ENVIRONMENT: The Enforcers

Text and Photography by Ron C. Hustvedt, Jr.

Nisswa area conservation officer (CO) Jim Guida enjoys his outdoor job.

Charged with enforcing the rules and regulations of the state’s natural resources, Minnesota’s Conservation Officers (CO) are more than just game wardens who check fishing and hunting licenses—they are the guardians of clean water, wetlands, plants, animals, birds, fish, and almost everything else in our outdoor environment.

It’s a big task with no shortage of responsibilities that each CO takes very seriously. The odds are pretty good that while you’ve enjoyed the lands and waters of Lake Country you’ve never come across a CO. The odds are even better that if you have, it’s an experience not to be forgotten.

“We check people every day and meet thousands of them throughout the year so it’s tough for us to remember everybody,” says Nisswa area conservation officer Jim Guida. “It’s funny when people tell you they remember being checked five years ago, they usually remember all the details of it.”

Conservation officers are licensed peace officers with all the training and qualifications of a police officer. They attend a special academy at Fort Ripley where they receive additional training specializing in the unique and wide-ranging duties of the job.

In most cases, before becoming COs, they have spent years as officers for a city or county. Guida was a boat and water deputy for Crow Wing County, a school police liaison officer, and a member of the Crow Wing County SWAT and diving squads.

This is Guida’s fourth year as a CO and he enjoys everything about the job. “It’s a good outdoor-type job and you are always busy throughout the entire year,” he says.

One of the most daunting tasks for COs is the scope of the job—from the activities they monitor to the geographical area they cover. Conservation officers enforce laws related to fish, wildlife, recreation, commercial activities, water and wetlands, environmental crime, state parks, and state trails. They support and help coordinate hunter and vehicle safety courses and perform public relations duties, in addition to providing backup to other officers in their area. It’s a large list of commitments spread over a geographical area typically encompassing hundreds of square miles.

Guida’s range includes the lands and waters east of Highway 371, from the Morrison County line north to County Road 11 in Pequot Lakes. His area ends along County Road 3 through Merrifield to Riverton, and south of South Long Lake. It covers approximately five hundred square miles and includes heavily recreated lakes, such as Pelican, North Long, Round, and South Long, plus thousands of acres of wetlands and forests. In addition, a large amount of commercial and residential development takes place within this region, offering additional areas of enforcement.

Lakes with a public right-of-way are the responsibility of the state and most deeds show that a waterfront property line ends at the ordinary high-water mark. This means that the state governs the water, the weeds, the fish, and the ways people manage and recreate those waters. It also greatly expands the range of a CO’s responsibilities.

“We are always busy and there’s a different enforcement capacity at different times of the year, based on what’s going on,” says Guida. “That’s what I like about the job—I am always active and involved.”

One of the best parts is visiting with people while they are hunting, fishing, hiking, and working on their property. “Having the opportunity to visit with people while they are recreating and having fun is a privilege,” he says. “We are often well received.” Even though hundreds of DNR biologists, researchers, and field staff monitor and manage the state’s resources, COs seem to garner the most attention. “The CO uniform stands out—we are very visible,” says Guida.

Detecting violations is a CO’s primary role and he or she must consider the bigger picture when checking someone. If a violation is detected, a CO must present a clear case to the county attorney. In most cases, violators were either not aware of the regulations or made a mistake, but in some cases people willfully and intentionally break the law. “Some say paying a ticket is the cost of doing business,” he says.

In most cases, COs work with property owners to balance individual property rights with the state’s right to maintain and protect wetlands and waters. Some property owners believe that if it’s their land, they can do what they want, but Guida believes most people understand the impact their actions have on others and the resources. The best way to follow the laws and rules is to read the updated regulations and learn as much as possible about what’s allowed and restricted.

“I believe there will be a day when wetlands become as valuable or more valuable than waters,” he says. “Wetlands do so much to improve water quality—hopefully that day will happen soon.”

For a CO’s duties and qualifications, plus recreational and property regulations, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us or a DNR office.

CO Tales

A conservation officer with another set of eyes—CO Karl Hadrits (Crosby) reports a concerned sportsman with a sharp eye noticed three deer with polished antlers being transported to the local dump. Investigation found that two people had legally taken the deer last muzzleloader season, had never processed them, let them hang in their attached garage for five months to rot, and had now taken them to the county dump for disposal.

Angler flunks spelling test—CO Tom Hemker (Winona) reports a situation where a fisherman attempted to give a false name for a fishing license, but was found to be lying as he struggled with the spelling of the last name of his friend.