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) monitored seasonal closures and ATV activity. He attended the Healthy Kids Day that took place in Grand Marais. Equipment maintenance was executed on his patrol vehicle and ATV.

CO Hudson Ledeen (Grand Marais #2) spent the week patrolling trapping and angling activities. Anglers have been having minimal success chasing steelhead. However, the few fish that have been landed have been of quality size. Winter weather still lingers in the area.

CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports an extremely slow week of outdoor activity in Cook County. Although streams and beaver ponds are beginning to open, trapping activity remains very light. A few steelhead anglers were contacted, with only one reporting success. Hill and other emergency personnel attended Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA. The kiddos were able to see ATVs, boats, and canoes, and Hill even let them honk the air horn and sirens on the squad truck.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) worked on the Rainy River for the start of the sturgeon “keep” season. Angler numbers seemed to be down compared to recent years, despite the generally mild weather. While checking for late-night sturgeon anglers, an individual was arrested for providing a false name and date of birth to a peace officer. Sura also monitored spring beaver-trapping activity in the Remer area, and assisted the Over the Hills Gang ATV club with a youth ATV safety training course in Fifty Lakes.

CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) monitored the spring thaw this week around Alexandria. Many lakes still have ice remaining with some very small lakes beginning to open up. A citation was issued to someone who was observed shooting beaver out his driver’s side window. He had strong opinions about the nuisance activity they cause but understood he shouldn’t have done that. A bow fisher was cited for shooting at rough fish from shore a few days before the season opened, while another angler was cited for fishing with extra lines within sight of Lawler at a public access.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week conducting regulatory checks on anglers enjoying the spring northern pike fishing on Lake of the Woods. Fontes reports that nice folks from across the state enjoyed the spectacular bite! Unfortunately, Fontes also reports the injured bald eagle from a previous week is no longer with us due to the severity of injuries.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) taught the law and ethics portion of the firearms safety class in Argyle, assisted the State Patrol in locating an intoxicated driver, and assisted the Marshall County Sheriff ’s Office with a domestic incident involving a firearm. He also checked anglers and turkey hunters. Enforcement action for the week included angling without a license, angling with extra line, no PFD on watercraft, no watercraft registration, and recreational trespass while turkey hunting.

CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) followed up on squatting complaints on state property and checked anglers along the North Shore. Smelters were checked, and water temperatures and flow have hampered harvest abilities. Turkey hunting activity was monitored and anglers on Lake Superior were checked. He assisted with a semi crash on highways 33/53, and multiple nuisance-bear complaints were handled.

CO Stephen Westby (Little Falls) patrolled area lakes for fishing and boating activities. Time was spent working with a partner on a shooting from the roadway and wanton waste case after four deer were shot and left in a field. The investigation is ongoing. Westby also assisted with training U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officers at Camp Ripley. Time was also spent at a firearms safety class and educational talk at Pillager High School.

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports spending time checking turkey hunters and bank anglers. Two turkey hunters called about dogs chasing deer. The landowner became very angry and first said that is was OK for wild animals to chase wild animals. He refocused his anger into complaining about there being too many deer.