Conservation officer tales - January 2006
(2006-01-03)

ANGLER BURNED USING EXTRA LINE

Conservation Officer (CO) Mike Shelden (Alexandria) reports an individual, fishing in a portable shelter, burned his extra line on the propane stove in hopes that it would sink down the hole when the officer approached. One problem, he burned the line above the bobber. The officer retrieved the line, bobber, jig and fathead minnow and a citation was issued for fishing with an extra line.

SHAKING WITH EXCITEMENT

CO Dale Ebel (Duluth) reports that while driving down a county road, he noticed a set of car headlights off in a field. Ebel observed a person, dressed in blaze orange, bending over in the field and then occasionally shaking their hands in the air. Ebel investigated finding a young man leaning over a six-point buck. When asked about shaking his hands in the air, the hunter reported it was his first buck by muzzleloader and he couldn't contain his excitement.

HOPEFULLY HE NOW SEES THE LIGHT

CO Chad Sherack (Pequot Lakes) issued citations for speed and failure to stop at road crossings to several early season snowmobilers. Sherack clocked one snowmobile operator going through road crossings at 70 mph without stopping. The conservation officer asked the individual about the violation and the man replied, "I didn't stop because I didn't see any headlights coming."

ONE SURPRISED TRAPPER

CO Dan Perron (Onamia) reports trappers were having some success. One trapper got more than he expected when he found a timber wolf caught in a conibear trap!

ROCK HEADS

CO Jim Konrad (Lake Minnetonka) reports that a couple of fishermen, who thought they would dump 800 pounds of rocks at their ice fishing spot on Lake Minnetonka to provide fishing structure, almost became structure themselves when their boat sank. The men had to swim to shore in 35- degree water.

JUST READ THE RULE BOOK

CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) reports two goose hunters were checked leaving the field with 10 geese. When they were informed the limit was two each, they said they took the person's word selling licenses that the late goose season limit was five each. The hunters had a waterfowl supplement in the truck, but failed to read it. The geese were seized and enforcement action was taken.

DEFYING ICE CONDITIONS . . . AND LOGIC

CO Joe Stattelman (Mankato) reports ice conditions in the area are poor but some people are venturing onto the ice anyway. One ATV operator drove 15 yards out onto the ice and then turned around and returned to shore. He said he heard the ice cracking, but wasn't too worried since his ATV is small and he doesn't weigh much.

FEAR FROM ABOVE

CO Lisa Kruse (White Bear Lake) caught two individuals bow hunting for deer over shelled corn that was serving as bait. They had taken camouflage material and nailed it to the trees right above the corn so that the corn couldn't be seen from the air. After reading recent news accounts of illegal baiting activity, they were afraid a DNR plane would spot the corn.

IN QUITE A JAM

CO Tim Jenniges (Windom) spent time checking muzzleloader deer hunters. One hunter dressed in layers to combat the minus eight-degree morning temperature had zipped several different clothing items together. Unfortunately, the zipper teeth didn't match, creating a tangled mess. The hunter said he hoped the deer would be more cooperative than his zippers!

HE'D RATHER SHOOT THEM THAN COMPLY WITH THE LAW

CO Joe Stattelman (Mankato) assisted the local sheriff's department and a representative from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health with an elk farm inspection. The farm had been noncompliant since the Board of Animal Health took over supervision of the farms several years ago. The elk owner decided to shoot all his elk in the presence of the officers rather than comply with the regulations.

SOME LUCKY DUCKS

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports four duck hunters were crossing the Mississippi River from Minnesota to hunt ducks in Wisconsin when they ran into an ice jam behind an island along the main channel. Before they could back out of the area, more ice came down the river. Within minutes they were locked into the ice jam with open water over 50 yards away. An airboat was needed to get the hunters back to safety. All of the equipment was retrieved from their boat, but they were unable to get the boat out of the ice.

THIS GUY'S LIST JUST KEEPS GOING

CO Scott Fritz (La Crescent) had just finished his shift for the day and was talking shop with the local police chief when they heard a single shot on the road near Fritz's residence. Fritz went to the location and found a man standing over a deer. The man's deer hunting privileges are currently revoked. He was charged with multiple offenses, including shooting from the roadway, taking big game during closed season - the list just kept going.

WHAT DID YOU DO AT WORK TODAY?

DNR Enforcement Chief Pilot Michael Trenholm (Brainerd) flew a helicopter telemetry mission for Camp Ripley Environmental Services. The purpose was to pinpoint the dens of hibernating black bears. The helicopter allows precise locations to be determined of radio collared bear dens. This allows researchers to later go into the den and retrieve GPS collars that have gathered data all year and to change collars while the bear is sleeping. Then they are sure the collars have fresh batteries and will continue to emit signals for further study and tracking.

MOM, DAD AND KIDS GET AN EDUCATION

Officer Tim Collette (Cass Lake) observed a small four-wheeler with four kids on it driving on a busy county road. The driver stopped the ATV so a passenger who had fallen off could get back on the ATV. They continued on the county road and into a gas station to fill up a low tire. The operator was a 15-year-old and the three passengers were all under 8 years old. They were given a ride back to their parents, where the parents and kids were educated on laws and safety issues.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) reports illegal Christmas tree thefts were taking place on state land again this year. One subject was apprehended and it was suggested he obtain a tree in a legal manner. The tree was seized and in the Christmas spirit, he was given a warning.

A WOMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO SAVE HER LIFE

CO Dale Ebel (Duluth) reports ice conditions still vary a lot. One fisherman had driven his new pickup onto the ice. When he had finished drilling his first hole, he discovered the lake had only 8 inches of ice. Sensing the danger, his wife quickly walked back to shore.

OH, THIS WILL BE A GOOD TIME, TOO

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) observed a snowmobile jumping over every single road approach. When asked why, the operator said he was jumping the approaches to "have a good time." A quick check found the machine was unregistered. The operator, cited for careless operation of a snowmobile, was informed the mandatory snowmobile safety class required for the careless operation citation would be a good time as well.

A RESIDENT OF THE 'SHOW ME' STATE

CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) investigated a Turn in Poachers report of a hunter taking pheasants while wearing all white clothing. Upon arrival of the officer, the hunter decided to hide his kill, firearm and dog in the snow and crawl away from the site. After recovery of the items, it was discovered the Missouri resident had not received permission to be on the property and had no Minnesota hunting license. Upon escorting him back to his truck, officers observed two uncased and loaded rifles in the front seat.

GUILTY CONSCIENCE

CO Tom Hemker (Winona) was approaching an area to assist an officer with a road rage incident. The on-scene officer advised that a person was running from him. As Hemker approached, he observed a person running from the same area. He identified himself as an officer and asked the person to stop. The person immediately ran away between houses. Hemker chased the person, caught him and returned to the truck. The person, who had nothing to do with the earlier incident, said he ran because an arrest warrant had been issued for him.

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES

Officer Tom Wahlstrom (Warroad) stopped a snowmobiler going over the speed limit. When asked to see the operator's safety certificate, the driver stated, "What's that?" Then the driver asked if there is a speed limit and if so, what it is. The driver of the snowmobile was issued a citation and was given information on the speed limit, rules of operation and how to complete the safety course.

WHAT A LINE

A man fishing with an extra line told CO Mike Shelden (Alexandria) that he was just keeping his minnow alive on his "jigging" rod. When the line was pulled up, it was down 16 feet just like his other two lines. The man was told the minnow was not alive because it was cut in half with only the head on the Swedish pimple ice jig.

ATTRACTING MORE THAN YOU INTENDED

Officer Larry Francis (Remer) spoke with a party about two wolves within 30 feet from her children who were playing outside. While speaking with her, the officer learned that she was feeding deer and had quite a few deer in the general vicinity of her house. Fortunately, she was receptive to the suggestion that she discontinue deer feeding, since the deer were likely attracting wolves.

YOU CAN'T STORE YOUR 'STUFF' THERE

CO Randy Hanzal (International Falls), working on a tip from an area forester, discovered a group of hunters who decided to store two campers, one motor home and a semi-permanent outhouse all on state land for the winter. The group was contacted and required to remove their property, including the outhouse.

NOT DRESSED FOR THE CONDITIONS

CO David Schottenbauer (Princeton) was driving home one frigid night when he saw a man with a snowmobile helmet in a ditch. He stopped to investigate, and found a man dressed in a light jacket, jeans, cowboy boots and, of course, his snowmobile helmet. The man's snowmobile was buried up to the windshield in a snow bank. Schottenbauer spent 45 minutes helping dig out the machine. Once the snowmobile was clear, Schottenbauer found there was no state trail sticker on the snowmobile. The rider was able to warm himself in the CO's truck while being issued a warning for his violation.

I'VE HEARD THAT LINE BEFORE

CO Luke Croatt (Wealthwood) reports a fisherman began to reel in a line after inviting the officer into his fish house. Croatt noticed two other lines down in the fish house. The fisherman said he was setting line depth with the third line and had been ticketed once before for having an extra line. Croatt explained that most people who are checking depth would have a lead weight on the end of the line and not a hook, minnow and bobber; a citation was issued.

FOUR LINES DOWN

CO Brent Speldrich (McGregor) wrote a citation to an angler who had four lines down inside his shelter. Speldrich knocked on the door to gain access. The angler told him to hang on a second. Apparently the angler wasn't able to count, because he still had extra lines down when he invited the officer in. During the interview, Speldrich found a wet rattle reel with the line lying, next to a hole, on the floor of the house. The angler admitted he had two extra lines down.

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