MN DNR Conservation Officer

Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2024-10-21

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked grouse, duck, and goose hunters throughout the week. A complaint of geese that were wantonly wasted was investigated, with enforcement action being taken. Enforcement action was also taken for taking a turkey without a license, take over limit of turkey, and gross misdemeanor shining.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area small game hunters and youth deer hunters.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) began the week by assisting with the funeral for fallen National Park Service Ranger Kevin Grossheim. Fontes worked the youth deer season opener and followed up on a series of complaints. Fontes assisted CO Huener with a case involving several turkeys that were illegally taken without a tag, and numerous migratory birds that were wantonly wasted. Enforcement action was taken for gross misdemeanor deer shining (shining with a firearm in possession), transporting a loaded firearm, failure to register deer, and leaving property on a WMA.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports slow fishing success on Lake of the Woods and Rainy River. Time was spent working commercial minnow activity, commercial inspections, and angling activity.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) responded to an injured Bald Eagle call, patrolled during the Statewide Youth deer season, and the Early Antlerless deer season. He monitored area angling and archery activity. Enforcement action taken for allowing a juvenile to commit a game violation, as well as angling license and WMA violations.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working small game, waterfowl and the youth deer seasons. Time was spent finishing a bear case where enforcement action was taken on an individual for early baiting and not registering bear baits. A wetlands conservation act (WCA) case was also worked.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) completed taxidermy inspections throughout the week. Waterfowl hunters were checked with limited success. A shining detail was conducted with neighboring officers.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) checked anglers on area lakes and Upper Red Lake. Time was spent patrolling forest roads and trails. Assistance was provided to the forestry division with a fire investigation.

Baudette East vacant.

Blackduck South vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2024-10-21

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking deer and duck hunters this week. Time was further spent working on commercial taxidermy inspections. Fall anglers were contacted throughout the week.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time patrolling for fall hunting activities. He provided a ride along for two Bemidji State University college students who were interested in the Conservation Officer career field. He investigated complaints of hunters violating the Beltrami County feed/attractant ban as well as trespassing. Enforcement action was taken for expired watercraft registration, youth without helmets on ATVs, and transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) checked fall anglers and waterfowl hunters during the week. Cooler temps have hunters in the woods after grouse and deer with moderate success. Additional time was spent in meetings with Local Government Units regarding ongoing wetland and public water cases.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking small game hunters, waterfowl hunters, and youth season deer hunters. There was good success reported amongst youth hunters, as the deer really started to move during the last few days. CO Swedberg also assisted Becker County with a warrant arrest and completed taxidermy inspections.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked recreational vehicle enforcement and spent time patrolling public lands for small game and youth firearms deer season hunters. The area remains dry, with fire risk still high. Enforcement action was taken for a various violations.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) followed up with ongoing cases and handled a variety of regulation questions from the public, related to the youth firearms season and the upcoming regular firearms season.

CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on small game, duck, pheasant and bow hunting activity. Areas were patrolled for ATV and off road vehicle activity. A few anglers were out and reported fair success. Officer Warren conducted taxidermy compliance inspections.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) addressed trespassing complaints, bears and crop damage, and ATV violations. Property left on public lands was addressed and the CO followed tips on game violation complaints. A church youth group of mentored waterfowl hunters was checked, with 45 ringnecks and 4 bluebills harvested. Youth deer season was patrolled for with minimal activity observed.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week monitoring ATV and angling activity. Checked numerous grouse hunters in the buckboard area with many reporting seeing fewer birds this year. Time was also spent following up on ongoing cases and answering questions from the public.

Pelican Rapids vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2024-10-21

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) finalized field training with COC Mooers. Officers worked youth and early antlerless deer season, checked pheasant hunters, duck hunters and archery hunters. Complaints handled included trespass, hunter harassment, dogs chasing deer, and several deer hunting questions were fielded. Officers assisted with a medical and worked ATV enforcement.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports spending most of his enforcement effort on angling and the current hunting seasons that are open. Various fishing complaints were received, and enforcement action was taken. Additional time was also spent with training and equipment maintenance.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) and COC Petersen continued checking for small and big game hunting activity. The officer’s and other COs participated in training with local trappers. There is still a mixed report of success for both small and big game hunters.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Multiple big game TIPs were worked over the week. A big game case from 2021-2023 continues to be worked. A variety of violations were encountered with enforcement action taking place.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) worked the youth firearm deer season and continued monitoring duck and pheasant hunting along with angling activity. Time has been spent enforcing multiple requests for extra patrol for illegal dirt bike operations. Overlimit tips were investigated. She assisted Iowa Fish and Game which ultimately resulted in an arrest of multiple license violations, wanton waste and protected non-game violations (Trumpeter Swan). She checked an angler who relayed he has now been checked by her grandfather, Ted Znajda, her dad Pat Znajda, and now her.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working small and big game enforcement throughout the week and weekend. Enforcement action was taken for recreational vehicle violations and assistance was given to local authorities on multiple fire calls.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking fishermen, pheasant, and waterfowl hunters. Additional time was spent attending training and maintaining station equipment.

Wheaton vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2024-10-21

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for Hunting, Angling, and Recreational vehicle activity. CO Baum and District 4 Officers certified 38 students in Firearm Safety at Mantrap Valley Conservation Club. CO Baum encourages individuals interested in instructing one of the DNR?s safety course to go online and learn more about becoming an instructor for your local area. CO Baum took enforcement action on various violations.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) assisted with a firearm safety class. She checked fishing and hunting activity. She also assisted a stranded boater.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) assisted other area CO?s with a firearms safety class. Duck hunters and anglers were checked. Ducks hunters continue to have moderate success despite area birds becoming stale. Anglers took advantage of the mild October weather for what will be the last weekend in the boat for most folks until spring.

CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) Reports conducting several commercial taxidermy inspections in the area. He also reports assisting with a district firearm safety day in the Nevis area. Seifermann reports utilizing K9 Jet for evidence detection to assist on big game cases

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked anglers and waterfowl hunters on Leech Lake throughout the week. Waterfowl hunters are reporting slow hunting with the mild weather. CO McGowan also investigated wildland wild fires, and worked on field training with conservation officer candidate Franzen.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) patrolled the station for hunting activity, with numerous seasons currently open. The youth deer season had above average temps, however several youth hunters had success. Time was spent investigating a possible wetland violation. Enforcement action was taken for several violations throughout the week. A district firearms class was attended in Hubbard County.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked a variety of activities throughout the week as hunting season is in full swing and anglers are still out regularly. Mathy also assisted teaching at a firearms safety class. Enforcement action was taken for duck hunting violations.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked big game, small game, migratory waterfowl, angling, and ATV enforcement. Cross additionally, assisted at district wide firearm safety class. Cross reminds hunters you cannot feed deer in Beltrami, Hubbard, Itasca, or Cass Counties.

ATV rec officer vacant.