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)
patrolled snowmobile trails and forest roads. Compliance has been good to date and trail conditions have been fair. Manning also checked cross country ski passes; one man commented to the officer that a person watching him buy his new pass commented that he did not think the passes were necessary since “no one ever checks up here.” Ice conditions are improving with the cold, but anglers are still advised to use caution. Manning also met with DNR Parks and SNA staff to discuss a proposed addition to a local park and a new north shore SNA.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte)
checked snowmobilers and ice anglers. The ice is improving with very little to no slush on most lakes. Some nice fish were seen in the bag but overall, the bite still remains slow. Snowmobile trails are in need of snow and had few sleds on them over the weekend. Additional time was spent working on equipment maintenance.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais)
checked anglers during the week. The small lakes have good ice with no slush. The deeper lakes have just frozen over and will require a little more waiting before venturing out.
CO Dustie Heaton (Willow River)
received a call of a nuisance fisher that attacked the reporting party’s chickens.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors)
worked on equipment maintenance issues and attended an equipment committee meeting. Several calls were received about an injured timber wolf as well as a group of wolves attempting to lure dogs from their yard onto a frozen lake.
CO Gary Sommers (Walker)
received a call regarding a deer, which was seen near a person’s deer feeder with an apparent broken leg, which the caller believed to be from being struck by a vehicle. When the officer suggested that it wasn’t a good idea to feed deer so close to a highway because it could create unnatural deer movement and do more harm than good, referencing the injured deer, he was told that the six deer at that person’s feeder never crossed the road and her deer wouldn’t let any other deer feed at her feeder, so that was not the case in this situation.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing)
encountered an individual who the officer knew from previous violations. He was observed with a cancelled driver’s license and an arrest warrant. After the vehicle was stopped, it was learned that he was in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He had been fishing illegally as his fishing license privileges were revoked as well for violations the officer had previously encountered.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (Malmo)
responded out on Mille Lacs Lake for two parties arguing over a fishing area. The case is still under investigation but angler harassment charges could be filed. Both anglers in this case were reminded that fishing should be for recreation and there are plenty of fishing spots on the lake to go to.
Fitzgerald also found a snowmobiler who had not registered his sled since 2005.
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