ranging from no angling license in possession, to extra lines, to overlimits, and unattended lines.

CO Gregory Verkuilen (Garrison) checked lake activity where shelter numbers were gradually increasing. Snowmobile traffic was worked in different parts of the state and snowmobile riders were making use of mostly good trail conditions. Knowledge of snowmobile registration appeared to be regressing as some operators claimed they didn’t know how or where to display registration.

CO Mike Krauel (Mora) patrolled the area for angling and snowmobile activity. Many snowmobilers were taking advantage of the nicely groomed trails and the beautiful weather. Krauel also dealt with a truck driver driving down the snowmobile trail and a young snowmobile rider who fled from officers but left their friends behind. Enforcement action was taken for operating a truck on a grant-in-aid snowmobile trail, angling with extra lines, failure to stop at a stop sign, speeding on a snowmobile, and fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.

CO Pilot Jason Jensen (Brainerd) reports flying wolf pack surveys when weather allowed. During the survey flights, two illegal deer-feeding violations were noted with information sent to local officers.

NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) repositioned a helicopter for the moose survey in the northeastern part of the state. He was able to help complete plots, but poor weather hampered the overall effort. Twenty-four of the 52 plots were completed, and good numbers of moose were observed. Some cow-calf pairs, and a single cow with twin calves was also observed. It was good to see them as cow-calf numbers are important in the population estimate. Administrative tasks were also completed.

NR Pilot Gracie Zeller (Brainerd) flew the moose survey when weather permitted and did some initial planning for an upcoming summer project. Of historical note, this past week marked the first time in DNR history that an all-female flight crew conducted survey flights.