Conservation officers' tales - November

[Dave]

GAME VIOLATIONS WERE THE LEAST OF THEIR WORRIES

While working shining complaints, CO Neil Freborg (Lake George) observed a vehicle stop and heard several shots fired by one of the occupants. Three young men were arrested. The game violations turned out to be the least of their worries since the rifle used turned out to be stolen, and a search of the vehicle revealed an illegal submachine gun.

THE "WRONG WAY" TO OPERATE AN ATV

CO Nikki Shoutz (Pine River) reported what started as an ATV stop for operating the "wrong way" on the shoulder of a county road resulted in a DUI arrest of a man who also had a cancelled driver's license. The ATV was seized and the operator went to jail.

ROUTINE STOP UNCOVERS MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS

CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) reported a routine hunter check resulted in violations of an overlimit of wood ducks, unplugged shotgun, possessing toxic shot, transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, no PFDs in a duck boat, a minor in possession of alcohol, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

TELL THE TRUTH

A young lady explained to Lt. Norm Floden (Perham) that she didn't need a fishing license since she was only 15. Further questioning, jotting down her name and address as well as the false birth date, plus the statement that the officer would verify her birth date seemed to convince her that she needed to give Floden her real birthday. A court appearance is pending.

NOT MY WIFE

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reported a 20-pound chinook salmon was seized and a citation issued when it was found that the woman who caught the fish was not the wife of the man who bought the husband/wife fishing license.

VIOLATERS BAGGED

COs Kevin Prodzinski (Zumbrota) and Mitch Boyum (Rochester) checked a group of waterfowlers who started the season more than five hours early, as well as hunted with lead shot and unplugged guns. The group explained they were shooting at ducks, but had not killed any. A quick search by CO Prodzinski's dog revealed a pied billed grebe, a double-crested cormorant, and a coot, all dead, in the nearby bullrush. Appropriate enforcement action was taken.

LUCKY, BUT UNLUCKY

Officer Travis Muyres (Ham Lake) checked a group that was lucky enough to take six geese from one flock and found four of them had leg bands. Unfortunately, one hunter had no license, two had no plug and two had no waterfowl stamps. All six geese were confiscated.

MORE FISH DUMPED IN THE WOODS

Officer Tim Collette (Cass Lake) responded to more calls of illegal gill nets on Cass Lake and Winnie and found another pile of fish dumped in the woods. One of the nets had about 50 dead and rotting fish in it. In with the many northerns, sunfish, crappie and tulibees were several large walleyes, some in the 7-to 8-pound range.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

CO Dan Starr (Tower) reported a fisherman quickly threw back a walleye he just caught when the officer approached. The angler told the officer he did not want a heavier fine for keeping a fish without a license.

SPARE PARTS

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) investigated a complaint of someone taking a deer out of season. While interviewing the suspect about deer remains on his property, it was determined that the deer was a roadkill deer. When it was found that there were parts from two different deer in the yard, the suspect admitted that he had shot the other deer two days earlier with a rifle. Charges are pending.

PASS THE BUTTER, PLEASE

During a report of smoke, CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) discovered an elderly male on fire as a result of operating a cutting torch. The man suffered burns on his right arm and leg. The man asked the officer for butter to put on his burns. CO Block convinced the man he needed to seek professional medical treatment. The smoke was from a tire on fire as a result of the incident.

YOU WEREN'T INVITED

CO Tony Arhart (Deer River) reported a bobcat entered an opened sliding door at a residence after a salmon fish dinner was prepared. The cat reportedly jumped off the kitchen counter and ran out the same open door without incident.

FOUR-WHEEL TROUBLE

CO Julie Siems (Faribault) observed an ATV with an adult and two small children on it. The ATV was stopped. Neither the preschooler or first-grader had a helmet on, the ATV had no registration and the operator's driver license was suspended. There was also a warrant for his arrest.

"LUCKY"

CO Mitch Boyum (Rochester) and CO Todd VanderWeyst (Paynesville) were off-duty and duck hunting with VanderWeyst's young dog out of a boat blind. While running the boat, the restless pup was tied up with a leash up front. Unfortunately, there was just enough leash for the pup to lean over the side of the boat. Because of the blind material the hunters did not see that the dog had fallen/jumped out of the boat. It is unknown how long the pup was dragged under the boat, choking from his collar. When they finally realized what had happened they pulled the dog back into the boat. The pup's eyes were glassed over and he had no pulse. They started CPR and after about a minute, the pup coughed and started to blink. He also responded to his name "Dutch." In less than an hour the dog was acting like nothing had ever happened. The officers think the dog should have been named "Lucky."

NO, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS, BUT THAT'S ILLEGAL

CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) assisted a Morrison County deputy in arresting four deer poachers. The four set out one evening around 9:30 p.m with the intent to find some fresh venison. They lined the back of their van with plastic sheeting, and brought butcher knives and a spotlight. They armed themselves with a .22 rifle and a bow and arrow. The mistake they made was trying to shoot a deer near the arresting deputy's home! One of the individuals made the statement, "You know how it is. You take one shot, if the deer doesn't drop you move on. The whole thing shouldn't take more than 30 seconds."

SHOOTING BEAR WHILE DUCK HUNTING

CO Bret Grundmeier (Mora) investigated a TIP call reporting a waterfowl hunter who shot a bear while duck hunting. The investigation resulted in finding a duck hunter with no small game license or duck stamps and no bear license.

CALLER ID

CO Matt Loftness (Redwood Falls) assisted with a call of a vehicle found in the Minnesota River. As he talked with the caller who was fishing along the river, it turned out that the caller had no angling license and a warrant for his arrest.

UNABLE TO GET THE LICENSE NUMBER

CO Greg Abraham (New Ulm) parked his truck at the corner of a cornfield while working late shooters. He was sitting on the roof of the truck waiting for shots when three deer ran along the edge of the cornfield. One turned the corner and took a header into the right rear door of the truck, staggered around a bit, and then took off to join his friends.

INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE TRUTH

Officer Pat Znajda (Roseau) encountered four men riding on an ATV in a secluded area. They were not wearing any blaze orange. When they saw Znajda, they abandoned the ATV and approached him. Znajda noted some other unusual activity with the men and further checking revealed the men were pulling an untagged fawn and large 9-point buck behind the ATV.

One of the men claimed to have shot the buck in the morning by archery and the fawn in the afternoon with a shotgun. Further investigation revealed the buck had been shot by a slug. Charges are pending.

MIND-BOGGLING MUD BOGGERS

CO Dustie Heaton (Isle) found two unoccupied vehicles stuck in the ditch along a county road. Three males came out of the woods. They admitting to "mud bogging" in the ditch before they got stuck. One operator was cited for driving after cancellation of license and admitted to not having insurance on the vehicle. The other operator was taken to jail for DWI and the vehicle owner had no proof of insurance. Both vehicles were towed.

GUN RETURNED TO SKEPTICAL HUNTER

A hunter reported to CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) of leaving a cased gun behind in a landing area after hunting on county land. He returned to the spot where he had left it and the gun was gone. Croatt advised the unfortunate party that hunters are generally honest people and would report the gun to the sheriff's office when found. A party living only five miles away returned the gun to the skeptical but very happy hunter. Small world considering the hunting area was about ninety miles away from where the gun was lost.

NORTHERN HOSPITALITY

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) assisted a family that was down on their luck. As they were pulling their boat out of the water, their camper slid off the truck and onto the boat trailer. Definitely not a good thing! Northern hospitality came to the rescue. With the help of two local guys from Birchdale, and some ingenuity, the camper was slide back onto the truck with little damage.

BUT I DIDN'T SHOOT ANYTHING, OFFICER

CO Dale Ebel (Duluth) reported a hunter told him he forgot his license at the cabin. After a short walk down the road, the hunter couldn't take it any longer, turned around and told the officer that he just didn't have time to buy a license and he would appreciate a break since he didn't shoot anything. When Ebel asked him about the shots he had heard in the woods earlier the man said, "I didn't shoot anything, not that I didn't try." The hunter was issued a citation.

WETLANDS VIOLATOR LANDS IN JAIL

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) contacted a man for failing to comply with a wetland restoration order. The man had no excuse for not completing the work and was issued a summons for the offense. While writing out the summons, it was found that the man also had an outstanding warrant so after receiving his summons on the restoration order, he went to jail on the warrant.

OUTSTANDING IN GEORGIA

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) arrested an operator of an ATV for driving while intoxicated. The operator tested well above the .08 blood alcohol content level. The operator had an outstanding warrant from Georgia for drug-related offenses and had a history of fighting with peace officers.

SOMEBODY'S ALWAYS WATCHING

Officer Scott Staples (Carlton) worked an incident with CO Mike Scott where a man shot a deer out of his vehicle. The man retrieved the deer, field dressed it, placed it in his trunk and left. What the poacher didn't know, was that there was a bow hunter in a tree across the road that watched the whole thing and called Turn-in-Poachers. The suspect was arrested for shooting big game out of season, shooting from a motor vehicle, shooting at big game from the roadway and transporting illegally taken big game. The suspect's rifle was seized and will be forfeited. The suspect's vehicle is also subject to forfeiture.

WATCHING AND LISTENING

CO Jim Tischler (Cuyuna State Recreation Area) worked the Camp Ripley special archery hunt, which according to the local wildlife manager was a great success. One continual problem was hunters using walkie-talkies in violation of state game laws. On numerous occasions, hunters could be heard whispering on their radios to other hunters describing deer moving or to direct other hunters in their party. Tischler and CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) reported that as two trucks came down the trail the occupants were heard to say "DNR dead ahead" when they came into view. Assistance was also given to the Range Control Military Police with speed enforcement. Most of the individuals stopped were driving almost twice the posted speed limit on Camp Ripley.

[Valv]

These are great Dave, keep'em coming.

It's a pleasure to see what people can do sometimes....

[VMS]

I love reading those...I wish the Minnesota outdoor news would print them that way. Wisconsin outdoor news is exactly like these. I enjoy reading those...

Steve

[Dave]

Kind of makes you wonder about some people though

[FOOT]

Ditto, these are great.

You can bet this is just a small percentage of the illegal stuff that goes on in the woods.

Our CO's do a great job it's too bad there aren't more of them and that they are not fully funded.

[wyldewal]

These are great. I look forward to reading more if you got 'em.

"But officer I didn't shoot anything... Not that I didn't try."

I love that.

[The_Duckslayer]

I can relate to the lost gun. My son and I left twp of ours at the river one time. We each thought that the other had grebbed them and they were not visible in the weeds. The Dundas police and the Rice County sherriff recovered them. Some one had turned them into the police. MAN, was I ever releived when he brought them back to me. Would have been a big chunk of change to replace both of them for duck hunting the followng weekend! I know that if I ever found one I would turn it into the police. I think that if no one claims it after a certain amount of time you can go and get it anyway... I think. Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Mike Walerak]

I can also relate to the lost gun story. I didn't notice I forgot my gun until I was loading my pick-up for the next mornings hunt. When I returned the the spot I found a note attached to a fence post with just a phone number. I called the number and found out it was a group of 15 year olds eager to return the gun to the owner. Needles to say I gave the kids a little reward for being so honest.

Sportsmen are the best people on earth!

mw

[FOOT]

Here's a "lost gun" story that probably has a happy ending.

In 1978 I and 3 friends were lucky enough to be drawn for MN 1st modern day turket hunt. We were to hunt the 1st season in the far SE corner of MN by Reno. We borrowed my brothers camper and camped at Brownsville Wildcat Landing camp sites right next to The Sand Bar.

After the 1st day we ate supper and retired to the Sand Bar to toast our success (one turkey). There was a person sitting at the bar with his head on the bar passed out.

The next night he was again sitting at the bar.

The 3rd night he was third night he was again passed out but a coulpe of his "buddies" came in to collect him.

Apparently he would walk in to the woods int he morning with his shotgun and a fifth of blackberry brandy "too keep warm". He would drink the brandy and then hitch hike to the bar.

The 3rd day he left his new Browning A-5 in the woods. He then spent the next 2 days trying to find where he left it.

Here was a guy who had taken the time to apply for a turkey permit, travel from Mpls to Brownsvile, set up camp and then get drunk and not even concern himself with hunting.

The "happy ending" I mentioned in sentence one - this jerk never did find his A-5 and hopefully never did go hunting again.

[Bobby Bass]

Is it me.. but as I read this it seems almost everyone that was stopped had a warrant for something else..Guess these CO have a good eye for the bad guys..

[hobbydog]

This one was a classic....

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reported a 20-pound chinook salmon was seized and a citation issued when it was found that the woman who caught the fish was not the wife of the man who bought the husband/wife fishing license.

[not_nuf_time]

Here a lost gun story, A guy from my work was out in Montana Elk hunting lost his gun either from setting it down or off his horse. He noticed it was gone so they all started looking for it. Didn't find it. Well a year or two later up in the mountains another group comes accross this gun slightly sticking out of a hallowed out log, and turn it in to the outfitter.

What they figured out happened was since it was such an expensive gun (300 Weatherby) that the guide on the original trip actually found it, stuck it in the log and was going to come back later and get it. You can imagine the guns shape after a winter or two in snow and summer rain. The guy who lost it let the guy who found it keep it.

[FOOT]

I heard a good one 2 nights ago from a friend in Calif.

He is one of the few that hunt in the Far Left Coast and likes to read local outdoor news papers and reports.

Anyway, an escaped rapist/murderer was living in the mtns of Calif by Riverside/Big Bear when confronted by a Calif CO. He had vowed to never be taken alive and would fight to the death any cop that approached him.

The CO was checking on a poaching complaint and found this guys camp with 1/2 a butchered deer and hides from a couple more. The poacher wasn't there so he backed off and waited while calling for assistance.

Before backup arrived the poacher turned up and the CO made himself known and started questioning him. He was obviously nervous and kept looking around so the CO was on his guard.

The CO told him what he was going to be arrested and ticketed for and then asked if there was anything else he wanted to get off his chest.

"Well" said the poacher "You've been fair to me and I've always had respect for you and your profession". "So, I need to tell you whatelse I've done and who's lookin for me".

He then went on to tell the CO everything he had done, where he did them and who was looking for him.

The CO being smart and not wanting to esccalate the situation said "I hate to do this but I need to handcuff you simply because it's our procedure and if I don't I could get fired". The scauflaw put his hands behind his back and said "OK, go ahead".

Now this is only antidotal but I have good reason to believe my friend.

He also said the CO admitted when the prisoner started to tell him the crimes he committed he got very nervous and it was hard as h--- to keep his composure. He only breathed a sigh of relief when the cuffs were on. Shortly thereafter his backup arrived.