CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking anglers and snowmobilers over the busy trout opener. The snowmobile trails are in great condition with the recent snowfall. Enforcement action was taken for angling, snowmobile, and ATV violations.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) checked anglers with other officers during the opening of the winter trout season. Estimates by officers showed that the very cold temps reduced participation by about 50 percent. Cold weather usually doesn’t have that much of an effect on the opener outside the BWCA, but add that to Vikings mania, many anglers decided to sit it out. Some anglers mentioned that they were only going to fish Saturday and head home for the game on Sunday.
Only one father was checked by CO Fagerman fishing with kids. When the CO mentioned the man didn’t need a license because of Take a Kid Fishing Weekend, the man stated that he never heard of it and wanted to show his license anyway. Angling and snowmobile registration violations were encountered.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) continued follow-up on deer cases from the fall. The officer worked a cold and busy trout opener. Snowmobile trails were also busy during the long weekend. Manning assisted a volunteer ATV safety instructor in teaching a class at the local school, and students are looking forward to the field day.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) traveled into the BWCAW for work details and reported that he encountered a 100 percent violation rate for the fishing parties contacted on one day. The trout opener was good even though nearly a foot of snow had fallen, making lake travel more difficult. There is slush beginning in many areas as well, so be prepared.
CO Joyce Kuske (Little Falls) talked to a hunter from last deer season who shot a deer in a hunter choice permit area and then shot a second deer illegally in another hunter choice permit area. The second deer they shot ended up costing them more than they planned on.
NR Pilot Brad Maas (Brainerd) continued working on the NE moose survey. Eight inches of new snow fell to freshen up the plots for seeing tracks. “We saw three sets of cows with twin calves and some very nice bulls with large antlers. We observed some timber wolves as well, one of them a black wolf. Very cold, clear weather enabled the crews to complete the remaining plots late Saturday.”
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) responded when a road-killed wolf was reported and picked up, and brought to DNR Wildlife staff. It generated quite a bit of attention as it’s rare to see one in the area, especially one hit by a vehicle.
CO Alexander Birdsall (Waconia), while checking ice houses, discovered a group of underage anglers consuming alcoholic beverages and took enforcement action. Hours later Birdsall returned to the house to return property that had been left in his squad only to find the anglers again in possession of alcoholic beverages that a recently arrived angler brought, resulting in further enforcement action.
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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