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)
spent time monitoring small game, archery deer and ATV activity. Grouse hunters are still having decent success. The officer answered numerous questions about the upcoming firearm deer season and responded to a few car deer collisions. Complaints of trappers setting traps on the road were addressed.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland)
reports investigating calls regarding unlawful deer stands in WMAs and deer baiting. She investigated two reports from citizens concerned that bird hunters were shooting toward them. She reminds everyone to know your target and what is beyond it.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston)
received complaints about a variety of animal issues, including a shot cow, dead owl, dead swan, nuisance bear, car-kill moose, and a skunk in a window well.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham)
checked a TIP call involving a swan that was shot.
After the initial call, the officer received a call from the person shooting the swan. The hunter stated “they really messed up” and expected enforcement action.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing)
observed three individuals walking into the woods with a bag of grain and a gallon of molasses. They were contacted to provide friendly advice that it would be unwise to place it by their stands to hunt over. Time will tell whether they heeded the officer’s advice or subjected themselves to a baiting ticket.
CO Scott Staples (Carlton)
assisted the Sheriff ’s Department in a search warrant in which an immature bald eagle was recovered in the freezer.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River)
investigated a complaint from a landowner calling about a dozen ducks that were breasted out and dumped on his field one morning. He knew it was recent because the two packages of ducks were wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper.
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