MN DNR K9 Conservation Officer
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2022-12-19
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) continued field training with COC Hams. They spent time during the week checking anglers and following up on various complaints. Violations encountered were angling without a license, trapping without a license, extra line, failure to transfer ownership, and littering.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) continued field training with COC Paavola. Time was spent checking ice anglers, snowmobilers, and trapping activity. Enforcement action for the week included operating an unregistered ATV and snowmobile, operating without a snowmobile safety certificate, and operating an ATV without the required headlight.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports monitoring trapping activity, deer-hunting activity during the disease management Permit Area 184 hunt, and angling activity on area lakes. The recent heavy, wet snow has brought slush issues on many lakes, which is posing a challenge for many anglers. The cold weather that followed is helping with travel on the lakes. Time was spent working on ongoing cases and handling incidental catches and car-killed wildlife. Violations encountered and addressed included possession northern pike in the protected slot and angling license violations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports resorts are letting out more vehicle activity, but with recent snow on the ice travelling on the lake can be difficult due to slush and snow. Check ice conditions and travel routes prior to venturing out on your own. The fisher/pine marten season began with trappers having similar difficulties getting to trapping areas due to the snow. Time was spent working fishing and small-game-hunting activity.
Warroad North vacant.
Warroad South vacant.
Baudette East vacant.
Baudette West vacant.
Thief River Falls East vacant.
Karlstad vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2022-12-19
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) working on various wildlife-related complaints and trespass-related concerns. Time was also spent checking anglers, ATV operators, and snowmobilers.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) continued field training with COC Andrew Ladzinski. Time was spent patrolling local lakes on snowmobile. Multiple shelter violations were observed and owners were notified. Patrols were also conducted on Upper Red Lake. The winter storm that passed through seemed to slow down the fish bite a considerable amount. Enforcement action was taken for an unregistered deer.
CO Chris Vinton (Perham) continued field training COC Znajda. They are starting to see more snowmobile riders, with enforcement action needing to be taken at times. Snowmobilers are reminded to review the regulation book to ensure they are being law-abiding. They assisted with instructing snowmobile safety classes in Henning and Bertha. The officers are still seeing anglers, even with the deep slush on surrounding lakes. Various enforcement action was taken throughout the week. Deer-possession permits continue to be issued for car-killed deer.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking snowmobilers and ice anglers. Ice conditions changed for the worse during the week, as the area received between 15 and 20 inches of snow. Area lakes are full of slush and water, and several inlets/outlets have opened back up, creating dangerous conditions. Area snowmobile riders also report somewhat challenging conditions on area trails as heavy snow/ice has damaged trees and made some trails impossible to go through. Area clubs are asking for assistance in knocking off snow and ice from branches as you go down the trails and report any hazards that you find to their respective social media pages.
CO Al Peterson (Osage) performed a necropsy on a possible illegal deer kill, followed up with ongoing cases and worked snowmobile enforcement.
CO Steve Chihak (Moorhead) spent the week working sport fishing, small-game and snowmobile enforcement. Time was also spent conducting deer farm inspections.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling activity. Area lakes are challenging with as a result of the recent snowfall. Snowmobile activity was worked with a few sleds out and about, but area trails are not fully groomed yet. Warren spoke at a snowmobile safety class in McIntosh.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) spent the week working on a background for the upcoming CO Academy. Calls he received were related to incidentally taken otters.
Bagley vacant.
Bemidji #2 vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2022-12-19
CO Andrew Goodman (Fergus Falls) watched fish houses disappear as fast as they appeared on area lakes. Heavy snow and slush made conditions tough, but below-zero temperatures should improve things. Goodman assisted with a snowmobile safety class in Herman and patrolled for ice anglers.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) assisted volunteer instructors in Henning with a snowmobile safety class where 20 students were certified. Plautz put on another snowmobile safety class in Bertha, certifying 12 more youth. Plautz found several individuals bringing fish houses off the area lakes, where there was a lot of flooding. Recent snow has brought out the snowmobile riders in the area but trails need some work before they will see a groomer.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking snowmobile and angling activity throughout the week. Ice conditions are improving but some spots are still unstable. Vehicles breaking through the ice have been reported. Use caution when venturing out. Anglers have reported decent success on area waters.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers and ATV and snowmobile riders. A snowmobile safety class was scheduled in the area. Heavy, wet snow fell in the area over the week, flooding area lakes. This is making it difficult to get around on lakes.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) spent the week checking anglers and snowmobile riders. Recent heavy snowfalls have made trails decent and lots of snowmobile riders have been observed and checked. Anglers are getting around very slowly with heavy slush on almost all area lakes. Several anglers in both Douglas and Todd counties were cited for possessing illegal substances as well as angling with too many lines. Snowmobile-registration compliance in the area has been excellent so far.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) spent time completing various tasks for the Division. Work was started on a background investigation and a training was attended through the BCA.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers, snowmobile operators, and pheasant hunters. Additional time was spent checking bowhunters and fielding calls related to area ice conditions. Baumbarger taught the law and ethics portion of a local snowmobile safety class and assisted with the ride test portion of the class.
Osakis vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2022-12-19
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily worked on an applicant background investigation. Some time was spent checking anglers. Slush has developed in many areas of the lakes after the latest heavy snowfall, creating difficult traveling conditions in spots. Four to12 inches of ice was seen or reported. A hunter-harassment call was also received. Enforcement action was taken for angling and spearing violations.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) continued training a conservation officer candidate for the final phase of field training. The officers worked Cass, Beltrami, and Hubbard county lakes and trails. The recent snow has impacted travel on many area lakes. Enforcement action for the week included possession of drug paraphernalia, angling with extra lines, no shelter tag, no angling license, and numerous ATV- and snowmobile-registration violations.
CO Jacque Hughes (Longville) checked angling and snowmobile activity. She also followed up on ongoing cases.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports following up on big-game-related concerns, checking anglers and conducting snowmobile enforcement. Several calls were returned.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) continued investigation of a deer-hunting related complaint. Ice anglers were checked. They were finding moderate success. Several groups of snowmobile riders were out enjoying the first big snow of the year. The trails have plenty of snow and just as many fallen trees due to the amount of wet, heavy snowfall received in the area.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) saw limited fishing activity with the winter storm keeping people and shelters off the ice. Approximately 12 to 16 inches of wet, heavy snow were received locally causing obstructions to the trails. Enforcement action for week included shelter license/ID violations, operating a vehicle on a WMA and snowmobile safety/registration violations
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked the late-season CWD hunt, conducted snowmobile patrol, and checked traps as the annual bobcat and fisher season opened. Limited success was seen with the CWD hunt with the recent snowfall and colder weather. Additionally, Cross conducted local area taxidermy inspections. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession and failure to register deer as required. Fishing pressure remained low in the area, due to the great amount of slush on the lakes with the two recent snowfalls.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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