Three men from the Metro area in a blue Ford extended cab pick-up were spotted allegedly shooting a deer off Devil Track Road at 2:12 p.m. on Sunday, November 8. The reporting party was a neighbor of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer Darin Fagerman and he reported that the deer was shot at the end of the CO’s driveway.
CO Fagerman was just 3 ½ miles away, near Devil Track Lake campground, and he recognized the vehicle described. Fagerman said the witness saw the truck, which was heading east on County Road 8 (Devil Track Road), pull over to the right side of the road. Thepassenger exited the vehicle and pointed the rifle across the bed of the truck, across both lanes of traffic and toward the CO’s driveway.
Fagerman and Cook County Sheriff Deputies responded and located the individuals, who CO Fagerman recognized as hunters he had talked to the day before.
Citations were issued to two of the men— the driver and passenger—for illegal transport of a big game animal, a gross misdemeanor. The passenger who shot the deer was also charged with shooting within 500 feet of a building occupied by humans and shooting a big game animal from a public road rightof way, misdemeanors. The shooter must also pay $500 restitution.
The deer and the rifle, a 300 magnum Remington, were seized pending the outcome of court proceedings. Fagerman said the truck used in the incident could also have been seized, but was not because of the hunter’s cooperation after-the-fact. The men may continue to hunt the rest of this season, since the charges are pending, however, if found guilty their hunting privileges will be revoked for three years.
Fagerman said the seized deer was a doe with two fawns that he has seen frequently at his house. The deer meat will not go to waste. There is a list of parties interested in taking seized game. In this case, the deer went to the reporting party.
Fagerman reminded other hunters that it is illegal to shoot at game animals from the roadway. He said different roads have different rights-of-way, so a hunter may be on a public right-of-way without knowing it. “People should get out in the woods, out on a stand. If you shoot from the road, you have no idea if someone lives back there, or if there is another hunter,” he said.
If someone sees a hunting violation, Fagerman said it is best to call Cook County Law Enforcement immediately. “Sometimes people wait until they see me to tell me about it. Thenit’s too late to do anything.”
To report a possible hunting violation, call Cook County Law Enforcement at (218) 387- 3030.
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