Caption: DNR Assistant Commission Bob Meier (far left), DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen (second from left) and Col. Rodmen Smith, DNR Enforcement Division director (far right), are pictured here with the 18 new conservation officers who graduated from the CO Academy and now are field training across the state.
Weekly CO report
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-01-13
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) monitored area snowmobile and angling activity. Enforcement actions for the week were taken for anglers in possession of too many saugers, operating an unregistered snowmobile, angling without a license, and obstruction of justice.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week working on a pre-employment background investigation and checking area anglers. Violations encountered were no license in possession and littering.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and speaking with anglers who were mostly targeting walleyes and saugers. The bite overall remained steady despite the frigid weather. Fontes also participated in a Law Enforcement Memorial Association training. Enforcement action was taken for the use of an extra line and no license in possession.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports sporadic fishing success on Lake of the Woods. Extra time was spent working the local snowmobile trails due to complaints of ATV traffic on the trails. Enforcement action was taken for reckless operation of an off-highway motorcycle, overlimit of walleyes/sauger, and no angling license in possession.
CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) checked anglers on area lakes with most people reporting a slow bite. An incidentally taken pine marten was collected. He also worked a detail on a local lake with neighboring COs. Enforcement action for the week included no license in possession, no shelter license, failure to display ATV registration, and an overlimit of fish.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) taught the law and ethics portion of the Oklee Snowmobile safety class and checked area anglers. Enforcement action for the week included angling without a license, angling with an unattended line, no helmet on a juvenile on a snowmobile, and no shelter ID or license.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports checking anglers catching fish on the Red Lake River. Time was spent on Lake of the Woods investigating an overlimit of walleyes/sauger. During the investigation, one of the anglers attempted to hide fish fillets behind the toilet. Enforcement action was taken for possessing an overlimit of walleyes/sauger and obstruction.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake. The bite has improved throughout the week with the warmer weather. Caution is advised when traveling around the lake as the ice conditions vary. Several cracks and pressure ridges have formed in different areas.
CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for recreational vehicle and sport fishing activity. Additional time was spent working a detail on Lake of the Woods with fellow District 1 conservation officers. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license and failure to display current registration.
Weekly CO report
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-01-13
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and ATV operators this past week. Time was also spent following up on open game and fish-related cases. Various wildlife-related complaints were received.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time patrolling Lake Bemidji and the surrounding lakes. Anglers are reporting a slow bite, but a few anglers managed to reel in some walleyes and perch. He would like to remind users of the Paul Bunyan State Trail that snowmobiles are the only authorized motor vehicles allowed on the trail. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession, expired ATV registration, litter on ice, and operating an ATV on a state trail.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports working in snow, rain, sleet, and snow again during a work detail on Otter Tail Lake. Despite the fickle precipitation, the balmy temperatures and easy ice travel brought out another wave of ice anglers. The slow bite must have worn some the patience of some anglers, as an uptick in extra-line violations was found on multiple lakes. With some measurable snow finally on the ground, a few snowmobiles were encountered. A reminder for those who have not ridden in a few seasons to renew your registration.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking ice anglers and working with K9 Axel. Swedberg assisted with a detail on Otter Tail Lake over the weekend. Fishing was alright and COs were able to check many anglers. Enforcement action for the week included fishing with extra lines, no shelter tag, and littering on the ice.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) continued to work fishing and trapping activity. Recent snow in the station may allow some snowmobilers to start riding. People are reminded to stay off the snowmobile trails with other motor vehicles. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of angling, shelter, ATV, and litter violations.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on ice angling activity. Anglers are reporting improved ice conditions, with a fair catch rate. ATV checks were performed, and those types of vehicles were the main choice of anglers. Snowmobile activity was worked, with a few riders out after the latest snow. Warren discussed possible trespass, wildlife-related complaints, and fish house regulations with White Earth conservation officers. Areas were patrolled for predator-hunting activity.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up with ongoing cases. Landmark also taught the law and ethics portion of a safety class hosted by the Moonshiners Snowmobile Club and presented a 30-year award to one of the instructors.
CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) received several complaints of people sabotaging ice roads on Lake Lida. After further investigation, it was deemed a new pressure ridge recently developed. Boyle would like to remind people to use caution and drive slow enough that you can visually verify ice conditions for yourself on each outing.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked area lakes and public lands for activity and addressed property left on public lands. Phone calls and questions about wildlife and recreational vehicles were addressed. Big-game tips and information were followed up on.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week monitoring area angling and trapping activity. He attended a training with Itasca State Park staff on ice rescue and discussed agency ice rescue response and capabilities.
Weekly CO report
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-01-13
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. For the most part area lakes have solid ice but areas of concern. Remember to avoid crossing pressure ridges and stay away from open-water areas. The fishing report for most lakes has been slow and/or smaller-sized fish. Also remember to check your ATVs as the new year requires new registration for those who had 2024 registration for their machines.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time on several area lakes for fishing enforcement and fish house violations. Most common violations encountered were unmarked fish houses, unlicensed fish houses, no fishing license in possession, and fishing with extra lines. Time was also spent on trapping enforcement and responding to incidentally taken fisher.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) spent the week checking anglers and snowmobilers. Additional time was spent speaking at two snowmobile safety classes in the area. Injured-animal calls were received and fielded.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, fish houses, and ATV riders. Injured-animal complaints were received and handled. Fish house licensing, fishing license, and public water access site questions were received.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Time was spent checking anglers on busy area lakes. Enforcement action was taken on a variety of ATV and angling violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent the busy week focusing on heavy angling activity. She paired up with surrounding wardens for extra patrol on bigger lakes throughout the week and weekend, spending time in Todd, Douglas, Pope, and Otter Tail counties. Lots of anglers were out with ATVs and with the recent snow, there was more snowmobiling activity. Numerous violations were encountered, with fishing with too many lines being a common theme.
CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) reports multiple access closures at both Halls Landing and County Park on Lake Traverse due to significant pressure ridges and heaves. Fish Camp access is open but expect excess pressure due to South Dakota closures as well. Remember, think before you cross ridges as open water is common on the other side. Enforcement action for the week included assisting other agencies, multiple no license in possession, fish house violations, litter on the ice, and a same-day big-game license violation.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle activity. Background work was also completed on a potential new hire. Enforcement action was taken for fishing with extra lines, failure to renew ATV registration, and no shelter license or ID displayed.
Weekly CO report
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-01-13
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) fielded numerous calls, followed up on citizen concerns, and spent most of his time conducting a background investigation.
CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) continued training with COC Tshungtsim Thao. Time was spent working ice anglers on Leech and Winnibigoshish lakes and handling miscellaneous calls in the area. Enforcement action was taken for multiple violations. Violations included extra lines, unattended lines, no shelter tags, perch overlimit, and illegal-length northern pike.
CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) checked anglers and trappers. Ice heaves on large lakes keep popping up and caution is advised during ice travel. Some time was spent working on the new licensing system. Enforcement action was taken for angling, ATV, and trapping violations.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) found panfish anglers enjoying good bites in the area. A group of hound hunters was checked that had harvested two bobcats. Several individuals were reminded that their ATV registration had expired at the start of the new year.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and trapping activity. She also responded to a report of a fisher trapped accidentally.
CO Adam Seifermann (Staples) reports checking anglers and conducting follow up. Seifermann and K9 Jet deployed twice on evidence-detection searches. Enforcement action was taken for an outstanding warrant arrest, extra lines, no angling license in possession, and no shelter ID/license.
ATV rec officer vacant.
Comments