MN DNR K-9 Conservation Officers
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2024-05-13
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on the opening weekend of fishing on Lake of the Woods. Fishing success was quite good in places, slower in others. Violations included angling without a license, angling with an extra line, and other minor equipment and license violations. Assistance was given to a boater whose boat slid off of the trailer on the boat ramp. A cease and desist order was issued to someone dumping concrete and gravel in a wetland.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week monitoring ATV traffic and checking area anglers. Anglers were reporting limited success and stayed in close due to windy conditions. Violations encountered were no throwable on board, no license in possession, and displaying expired registration.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) patrolled Beltrami Forest for ATV activity and followed up on a pine marten trap that was left out since the previous trapping season. Anglers and boaters were checked on Lake of the Woods for the walleye opener. Boats were checked from the south shore to the NW Angle, with many anglers reporting a good bite on Saturday. Violations encountered included anglers using an extra line, expired watercraft registration, and other boating equipment violations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports a windy but busy fishing opener. Time was spent working on Upper Red Lake and Rainy River. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, angling with an extra line, angling with no angling license, and illegal length fish.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) instructed at the Conservation Officer Academy and worked the Walleye Season Opener in the Thief River Falls area. Anglers were out in good numbers, but walleye success was limited. Enforcement action for the week included angle without license, angle with extra line, boating equipment violations, no helmet on juvenile ATV passenger, and operate unregistered ATV.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) worked fishing opener where anglers saw limited success. Time was also spent working ATV and trapping enforcement. A talk was given to the Golden Pioneers Club in Thief River Falls regarding Conservation Officer duties and responsibilities. A friendly reminder is given to check your boat prior to going on the water to ensure you have all the required safety equipment.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent time working ATV and angling enforcement throughout the area. CO Bruesewitz worked the fishing opener on Lake of the Woods where anglers saw some success. Time was spent assisting other agencies with calls for service.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) worked a busy opening weekend on Upper Red Lake. Angler success varied and strong winds on Sunday made angling challenging. Time was spent checking commercial minnow traps and returning phone calls regarding angling regulation questions.
Baudette East vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-05-13
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and watercraft operators. Time was further spent working AIS enforcement at public water access sites. A wildlife investigation was completed in Marshall County.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports working the busiest fishing opener in recent memory. Public accesses and shorelines were plump full with anglers in the early morning hours of Saturday, who found some success. Blue-bird conditions reduced success during mid-day. Multiple complaints were fielded regarding sturgeon being purposely snagged, noodled and harassed in their spawning areas; a disappointing sight for many observers. Watercraft safety rule compliance was very high for the weekend, while youth ATV operation violations remains a concern.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking fishermen and boaters. Fishing opener was busy, with many anglers having success. Panfish and walleye were the main species being targeted, with panfish being the more frequent catch. CO Swedberg also spent time patrolling for fire and AIS activity.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked the Fishing Opener weekend as well as ATV related enforcement and complaints. Enforcement action was primarily related to boating related violations, with the most common being insufficient PFDs. ATV violations addressed included Underage Drink and Drive, operate unregistered ATV, and no ATV safety.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers, responding to miscellaneous wildlife calls, and attending an interview training. Opening of walleye season was one of the busier opening days and it?s no coincidence that it was also one of the nicer openers. Angling numbers tapered off drastically on Sunday, but that is not because of lack of fish. Walleye success rates were good and the panfish are currently very active. Anglers are reminded to make sure they have all the required safety equipment on board their watercraft prior to using it for the first time. Enforcement action was taken for keeping bass during a catch and release only season, illegal length walleyes on a special regulation lake, no lifejackets onboard a watercraft, and angling without a license.
CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on ATV and ORV activity. The angling opener weekend was worked, with anglers having mixed success. Fewer anglers were out on Sunday, with higher winds and smoke from fires in Canada. Overall, very good regulation compliance was observed.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) conducted angling and watercraft safety checks. Trapping questions were answered, along with responding to calls of bear and wolf complaints. ATV safety was also addressed. Enforcement action was taken on no lifejackets on board watercraft, no helmets on youth in ATVs, and expired boat registration.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling area lakes for angling activity, responding to wildlife related incidents, and fielding calls from the public. Most anglers reported a slow walleye bite throughout opening weekend, while many anglers fishing for trout on area lakes were successful. Enforcement action was taken for watercraft registration, no angling license in possession, personal floatation device required, take walleye in closed season, and possess illegal length northern pike.
Bemidji #1 vacant.
Pelican Rapids vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-05-13
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent time at district training this week and at the Fergus Falls Public Safety open house held at the Fergus Falls Police Department.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) handled a trespass complaint with a morel mushroom picker and attended good training. Weekend efforts were focused on boating, fishing, invasive species, and ATV enforcement. Warmer weather had the lakes busy with fishermen having good success. Overall boating safety and fishing regulations compliance was good.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking angling, boating, and ATV activity throughout the week. A large turnout of anglers was observed over the fishing opener weekend. Northern pike was the primary fish that were in most live wells. Enforcement action this week included angling without and angling license, northern pike within the slot, and numerous boating related violations. Reminder to refresh on the fishing regulations for limits and sizes of fish before going out on the water.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, boaters, ATV?s and Lake Service Providers. Osborne responded to a complaint of someone fishing early. The investigation revealed that the subject posted a video of walleyes being kept in a livewell on an inland lake where it was closed but was actually fishing on a border lake that was open. Subject regretted posting that after being contacted by Osborne.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. With the warm weather there was many individuals angling in the station. Individuals were having moderate success for fishing opener. Homan also took part in a district training. Enforcement action was taken on various violations throughout the week.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent the busy weekend checking endless anglers throughout her station?s lakes. Various reports of success but all enjoyed the great weather. Several violations encountered on the water with enforcement action taken. She attended district training and has been monitoring ATV activity.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking fishermen, ATV operators, and turkey hunters. Additional time was spent attending training and monitoring AIS law compliance.
Wheaton vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-05-13
CO Corey Sura (Remer) attended a ?Big Wheels? event at the Northland School. Area lakes were patrolled for the fishing opener weekend. The weather was great, but in turn, made the fishing success below average. Those targeting northern pike did well. Enforcement action was taken for possessing illegal length pike, and misc. watercraft safety equipment violations.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked a busy fishing opener weekend. Anglers reported mix success on Leech Lake. Enforcement action was taken for numerous angling and boating violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) had a busy fishing opener, most common violation was fail to have a type IV throwable. Fishing was slow and not much success was observed. A fur presentation was presented to approximately 80 4th grade students at Glendalough State Park. Time was spent responding to grass fires, enforcement action was taken for burning prohibited materials.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) responded to a trespassing report, accidental otter, and overlimit TIP. Enforcement action taken on a slot northern, angling without a license, use of an extra line, no throwable device, display expired registration, and no license in possession.
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked a busy fishing opener. Mixed success was seen in the area for opener. Spirits were however still high and the number of people out was high due to mild temps and clear skies.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) saw many anglers out on the nice fishing opener weekend. Their success was spotty as the walleye weren?t as cooperative as typically seen on fishing opener. A special beaver permit was issued and a call about a problem bear was received. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for Angling, ATV activity, and conducted AIS inspections. CO Baum was accompanied by CO Seifermann and his K-9 partner to inspect watercraft before launching their boats around the local area. CO Baum found numerous anglers in the area having varying luck with this weekends fishing opener. CO Baum took enforcement action on angling and watercraft violations. CO Baum recommends to watercraft operators to check the boating guide for all required safety equipment before going out on the water and ensure fire extinguishers are serviceable.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) Reports anglers having some luck over the fishing opener weekend. Some violations consisted of no angling license, no license in possession, transport live fish, transport water from infested waters, no sound producing device in watercraft, no Type IV throwable when required and possess walleye in closed season. K9 Jet was utilized for zebra mussel detection at several locations around the state
ATV rec officer vacant.
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