The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources K9 unit. Left to right: Lt. Phil Mohs and K9 Mack; Conservation Officer Mike Krauel and K9 Bolt; Conservation Officer Mike Fairbanks and K9 Fennec; Conservation Officer Adam Seifermann and K9 Jet; and Conservation Officer Luke Gutzwiller and K9 Earl.

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2024-07-08

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) primarily monitored ATV, boating, and angling activity throughout Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties. A possible calf depredation was taken. It was determined to have died of disease and then scavenged by birds and canines. Violations for the week included angling without a license, allowing a juvenile to violate fishing laws, allowing juveniles to illegally operate ATV laws, angling with extra lines, angling after revocation, and person under 21 in possession of alcohol.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers, monitoring ATV traffic, and following up with various complaints. Violations encountered were angling without a license, driving after revocation, no proof of insurance, operating an off-highway motorcycle on a public roadway/road right of way, operating an unregistered OHM, and felony fleeing in a motor vehicle (OHM).

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and assisting with officer water survival training at Camp Ripley. Fontes saw angler walleye success shift to deeper portions of the lake this week. Enforcement action was taken for taking fish without an angling license, fishing after suspension, and use of an extra line.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) worked boat and water safety and ATV and angling activity. Enforcement action was taken for operating ATVs on state highways, personal watercraft on plane too close to other boats, and operating an ATV on a roadway with no driver?s license. Prachar assisted Lake of the Woods County with numerous calls for service.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) worked the Independence Day holiday weekend on Lake of the Woods and in the Beltrami Island State Forest area. The weather was as nice as it has been in recent memory. Enforcement action was taken for no helmet on juvenile ATV passengers, no ATV registration, no life jacket on juvenile watercraft passenger, unlawful personal watercraft operation, transporting a dressed walleye without patch of skin, and angling license violations.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working angling and ATV activity. An individual was stopped on a Class II ATV for no lights and was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Several individuals were found angling without licenses and enforcement action was taken.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the holiday weekend monitoring boat and water activity on Lake Bronson. Additional time was spent working ATV activity throughout the station. Calls were fielded about various wildlife-related complaints.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) worked angling and boating activity on Upper Red Lake. Angling success on the lake continues to vary day to day depending on weather conditions. He worked a detail on Leech Lake with CO Pat McGowan where several people were stopped for boating violations. Individuals are reminded to check for boat safety equipment before leaving the dock.

Blackduck South vacant.

Baudette East vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2024-07-08

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working on a dog-chasing-deer complaint and assisting DNR Wildlife with a wildlife management area-related violation. Time was further spent checking anglers and watercraft operators. Various angling and boating violations were encountered.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent the holiday weekend patrolling local lakes with neighboring officers. Fishing reports have been slow with only a few fish in livewells. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession, no PFDs, towing without a spotter, angling without a license, and various youth ATV-operation violations. He also investigated a report of wolves killing cattle.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked the busy Fourth of July holiday, focusing on boating and ATV safety enforcement. Numerous boaters without life-saving devices and youth on ATV without helmets were contacted and enforcement action was taken. Despite periods of rain, many people took advantage of the mild weather to enjoy lake actives in the area, with very few complaints fielded. Fishing activity remained steady with a few lakes producing a decent bite.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week patrolling area lakes for boating and fishing activity. Even with the rainy weather, there were plenty of people out enjoying the lakes. Area lakes filled for fireworks shows and everyone enjoyed the shows. Swedberg also spent time teaching water survival to the current CO Academy cadets.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) patrolled for ATV traffic and spent time on the lakes over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Intermittent rain limited activity. Enforcement action was taken for several PFD-related violations, angling without a license, open bottle in an ATV, as well as other ATV violations. Public waters and wetland-related complaints were fielded.

CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) focused on boat and water safety enforcement during the Fourth of July holiday weekend and corresponding Operation Dry Water. The number of people boating was drastically reduced from years past, likely due to the mid-afternoon passing storms and cooler weather. Time was also spent assisting during wetland and invasive species week at the CO Academy. Enforcement action was taken for registration violations on watercraft, OHM violations, gunwale riding, and children under 10 without life jackets.

CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. Areas were patrolled for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Warren spent time at the Mahnomen County Fair answering outdoor-related questions.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) worked boating and water safety, angling, and ATV enforcement during the busy holiday week. Manteufel found minor violations on the water in his area, such as no fire extinguishers on board and Type IV throwables not immediately available. Good compliance in the area was observed, such as keeping safe distances, wakes, and responsible personal watercraft use. A detail was worked in another station where registration and riding on the bow/gunwale issues were addressed. ATV enforcement action was taken for various violations.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) worked a busy Fourth of July week monitoring angling, boating, ATV activity, and handling nuisance-bear complaints. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV- and watercraft-related violations.

Pelican Rapids vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2024-07-08

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) assisted with the CO Academy again this week.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) focused enforcement efforts on ATV, boating and fishing through the holiday weekend. A day was spent at the CO Academy assisting with new conservation officer cadets. Several calls were fielded about abandoned baby raccoons and fawns.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking angling and boating activity throughout the week and into the holiday weekend. Despite the unfortunate rain during the Fourth, a lot of boaters got out and enjoyed the weekend. Enforcement action this week included a walleye overlimit, fishing with an extra line, and various boating violations.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, ATV riders, and AIS over the Fourth of July weekend. Boat lights and jet skis after hours were the most common violations encountered. Nuisance-animal complaints were received, and information was provided to the public.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Two days were spent at the CO Academy for the officer water survival course. A significant amount of time was spent on area lakes monitoring recreational boating activities over the busy holiday week. Numerous boating and recreational vehicle violations were encountered, with enforcement action taking place.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) reports a slow Fourth of July with the questionable weather, but activity turned around and made for a very busy Friday and weekend. She reports high numbers of anglers and boaters on all her lakes. She is pleased to report nearly all juveniles under 10 were wearing life jackets. Her and CO Jake Homan responded to an unoccupied boat operating in the ?circle of death,? which is when a boat spins in continuous tight circles. The operator was thrown from the boat and thankfully unharmed. The officers were successfully able to get the boat under control. She spent time during the week assisting in teaching officer water survival skills at the Staples pool to the newest CO Academy. Instructors taught the class how to survive in a variety of instances where COs may end up in the water. She encountered several violations throughout the week including fishing without a license.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working a busy holiday weekend. Enforcement action was taken for numerous fishing and recreational violations.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement effort for the week was concentrated on checking anglers, boaters, and ATV operators. Additional time was spent following up on nuisance-animal complaints.

Wheaton vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2024-07-08

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) worked the busy 4th of July weekend. He checked several boats on local lakes. Fishing has been fair for most anglers. The rain had slowed most of the recreation activity over the weekend. An abandoned kayak was located on the Shell River. The owner was later located, and the kayak was returned. Nuisance-bear complaints continue to be high in volume.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) worked boating, angling, and ATV activities over the Fourth of July weekend. With a lot of rain in the mix, folks took advantage of the time the sun was shining to get outside. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, taking an overlimit of sunfish on a lake with special regulations, insufficient PFDs on board watercraft, expired watercraft registration, and ATV operations on a state highway.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area lakes and trails this week. Baum took enforcement action on various boating, ATV, and angling violations. Even with the varying weather this holiday weekend, Baum found many people outside enjoying the lakes and forest. He continues to urge people to look on the DNR website for rules and regulations before heading out.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled Cass County lakes for angling and boating activity. Lakes were busy over the Fourth of July weekend. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) spoke at a firearms safety class. Enforcement action taken for an overlimit of crappies, and various OHM and ATV violations.

CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports that despite thunderstorms and rain showers, holiday recreationalists managed to get out on area lakes and rivers. Some violations consisted of no angling licenses, no license in possession, insufficient life jackets, children under 10 not wearing life jackets, no Type IV throwable device, gunwale and transom riding, unregistered watercraft, PWC operate within 150 feet of shoreline, no sound-producing device on watercraft and no life jackets while on non-motorized watercraft. He also reports assisting Morrison County with a watercraft accident.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked a very busy Fourth of July four-day weekend to end the week. Time was primarily spent on the waters of Hubbard, Beltrami, and Cass counties. Enforcement action was taken for boating, personal watercraft, angling, and ATV violations.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) worked a busy holiday weekend, spending most of his time checking boat operation. A special beaver permit was issued and a complaint about a problem bear was received. Enforcement action was taken for boating violations.

ATV rec officer vacant.