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 Mary Manning (Hovland)
continued to work trappers and took another report of a dog caught by a trap. The leashed dog was caught in a trap set less than three feet off a popular hiking trail. Manning helped wrap up a large snowmobile safety training class, checked muzzleloader hunters, and patrolled state forests and WMAs. A radio-collared wolf was killed in the Hovland area during the firearms deer season; anyone with information is urged to call the TIP line at 1-800-652- 9093.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
reports that some anglers are kicking off the ice fishing season with unattended and extra lines violations. Some hearty muzzleloader deer hunters braved -37 degree wind chill temperatures to hunt the last day of the season. Even though the hunters are reporting seeing many deer, wolf sightings have outnumbered deer sightings in a few instances along the North Shore. The CO assisted at a snowmobile safety field day.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
spent time checking muzzleloader hunters during the last week of the season. Enforcement action was taken for hunting violations including shooting a deer within a state game refuge. The officer assisted volunteer instructors and area officers with a snowmobile safety class. It was a large class and all the students passed. The bitter cold weather moved in and is making some good ice on the lakes for the fishermen.
CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls)
received a call of an injured bear, which was possibly caught in a trap. Warren investigated the area and was unable to locate the bear or any tracks in the area. Later, a homeowner in the area offered a possible explanation as a black plastic bag was located stuck on a fence and blowing in the wind.
CO Greg Oldakowski (Wadena)
received calls from several people during the muzzleloader season asking if they could shoot a three-legged deer near their stands. He advised them that they could as long as they shot it with a muzzleloader and used the appropriate tag on the animal.
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter)
worked on a landowner/ snowmobile club dispute where the snowmobile club has groomed a trail through land they did not have permission to be on — for the second year in a row!
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River)
received a TIP complaint regarding an individual hunting without blaze orange. It was determined that the individual was a convicted felon and was no longer allowed to possess firearms. With assistance from the Pine County Sheriff ’s Office and a neighboring officer, a compliance check at the suspect’s property was conducted by a probation officer. Several firearms were seized from the home and the suspect was arrested for being a felon in possession of firearms. One of the firearms was later confirmed as stolen.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis)
continued to work the muzzleloader deer season responding to complaints regarding trespass and shooting at big game from the roadway. In one case, several violations were uncovered and a deer and muzzleloader were seized. Pheasant road hunters have been generating complaints as well regarding shooting from vehicles, shooting within 500 feet of an occupied residence/livestock corral, and trespass.
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