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 (Tofte)
checked grouse, waterfowl, deer archery and moose hunters. Grouse hunters were finding the best success. The officer spent most of the week in the BWCAW working moose hunters.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland)
checked moose hunters and grouse hunters. Manning also patrolled area trout streams and inland lakes. The officer also worked areas of previous ATV complaints, investigated possible illegal deer hunting locations and issued a Cease and Desist Order for an illegally constructed driveway that cuts through state property and a wetland.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
checked anglers, grouse hunters and moose hunters. The nice weather continued to see many people on the area’s back roads. A work detail was hosted in and near the BWCA with enforcement action taken for small game, big game, ATV, and alcohol violations
CO Tim Gray (Bagley)
investigated a call of a cougar sighting. The officer could find no evidence to prove or disprove the sighting. The caller saw eyes in a flashlight beam and heard strange animal noises.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing)
issued a citation to a person who dumped a 15-foot fiberglass boat, mattresses, furniture and other associated garbage unlawfully on private land. The boat changed hands a number of times and had not been registered for 23 years, so locating the responsible party had been quite a chore.
Also, Bozovsky reports that an orphaned bear cub is attracting many spectators in the city of Buhl. Unfortunately it is becoming too accustomed to humans, as they are feeding it and coming alarmingly close to it. Bear cubs are not teddy bears and should not be fed or come into close contact with humans.
CO s Matt Miller, Troy Ter Meer, and Keith Olson
(Lake Superior Marine Unit)
participated in a moose and grouse season work detail on the Gunflint Trail. Many contacts were made with people out enjoying another weekend of nice weather. During one contact with a group of grouse hunters, two officers found themselves looking down the barrels of two loaded shotguns due to very poor firearms safety practices and handling. The offending individual was immediately admonished for his error. A few residual salmon anglers were checked in the tributaries, and miscellaneous animal calls were handled for the Wildlife Division. Assistance was given in the search for a missing 12-year-old along the Gunflint, who soon turned up unharmed. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, small game, blaze orange, and alcohol violations.
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