justnorth posted on November 05, 2008 11:16 :: 1228 Views
A Baudette, Minn., man pleaded guilty in late September to a gross misdemeanor charge for taking 44 walleye over the limit, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He was fined $3,500.
DNR conservation officers ticketed Robert Allen Hansen, 67, on June 20. Officers said Hansen caught the fish on Lake of the Woods and stored them in a refrigerator-freezer at his home.
DNR conservation officers Robert Gorecki and Jeremy Woinarowicz said they acted on an anonymous Turn In Poachers (TIP) phone call that indicated Hansen had been fishing for several days and keeping a limit each day.
“I was notified he had been bragging to individuals about how many fish he had caught, and stated he was on his way to fish again while leaving the Zippel Bay State Park water access,” Gorecki said.
The conservation officers caught up with Hansen later that day with several walleye in his possession. Gorecki said Hansen gave the officers permission to search his residence for any fish.
The officers discovered Hansen’s refrigerator freezer had 22 packages of frozen fish containing 77 walleye. Woinarowicz said Hansen lived at the residence with his wife and two children, so the family could only legally possess 32 walleye. The officers cited Hansen for having 44 fish over the limit.
The legal walleye/sauger limit on Lake of the Woods is eight. No more than four of these fish can be walleye and only one walleye more than 28 inches can be kept. Walleye 19.5 inches through 28 inches must be immediately released.
Hansen plead guilty in Lake of the Woods County District Court. He was sentenced to one year in jail - stayed if no same or similar incidents - one-year probation, fined $3,000 plus court fees, and ordered to pay $495 dollars in restitution. The plea agreement allowed Hansen to keep his fishing privileges if he paid the fines and restitution in full.
Conservation officers say more people are coming forward to report illegal activities they see out in the field, and they encourage eyewitnesses to continue helping them combat code violations.
“A conservation officer has only one set of eyes. I cover 650 square miles,” Gorecki said. “Everyone who is concerned about natural resources is another set of eyes that can help catch those violating the law.”
Anyone witnessing a fish or wildlife violation should contact the nearest conservation officer or law enforcement agency, or call the toll free TIP hotline at 800-652-9093.
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