Here's one for the anti-ATV crowd. Minivans seem popular in Minnesota.
Two Onamia men were arrested for poaching deer just south of Onamia Saturday, Nov. 15.
Both the Minnesota State Patrol and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received telephone reports of a minivan in the area with a spotlight shining deer and shooting after the legal shooting time.
Officers located the minivan, which had a taillight out, and conducted a traffic stop. Three adults and two juveniles were in the minivan, including the driver Jeffrey Lawrence Klous, 38, of Onamia and front seat passenger Patrick Lawrence MacLean, 41, of Onamia.
Klous admitted to having a .30-06 rifle in the vehicle, and officers observed a strong alcohol smell. Klous was tested and registered at a .07 on a personal breathalizer.
Several spotlights and an open bottle of beer were in the vehicle.
After receiving permission, officers spoke with one of the juveniles in the van who told authorities Klous had shot at least two deer while MacLean held a spotlight.
Klous admitted to shooting at a deer from inside the vehicle. He told officers he had shot at one deer, but didn’t think he hit anything.
MacLean initially denied any part of the incident and when told of Klous’ statement, MacLean told the officers, “People get confused sometimes.”
At the Mille Lacs County Jail, MacLean later admitted that he held the spotlight while Klous shot at two deer.
During a pat-down search of MacLean, officers located a small amount of marijuana and a pipe in his possession.
On Sunday, Nov. 16, officers were contacted by one of the parties who reported the incident and told the officers he recovered a dead doe in the area. The deer was recovered, as well as a .30 bullet that has been sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for testing.
Klous has been charged with intentional discharge, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. MacLean was charged with aiding and abetting intentional discharge, which carries the same penalty.
Klous has also been charged with discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. MacLean was charged with aiding and abetting, which carries the same penalty.
Both men have been charged with using artificial lights to locate animals, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
MacLean was also charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, which carries a maximum penalty of a $300 fine and participation in a drug education program.
Bail was set for both at $6,000 unconditional and $1,500 conditional. Conditional bail includes abstaining from mood-altering substances, random urinalysis testing, forfeiture of all firearms and no hunting until the court proceedings have concluded.
Oh, maybe it has been too quiet around here. ATV conversations always get things rolling I guess. 
