CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a very slow weekend for the second weekend of grouse season. The officer did see a fair number of birds during the week, but with the leaves on the trees and the grouse hiding behind those leaves, it’s far too early to give a final verdict on the season. A few hunters did well while some not so well. It appeared to be more of that timing thing as many were hunting in the same areas. The bull moose are in rut and on the move. Slow down at night and keep a sharp lookout for those black moose in the black of night.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) wrapped up a wanton waste bear case and paperwork is in the mail to responsible hunters. The officer spoke with the local radio station about waterfowl opener and checked hunters and anglers in the field. Manning also assisted with a qualification shoot for DNR Wildlife and Fisheries staff and assisted Cook County Sheriff ’s Department with a road kill moose.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking small game hunters and anglers along the Lake Superior streams. FDL moose hunters were checked with some having good success. Enforcement action was taken for angling, state park, alcohol, and firearm violations.
CO Chad Thesing (Albany) handled a call of hunters shooting a house. The hunters shot at a duck and the shot hit a nearby house, causing damage to the siding and a window. The hunters were contacted and admitted to the sloppy shooting and agreed to fix any damage.
CO Starr (Onamia) assisted a state park security officer with the removal of some visitors who came late at night. One of the passengers, from a car load of folks, found the need to approach the security officer and offer him a marijuana pipe, indicating it was a gift for him and they were “setting marijuana free in Minnesota.”
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji) worked a case where an individual shot three banded geese after the season closed and then posted pictures on social media.
CO Caleb Silgjord (Sauk Centre) ran into a wide variety of issues over the busy weekend. While speaking with some duck hunters at an area access site, another hunter arrived and mistook the officer for a duck hunter. During the friendly conversation the driver offered CO Silgjord an alcoholic beverage while drinking a beer himself. Unfortunately, the driver was on probation for a previous DWI and operating a motor vehicle with an open container.
While being observed, one hunting group decided to open water shoot a large amount of coots. The pair of hunters motored up to large flocks on several occasions and shot multiple birds. Upon return to the access the pair decided to shoot at another flock a short distance from CO Silgjord’s observation location. Enforcement action was taken.
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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