MN DNR K-9 Conservation Officers
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2023-12-04
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) finished field training with Conservation Officer Candidate Sean Cannon. They spent the week checking muzzleloader hunters, working on an investigation from the bear-hunting season and checking ice anglers on Upper Red and Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession, angling with extra lines, possession of illegal fireworks, bear outfitter issues and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week following up on various complaints.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent a large portion of the week working the early ice bite on Upper Red Lake. Enforcement action was taken for using an extra line, possessing illegal-length fish, taking fish without an angling license, and no license in possession. Fontes also assisted local law enforcement agencies with a response to a gun-involved domestic incident in Roseau.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) taught the law and ethics portion of the youth snowmobile safety classes in Warren and Newfolden and monitored area muzzleloader-hunting activity. He also checked early ice anglers and responded to calls of a sick bull elk and a car-killed bear.
CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck South) reports monitoring muzzleloader-hunting activity, trapping activity, ice angling and spearing activity on area lakes. Time was spent following up on cases from the deer season and making arrangements with local clubs for youth snowmobile classes scheduled for this winter. Violations encountered and addressed this past week included hunting deer with the aid of bait and hunting deer without a license.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck North) reports that Upper Red Lake has attracted the attention of a lot of ice anglers. With varying ice thickness, breaks and cracks in the ice, and warm weather, be cautious if venturing out on the ice. Numerous TIPs were called and emailed in about a TikTok user who brought an old cell phone fishing with them with the express purpose of throwing it into the lake in an effort to make a humorous video. Contact was made with the individual and enforcement action was taken for littering.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2023-12-04
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time checking deer hunters and small-game hunters. Anglers were checked on area lakes. Various hunting related violations were encountered.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Bemidji #1) finished the last week of field training with COC Nick Bruesewitz. The two worked area lakes for fishing enforcement. Ice was variable throughout. Time was also spent during the weekend working on Upper Red Lake. Violations included overlimits, unattended lines, and angling without a license.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) monitored ice angling activity on area lakes, while cautioning people about ice conditions. Goodman fielded a call regarding an ATV through the ice. The operator was lucky enough to escape unharmed. Additional time was spent checking muzzleloader deer hunters, with a few finding success.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking ice anglers and deer hunters. Many area lakes have frozen over, and many anglers are venturing out on between 2 and 4 inches of clear ice, starting on smaller lakes and bays. Fishing has been alright, with most anglers being satisfied with being out on the lake without snow. Swedberg also gave safety talks at two area snowmobile safety classes, where around 70 students were in attendance. A couple of Detroit Lakes-area instructors also received their 40-year awards. Swedberg would like to thank these instructors and all instructors for their help with the classes.
CO Bill Landmark (Pelican Rapids) checked pheasant hunters and muzzleloader-hunting activity. Ice anglers are starting to venture out on some smaller lakes with walkable ice, but larger lakes should be avoided for a little while longer. Ice reports vary from 2 to 4 inches on smaller lakes. Anglers are urged to wear their life jackets, use a spud bar, and wear ice picks when venturing out on early ice.
CO Brett Fox (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling for small-game and ATV activity. Violations this week included failure to register deer as required.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2023-12-04
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week working on follow up from the deer season. Several safety classes were planned, and Wood wants to remind parents to keep an eye on the DNR website for safety classes and to plan ahead. Several people are already venturing out onto the ice. Wood suggests taking extra safety precautions for those doing so.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) took calls of anglers trespassing to get onto an area lake. She also worked early ice anglers and muzzleloader hunters. Plautz responded to injured-animal complaints and issued car-killed deer permits. Several complaints of littering and dumping of deer carcass were received as well.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) checked pheasant and muzzleloader hunters. He also monitored trapping and angling activity. Be cautious if you plan to go out on the ice as ice thickness varies. Reports of injured and nuisance animals were also fielded.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers and muzzleloader and pheasant hunters. Area lakes have iced over with varied ice thickness so please plan accordingly when venturing out on the ice. Annual safety training was completed.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) wrapped up field training with COC Joe Scholz by beginning to tip-toe out onto walkable ice. Ice anglers are encouraged to use extreme caution when out on ice in the Alexandria area, as open water is still present in some areas. Grouse hunters were checked in the Malmo area and a citation was issued for transporting a loaded firearm.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) reports checking a steady number of small-game and big-game hunters throughout the week. She?s continuing to see some, but low success for big-game hunters, and moderate success for pheasant hunters. Numerous small-game hunters were reminded to wear an adequate amount of blaze orange while the muzzleloader season is open. She responded to several injured-animal calls throughout the week.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports getting various projects done for the district. Required training was also completed.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were focused on checking deer hunters, pheasant hunters, and ice anglers. Additional time was spent investigating trespassing and road-hunting complaints. Calls regarding ice conditions and trapping questions were fielded. Anglers around the area are urged to use caution when venturing out onto area lakes as the ice conditions vary greatly.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2023-12-04
CO Corey Sura (Remer) assisted the Emily-Outing Snowbirds snowmobile club with a snowmobile safety course for 16 students. Very few muzzleloader hunters have been seen out, and anglers are beginning to take to the ice. With warmer weather than usual in the forecast, please remember to use caution when venturing on the ice this time of year. With the ice season upon us, Sura would also like to remind anglers who will be using permanent-style shelters to make sure they have their shelter licenses before hitting the hard water. An individual was cited for spearing for northern pike without a license.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked fishing and hunting activities. Enforcement action was taken for feeding deer in a CWD ban county.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass and Hubbard counties over the past week. He worked a busy Upper Red Lake, where numerous anglers were checked and most anglers were doing well catching walleyes. McGowan wrapped up field training with a new conservation officer candidate. Numerous violations were encountered, including illegal-length walleyes, unattended lines, no angling license, angling with extra lines, and failure to register deer.
CO Jordan Anderson (Wadena) spent the week checking a few more anglers as more area lakes have a fair amount of ice. A few reports of deer stranded on the ice were handled as lack of snow cover means lack of traction. Off-highway vehicle users are reminded to stay off snowmobile trails until there is sufficient snow as they are not meant for ATV, OHM or ORV traffic, as many traverse private property.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports an uneventful muzzleloader deer season. He reports assisting other agencies and continues to conduct follow up on both small- and large-game investigations. As reported last week, be aware of changing ice conditions with the increased air temperatures predicted for this coming week.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked deer hunters and anglers. Ice is slowly developing in the area and some lakes still have portions of open water. Approximately 5 inches of ice is reported on small lakes and shallow areas. Mathy presented at a community meeting and winterized and stored boats for the winter.
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