MN DNR Conservation Officer
District 1 – Baudette area
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) continued field training with COC Calli Oberg. This week they spent time patrolling for the muzzleloader season. Violations this week included: hunting without a license, not wearing blaze orange, no blaze orange on a ground blind on public property, operating on a closed WMA with an ATV, placing foothold traps near exposed bait, and placing a snare illegally. Colder temperatures have led to ice forming and shelters being placed on the ice. CO Huener wants to remind everyone to review the MN DNR ice safety guidelines before hitting the lakes.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent time checking area hunters and following up with various complaints.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) reports a relatively slow end to the firearms deer season. Fontes reports that a lot of near-shore areas of LOTW are locked up and urges extreme caution to people that will be heading out to take advantage of the first ice. Enforcement action this week was taken for transporting a loaded firearm.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) investigated a complaint where a whitetail buck that was taken with a firearm out of season and checked area muzzle loader hunters on opening weekend. Follow up on cases from the firearms deer season was conducted and area anglers are reminded to be extremely cautious when venturing out on area rivers as ice conditions vary greatly.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week following up on big game violations that occurred during the deer season. Nuisance animal calls were also handled. CO Bruesewitz checked the first ice anglers of the season with limited success. Violations for the week included multiple failure to register harvested deer.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) continued field training with COC Mooers. Officers worked on completing firearms deer season cases. With the recent cold weather, ice conditions continue to improve. Caution is advised when venturing out onto the early ice.
Baudette East vacant.
Blackduck South vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2024-12-02
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking muzzleloader deer hunters. Time was further spent following up on pending wetland violation cases. Anglers venturing out on the early ice were also checked. Complaints from the 2024 firearms deer season continue to be worked on.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time following up on TIP calls and ongoing big game cases. He investigated a report of an overlimit of deer being taken. He followed up with dog owners on reports of dogs chasing deer. He is seeing some lakes that have minimal ice formation, with some anglers very eager to get out on the early ice.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked muzzleloader and goose hunters over the weekend, with few braving the elements to chase such game. Area lakes began locking up and Goodman found the first ice anglers of the season venturing out on a few lakes. Ice conditions are highly variable, and patience should be exercised to allow ice thickness to develop more.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week following up on cases from the deer season, completing reports, and performing equipment maintenance. Several lakes in the area have frozen over, and there are fishermen taking advantage of the good start to the ice. Use caution when venturing out, as ice is walkable to non-existent on area lakes.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) and COC Bobby Stringer reports increased ice fishing activity, as some local lakes are locked in with ice. Ice thickness varies; however, some lakes are measuring between 3-4 inches. Both officers want to remind lakeshore owners to report aeration activations via permits and ensure signage is posed correctly. Enforcement action and investigations for the week include aeration permit violations, abandoned waterfowl decoys, and multiple litter on the ice violations.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking pheasant hunters, muzzleloader deer hunters, and ice fishermen. With the cold temps, some area lakes had borderline walkable ice as of Sunday. Anglers are urged to use extreme caution for a while, as most lakes and deeper water froze as recently as Saturday morning. Muzzleloader and pheasant hunting activity was slow due to the cold weather, but those braving the conditions saw birds and deer. Calls from the public included numerous injured animals calls and reports of trespassing.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling activity and monitoring ice conditions. The public is reminded to use caution and to test ice thickness when venturing out. Area WMA and WPAs were patrolled for small game and pheasant hunting activity. Opening of Muzzleloader deer season was also worked.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent time following up on cases from deer season, equipment maintenance, and answering various questions from the public. He would like to remind the public to use caution when venturing out onto the ice.
Pelican Rapids vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2024-12-02
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week catching up on trainings, working waterfowl enforcement and follow up from the deer season.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked with local government units on a potential wetland violation, monitored ice conditions and trapping activity. This officer fielded questions on the upcoming muzzleloader season and worked with wildlife on trapping permits in a WMA.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor hunting and angling activity throughout the week. Equipment maintenance and annual training was also completed.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked deer and pheasant hunters. Area lakes have begun to ice over with ice fishermen venturing out. Please use precaution before hitting the ice.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for big game and small game activity. Area lakes are starting to freeze over and fisherman are starting to venture out onto the lakes. CO Homan would like to remind everyone to be safe on early ice as it can be unpredictable.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent her week monitoring small game hunters and ATV operators. Trespass and dogs chasing deer complaints are still being received. She spent her weekend checking muzzleloader hunters. She reports few deer hunters in her station.
Wheaton vacant
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working muzzleloader and goose hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for burning prohibited materials and a report of trespassing was investigated.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were focused on checking deer and pheasant hunters. Additional time was spent investigating road hunting complaints. Cold weather has started making ice on area lakes, and anglers are starting to venture out. Anglers are urged to use caution and check ice thickness often.
Wheaton vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2024-12-02
CO Michael Cross K171 (Lake George) continued investigating deer hunting related issues, monitored area lakes, and prepared equipment for winter. Training was also conducted.
CO Nick Baum K172 (Park Rapids) assisted neighboring officer with the end of firearm deer season and took some time off to spend with family during the holiday time.
CO Landyn Saewert K173 (Wadena) spent the week following up on big game violations and checking small game hunters. WMA/State Forest violations encountered and being investigated. Assistance was given to locale law enforcement agencies.
CO Patrick McGowan K174 (Walker) spent the week following up on various violations that occurred during the firearm deer season. Time was spent training a conservation officer candidate from the last academy, and they found that the cold weather of this past week has caused several local lakes to begin icing over. Enforcement action was taken for numerous deer hunting violations.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked hunters. A trapping complaint was also investigated. Ice is forming on area lakes. Small shallow lakes are ice covered while other lakes have spotty ice with open water areas.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) worked muzzleloader hunters and early ice angler. Despite the recent cold spell, many smaller area lakes are not even completely iced over, and the couple that are had very variable ice conditions to include pockets of open water. Please be prepared if you are considering venturing out onto early ice. One angler was cited for taking an illegal length northern pike.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and hunting activity. She also responded to a report of an injured swan.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking archery and muzzleloader deer hunters and following up on TIP and trespass complaints. As ice begins forming on area lakes and rivers, he reminds users that ice is never 100% safe and to follow ice safety guidelines and have an emergency plan in place.
ATV rec officer vacant.
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