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 Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked trout anglers who celebrated the winter trout opener. Ice conditions are excellent and slush is a little spotty, but not too bad. Some anglers were greeted with deadfalls from high winds and heavy snows since last fall. A saw on the remote trails is a good idea.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area lakes and snowmobile trails. The officer worked a busy trout opener and saw good compliance. Most anglers were aware of the regulations regarding preserved ciscoes. Manning checked snowmobilers on GIA trails and the state trail. She assisted a lost snowmobiler find his way back home. The officer also checked state parks and SNAs and answered calls about camping along the shore.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) worked the trout opener on area lakes from Finland area up to the end of the Gunflint Trail. The officer saw a lot of nice trout in the bag. Extra lines, live minnows and no ID on shelters were all common violations found. The officer also attended a Use of Force instructor meeting at Camp Ripley to discuss training for in service.
CO Dan Thomasen (Two Harbors) worked the winter trout opener in the Cook County area with several other officers. Deep snow, slush and cold did not deter anglers from coming out for the opener. Violations found over the weekend included no trout stamp validation, angling license not in possession, angle with extra lines and unattended lines.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) worked the winter inland trout fishing opener around the Grand Marais area. Many fishermen were checked during the weekend. Many species of trout were seen from different fishermen including lake trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and splake.
CO Troy Ter Meer (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked the trout opener on the Gunflint Trail. Despite the cold wind many anglers were out catching fish. Snowmobile trails were also worked. Assistance was given to a young snowmobiler who went off the trail, down a hill hiding him from his father who came by and did not see him. He also narrowly missed a tree. Other snowmobilers assisted him back on the trail. Officer Ter Meer towed the teenager and disabled machine to a warm location and his father eventually found him. Assistance was also given at an injury accident.
SGT Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) assisted in a work detail in the Gunflint Trail area for trout opener. Despite the cold weather on Saturday, the trout lakes along the Gunflint Trail had many anglers and snowmobilers on the ice and local trails. Some of the stream trout lakes produced limits of trout. Olson assisted a Canadian father and son with a broke down snow machine get back to Grand Marais
CO Gary Sommers (Walker) encountered two snowmobiles along a narrow Forest Service road. The lead machine stopped and was subsequently struck by the second sled, which was traveling at a low rate of speed but rather close to the first machine. The driver of the second sled jokingly said that Sommers should write the leader a ticket for blocking the trail. Sommers jokingly replied that if a ticket were to be issued it would be to him for driving too fast for existing conditions, which invoked some laughter by the lead driver.
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) handled two reports of sick bobcat; it appears that the young cats were starving.
CO Dan Starr (Tower) handled a situation where a bobcat was shot by a homeowner. The bobcat attacked his house cat that was let outside. The attack happened within a few feet of the house.
CO Greg Verkuilen (Garrison) reports meeting several snowmobilers who were having so much fun they failed to stop at a road crossing, and the next one, and the next one, etc. Very happy rabbit hunters were checked. While they were not having the best season of their lives, they claimed their beagles were.
CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) was riding on the trail when a snowmobiler passed him at a high rate of speed. Croatt was able to catch up after two stop signs and a flock of turkeys, who were also patrolling the trail for speeders. The party stated he was tired of the slower trails, and wanted to go a little faster — more than 80 mph! Croat was thankful to the flock of turkeys who aided in getting the snowmobiler stopped.
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