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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 #1) checked anglers along rivers during the inland stream trout opener. The water is still very cold, but anglers were happy to finally be out. He attended the Cook County career expo talking to students interested in law enforcement at the Cook County high school. Time was also spent training and armoring handguns at Camp Ripley.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) spent the week at Camp Ripley attending annual training. Ledeen reports that most of the rivers and streams along the North Shore have opened. Please be careful when observing waterfalls and stay at a safe distance from the fast-moving water.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports swapping out seasonal equipment and preparing for upcoming court appearances.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) checked a few of what likely will be the last anglers on the ice. Sura also worked the spring turkey season opener and spent a day patrolling the Rainy River during the catch-and-release walleye and sturgeon seasons. Violations encountered included expired boat and ATV registration, fishing without a valid license, fishing with extra lines, and possession of marijuana. A call was taken about a Canada goose holding a family hostage in their home.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) reports receiving a radio call from local county dispatch that a pack of wolves had run across the highway near Perham, and one was struck by a vehicle and was injured in the ditch. Vinton arrived at the scene and discovered a person feeding the “wolf ” some pizza. The “wolf ” turned out to be an injured dog, and it was transported to a local vet where it was treated. The owner of the dog was notified. Area lake accesses have begun to deteriorate with the warm weather. ATV operators are reminded that operation of ATVs in county and state road right-of-ways south of U.S. Highway 10 is prohibited from April 1 to Aug. 1. An abandoned fish house was removed from an aquatic management area.
CO Adam Stennett (Sauk Rapids) spent most of the week working the turkey opener. Activity was slow but a few nice toms were seen in fields. A call of an injured loon on the University Avenue Bridge in St. Cloud was fielded. Stennett caught the disoriented loon and returned it safely to the Mississippi River. A firearms safety class was attended and assistance to other agencies was provided. Enforcement action for the week included transporting a loaded shotgun in a motor vehicle, hunting without a license in possession and various ATV-equipment violations.
CO Matt Loftness (Marshall) reports poor weather conditions made for a slow start to the turkey and stream trout seasons. Most of the lakes in the area have opened up as a result of high winds and temperatures near 90 degrees. Assistance was given to DNR Fisheries with monitoring ice-out for possible fish die-offs. Along with a Lyon County Sheriff ’s Office deputy, Loftness captured a beaver that was on a walkabout in the middle of Tracy. Using a rope and a pair of gloves, it was relocated to Swift Lake.
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