Conservation Officers' Tales For June

[Dave]

KICKING THE BUCKET

A shore angler saw Conservation Officer (CO) Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) approaching. The man knew he was overlimit, so he kicked his pail into the water. Several fish remained in the pail while other fish remained within reach because they were dead. Prior to collecting the fish that were kicked back into the water, the angler still was over the limit. His fishing partner stated he forgot his license at home. The officer checked with the Electronic Licensing System Center. He found the angler had not purchased a license. If the angler had a license, he still had 10 fish too many. After running the angler's driver license with dispatch, it was found that he had a warrant out for his arrest. The angler did not have a license, because it was revoked for several previous violations.

DEER PROBLEM

CO Chris Howe (St. Peter) investigated a complaint of a tame deer that was released after having been pen raised and held in captivity for two years. The deer is used to people and cars and hangs around houses and roads. There have been several close calls with vehicles. The officer is working with DNR Wildlife on a solution.

MISTAKING A SKUNK FOR A BEAR

Officer Jeff Halverson (Staples) reported the bear a landowner shot at night in his backyard turned out to be a nuisance skunk.

SENSELESS

CO Mike Shelden (Alexandria) interviewed an individual who admitted shooting a pelican with a .22 rifle. Not only did the individual illegally take the pelican within the city of Alexandria, the shot was in direct line with a park.

GAME WARDEN 3, SLUGGERS 0

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray) cited three adult males fishing in a boat and using the suckers they were catching as batting practice with a baseball bat. Final score: Game Warden 3, Sluggers 0.

HE CHOOSE TO KEEP THE MONEY

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reported that spring cleaning brought out an above average amount of litter being disposed of in the woods. One subject was fined $262 (could have been fined for more than $1,500) for dumping litter. He had been paid by a relative to dispose of it properly, but chose to keep the money instead.

ZAPPING BULLHEADS

CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) reported two individuals in Eden Prairie were catching bullheads with a rod and reel, electrocuting them with a "bug zapper" and leaving them lay on the public fishing pier.

WHAT A WASTE

Officer Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls) received a call of wanton waste in the Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area. An individual had dumped five skinned, whole whitetail deer in a ditch. All of the meat from the animals was wasted. Woinarowicz also received a complaint of a deer shot in an alfalfa field. This animal went to waste because it was shot and left to die.

WASN’T EXPECTED

CO Dale Ebel (Duluth) observed anglers in one boat in particular catch a fair number of fish. When checked, the anglers didn't have any life jackets on board and their registration expired in 2003. When asked why this happened, they said it was a small private lake and they didn't expect the game warden to gain access to the lake. Ebel explained even though it was a private lake, wardens have access to it. All laws pertain to them whether they are on a lake with a public access or a lake that doesn't have one. He also explained they can drown just as easy on either lake.

WHERE DID YOU THINK YOU WERE GOING?

CO Dennis Lang (Perham) and CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) observed a rowboat with 2004 registration displayed. The operator refused to come to the dock to talk when asked, pulled up anchor and rowed away. Malinowski said, "I don't know where he thought he was going to go, but he finally came back. He was much more subdued and his language was nicer. He even apologized for telling officers to shoot him as he rowed away."

DEVINE INTERVENTION

CO Brian Buria (Bigfork) reported a Northome resident deposited debris from a remodeling project (bathtub, vinyl flooring, ceiling tile, etc.) in the woods a mile west of Effie. The only clue in the more than 10 yards of garbage was a Bible that had the printed name of the previous homeowner who died over 20 years ago.

A KILLING MACHINE

CO Marty Stage (Babbitt) assisted an 1854 Authority officer in removing and documenting a gill net on Lake Vermilion. The net was an illegal type and had been abandoned without markings (probably due to recent arrests for other illegal gill nets in the area). A responsible angler reported it after snagging it with his fishing lure. Local cabin owners assisted with their boat and dock. The net was full of melting, rotten walleyes and other fish. Luckily, the fisherman who snagged it was able to pull it to the surface enough to identify it as a net or it would have killed a lot more fish before the net itself deteriorated. A lost or abandoned net is a killing machine!

WADING IN THEIR BOXERS

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) ran into two gentlemen who were having trouble landing their boat due to windy conditions. Both parties reduced themselves to their boxers and waded into the cold water to land the boat. Even this predicament didn't slow them down from going back out to fish. This gives new meaning to the definition of "hearty fishermen."

I’LL HAVE TO CALL MY BROTHER

CO Tim Jenniges (Windom) came upon a motor vehicle stuck up to the axle on a wildlife management area. With no money left to pay for a tow truck, the man ended up calling a brother in Sioux City, Iowa, to come to the rescue. Rather expensive catfish in the long run.

WONDER IF THAT LOON HAD A LICENSE?

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) received a report that a loon allegedly pulled a rod and reel, hook, line and bobber out of a fisherman's hands on Cedar Lake one evening. No loons were found the following morning with any problems on the lake and none was seen flying with a trailing rod and reel.

DUCK!

CO Brent Speldrich (McGregor) received a call from a concerned citizen regarding a duck nest in a tree. The caller said the ducks kept falling out of the nest. After removing the ducks, the caller found there were several more in the nest and the mother was also present. People are reminded that the wild critters usually don't need human help. The mothers are nearby and will take care of their young. People should leave the critters where they find them.

WASHING AWAY THE MUD

CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) reported a group of ATVer’s was apprehended after two landowners called to report the group was tearing up wetlands on their properties. When the CO contacted the group at their cabin, two of the ATVs were parked in the lake being washed off, while other ATVs waited their turn, covered in mud and vegetation. The group of seven face charges and restitution for damage. During a four-hour period on a Sunday, Kuske had 21 enforcement contacts for various ATV violations.

DIDN’T ADD UP

CO Jackie Glaser (Mound) checked a group of four individuals that had 93 sunfish in possession on Lake Minnetonka. When asked if they knew how many fish they had they stated, "We had our honor roll student count them and he counted exactly 80 sunfish; doesn't that mean something?" It means the student's math skills need a bit more work.

ILLOGICAL REASONING

CO Mike Shelden (Alexandria) reported a situation where an 11-year-old was riding an ATV without a helmet on a county road. The father's comment was that at least the youth isn't involved with drugs.