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) reports a few snowmobilers hanging in there, but this past weekend may be the last. A few nice catches of walleyes along the border with some bigger ones being returned so they can spawn. A few issues dealing with snowmobile registration.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked a report on a very sick moose that was seen north of Two Harbors, but attempts to locate the animal for testing turned up nothing.
CO Angie Warren (Thief River Falls) was notified by an individual that a skunk was in an area drainage ditch with a bottle stuck on its head. The skunk was located and after a couple of close calls with the wrong end of the skunk she was able to hold the bottle down with a stick and the skunk was able to free itself and go on its way.
CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) investigated complaints of deer being shot from the road and left, and burning prohibited materials. Also, a young man went after raccoons that had spent the winter in a storage shed. To his surprise, a bear also spent the winter in the shed. Shots were fired. The bear is gone, but we’re not sure if it was injured.
CO Jeff Halverson (Staples) investigated a complaint of a coyote/timber wolf stalking a new calf. The farmer was able to scare the predator away before any attack.
CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) reminded one angler that it is a violation to intentionally take fish for any species in a closed season. He was just “trying out his new rod and reel” at the Pine River Dam. A TIP call was followed up on involving a lakeshore owner who cut up a tree and placed the branches out on the ice to drop in when the ice melts.
CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) checked on a goose that was reported dragging a leg hold trap on one leg, which was seriously impairing its ability to swim. With the assistance of neighbors, the goose was caught and released, apparently unharmed.
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