Conservation officer tales - February 2006 (2006-01-31)

NAUGHTY, NOT NICE

CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) dealt with two deer baiting cases in Savage. A Turn-in-Poachers call assisted in solving the first case where a resident awoke Christmas morning to find the site of a deer kill in his backyard. After following the drag marks back to a neighboring residence, further investigation resulted in the discovery an 8-point buck had been taken by bow and arrow. The suspect indicated he had no intentions of taking a deer near the bait, but on Christmas Eve the opportunity presented itself. What he thought was an early Christmas present proved otherwise as the deer and bow were seized. The second hunter was caught hunting over a pile of corn, which was placed on a DNR aquatic management area. Block along with Officer Le approached the hunting area on snowmobile. The hunter indicated once he saw the DNR on snowmobiles he knew the "gig" was up. He said he used bait because he was in a contest with co-workers to harvest the largest buck and wanted to increase his odds. Trees located on the management area had been cut to create a shooting lane.

SMOOTH

CO Brad Schultz (Center City) clocked one snowmobiler at 90 mph on an area trail. When asked why he felt it was necessary to drive that fast, the operator replied the trail was a lot smoother at that speed. He then questioned why the trail groomer had not been out on the trail. Schultz pointed out perhaps in addition to slowing down, if the operator purchased the required trail sticker, it would help fund increased trail-grooming activity.

THAT'S PRETTY LOW

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) observed a fisherman, tending six tip-ups, walk back into his home to presumably watch TV. The officer watched the tip-ups. The fisherman, having seen the Fredin through a window, came out with another adult. Then a child came out with coat unzipped and shoes untied. Fredin said it was low to send a child out to cover for his extra lines, the fisherman nodded in agreement.

WHERE'S YOUR REGISTRATION

The nice weather brought out many all-terrain vehicles (ATVS). In one instance, CO Tim Collette (Cass Lake) was in the process of issuing a ticket for lack of registration when three more ATVs pulled up to ask if the fish were biting. None of the three had registration on their machines. IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE

CO Colleen Adam (OHV Recreation Officer-Park Rapids) asked a group of people on four snowmobiles stopped along side the trail if they needed assistance with a sled that mysteriously shut down. It was learned the mechanical malfunction might have had to do with going full throttle on the open forest trail.

IMPAIRED LOGIC

CO Bruce Lawrence (Pine City) was on routine patrol with CO Wynn when they encountered an ATV with three people aboard speeding down a county road. The ATV was stopped and the driver was subsequently arrested for DWI. One of the passengers on the ATV was 13-years-old and was riding on the front rack of the ATV. When questioned about the substantial danger placed on the juvenile who was riding on the front rack during the careless operation, the driver responded, "Well, he was at least wearing a helmet."

DAILY DOUBLE

CO Paul Kuske (Pierz) reported two people coming off a lake were in possession of 21 crappies. One over the limit may seem insignificant, except one person didn't have a fishing license. Three other people came off the lake with 19 crappies over the limit. While interviewing them it was discovered two of the individuals had caught 20 more crappies earlier in the day for a potential 39 crappies over the limit. They stated they were confused by the term "daily limit."

FISH HOUSE FIREBALL

Officer Brad Schultz (Center City) responded to a fire call where a leaky gas stove and resulting fireball turned a fish house into charred rubble in about three minutes. Fortunately, injuries were minor. The officer encouraged owners to keep their propane tanks outside the fish house.

HATES HAWKS

CO Todd Kanieski (Osseo) reported a Crystal resident pled guilty to killing a hawk in Hennepin County Court. He used a leg hold trap to capture the hawk, shot it with a pellet gun and hid it in a brush pile. The man told Kanieski he has a general distaste for hawks because they harass the pigeons he raises. City officials ordered him to remove the pigeons from his property in accordance with local ordinance. Sentencing included fines and restitution exceeding $700. He was also sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was stayed so long as he has no same or similar violations for one year.

YOUR CALL COULD HAVE SAVED ME $100

CO Joe Stattelman (Mankato) was checking an angler with too many lines when the angler received a cell phone call from another angler stating, "the game warden is on the lake. Has he been there yet?" The angler with the officer replied, "you should have called 10 minutes earlier. You would have saved me a hundred bucks."

DIRT BIKE VIOLATOR IN JANUARY

CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) focused on snowmobile enforcement at the Breezy Point Ice Festival on Pelican Lake. Activity was down with the marginal snow and ice conditions. Along with the snowmobile and ice fishing traffic, came an unusual scenario for mid-January with a dirt-biker clocked with radar doing a wheelie at 66 mph on the snow-covered ice. The driver was charged with careless/ reckless operation.

HE TOOK THE HIGH ROAD

CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) reported a male and female were ice fishing with six lines down the hole in their house and one tip up outside. The male took the high road and said he'd be responsible for all seven lines since the female had no license. The man faces $237 in fines and loss of angling equipment and a mandatory court appearance for driving after revocation. The man was upset because his driving privileges were to be reinstated the following day.

YOU CAN'T COME IN. I'M GIVING INSULIN TO MY SON

CO Chad Sherack (Pequot Lakes) found many extra line violations while checking fish houses. In one instance a man had too many lines down and then proceeded to lie about giving his son insulin. The man asked Sherack to wait outside for a couple minutes. Sherack stepped back away from the door. He then noticed quick movement through the window as the man reeled up two extra lines. When confronted, the man admitted to having extra lines.

DUCK DRIVE

CO Randy Posner (Brainerd) assisted the state patrol with a domestic duck rodeo when 25 ducks escaped from a residence and wandered across Highway 210. When he stopped to move them off of the road, one of the ducks hid under his patrol truck. He had to crawl under and remove the duck before they could continue to drive the ducks home.

ANGLER ADMITS, "I'M ILLEGAL"

CO Adam Block (Prior Lake) reported that upon walking up to a fish house, he was met by the angler exiting the house. Upon announcing "conservation officer" the angler stated, "I am illegal." The angler was found to be using four lines, had an over-limit of bluegills and no fish shelter license.

CO TAKES BITE OUT OF CRIME

CO Dan Malinowski (Fosston) reported a fish theft on a local spearing lake has been solved since two black labs were caught fleeing with northern pike. The dogs strike while patrolling the lake or watching the ice shelters from a farm hillside. Prevention efforts displayed by an older gentleman included a gunnysack to keep the fish inside since he lost two the previous day.

HAVE WE MET BEFORE?

CO Phil Seefeldt (Moorhead) cited two individuals for use of marijuana in a fish house when another individual came up to the officer from another house. Seefeldt asked the man if he was angling and he produced a fishing license. He then asked if they had ever met before and the individual responded "no." Seefeldt checked the individual for arrest warrants and discovered the man failed to appear in court for angling with extra lines, which Seefeldt had cited him for in the fall.

COMING TO A LAKE NEAR YOU

CO Mike Shelden (Alexandria) checked an individual on an area lake and noticed there were several tip-ups near his fish shelter. When the individual was asked how many lines he was using he replied, "seven." Shelden asked him if he had renewed his snowmobile registration as it expired in 2001. He replied "no." Shelden then asked for his fishing license, but he didn't have one. Shelden's last question was if he had the license for the fish shelter. Again the answer was "no." The angler said he could afford the licenses but didn't expect to see a CO on the small lake he was fishing.

WAITING FOR LUNCH

CO Lloyd Steen (Ray) reported a large male timber wolf was observed laying in the front yard of a rural farmhouse watching two domestic dogs being frantically chased into the house by a woman. Investigation revealed the wolf had been waiting there all day looking for a meal. The wolf was chased off.

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