Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are lawabiding 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 the North Shore and GIA snowmobile trails. Sled owners are advised to check registrations and renew them if necessary well in advance of taking the sled out. A cold BWCAW lake trout opener was also worked, and some thin spots in the ice were noted near flowages and on one larger lake. Manning took calls about road-kill deer, state snowmobile passes, and one question from a man who was curious about all the “outhouses” he saw on lakes during his drive up to the North Shore. CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked the BWCAW trout opener. He checked snowmobilers and walleye anglers. CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) patrolled area snowmobile trails and worked the BWCAW lake trout opener. The officer answered questions from confused anglers about the trout opener. The weather was cold, windy and few fishermen braved the trek into the BWCAW. CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) spent time working winter fishing on the Duluth Harbor of Lake Superior, St. Louis River, along the north shore of Lake Superior, and on several inland lakes. Time was also spent working snowmobile enforcement on area lakes and trails. Some trapping enforcement work was also completed. Officer Ter Meer assisted with a small work detail focusing on winter trout fishing enforcement within the boundary waters north of Grand Marais. CO Chris Vinton (Perham) assisted other law enforcement agencies with vehicle crashes and cars off the road during the blizzard; one vehicle was a DOT snowplow. During the peak of the storm, the officer assisted with the rescue of a snowmobiler who became disoriented in the storm and drove onto thin ice. The snowmobile broke through the ice. The operator was able to stand on the submerged sled and call for help. In another incident, a person leaving a fish house in a truck also became disoriented in the storm (at the same time as the snowmobiler but a different lake) and broke through thin ice. The driver was able to get to a fish house to stay warm until he was picked up. CO Tim Collette (Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area) reported that one snowmobiler being stopped for speeding decided to flee instead. He was eventually caught and ended up spending the night in jail, and is facing several charges. CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) took a report of a vehicle that broke through while plowing snow. The occupants were able to get out safely; however, the vehicle remains in water with only one thing keeping the truck from sinking to bottom: the plow hung up on ice. This occurred in an area that is notorious for having thin ice even during the best of conditions. People are reminded to use caution. CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) reports that the crusted snow has created March-like conditions for at least the time being. A couple of young excited ladies were contacted who had just caught their first ermine. On the darker side, one snowmobiler was contacted who attempted to slide by with a portion of a watercraft registration displayed on his sled. His “12,” done with magic marker, wasn’t quite precise enough to miss the officer’s eye.
Leave a Reply