CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked bear baits, anglers, and ATV riders. Trout are cooperating inland and on the big lake. Enforcement action was taken for angling and big game violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) found a few people camping way out in the brush by trout streams or small lakes. The CO wound his way down brushy rocky roads by ATV only to find full sized SUVs, pickups, and campers. Some people call it scratching their pickups, but the CO calls it Minnesota pin stripes. Either way, some people find it more than worth it to escape the crowds. This weekend saw an increase in bear baits as the season gets closer. Many of the bear baits the officer checked had been hit by bears. Nice bear tracks were seen as well as some other sign you just don’t want to step in. Enforcement action was taken for boating violations.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) attended a district meeting and training in Tower. The officer checked bear baits and reviewed bait registrations for the upcoming season. Manning also patrolled ATV GIA trails and forest roads checking ATV and OHM operators.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) assisted the county in locating two youths who went missing while on a bike ride with their aunt. When the CO found them they thought their aunt was right behind them.
CO Duke Broughten (Longville) received a call of a person continually leaving an unattended line off his dock. During the investigation Broughten observed the unattended line on the dock, then observed the suspect fishing out of his boat on the other side of the bay with another line. Enforcement action was taken.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) took a complaint of a pontoon operator allowing people to dive off the bow while under way and then proceeding to scare them by circling around and driving towards the swimmers. The officer found the pontoon doing most of what the complaint indicated and cited the operator.
CO Trent Seamans (Rochester) observed an individual fishing with an extra handline hidden near shore. When checked, the angler stated he was only using one line and left his fishing license in his car. The angler then attempted to hide the extra hand-line by stepping on it. CO Seamans explained that he was watching the angler from a concealed location. After this, the angler confessed to using an extra line and fishing without a license. Enforcement action was taken and all fish in possession were returned to the lake alive.
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!
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