MN DNR Conservation Officer
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-01-21
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and monitored area snowmobile activity for speed and registration compliance. Angling activity has been fair with a lot of small walleyes and sauger being caught. Violations for the week included angling with extra lines and possessing an overlimit of walleyes.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up on various complaints.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) reports that the frigid weather has had little impact on the Lake of the Woods walleye bite. Enforcement action was taken for leaving garbage on the ice, possession of fillets on the lake, no shelter license, and no license in possession.
CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) spent the week checking anglers on area lakes and trappers during the last week of the bobcat season. He saw fewer anglers on the ice with the colder weather moving in. A few snowmobiles were encountered on area trails with riders hoping for more snow. Enforcement action taken for the week included no shelter license, angling with extra lines, and no license in possession. A TIP complaint was also received and is being investigated.
CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) assisted with the law and ethics portion of the Thief River Falls snowmobile safety class, spoke to the Oslo Rod and Gun club at their annual game feed, and assisted with multiple TIP complaints on Lake of the Woods.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) reports angling and snowmobile activity was monitored. She gave a law and ethics talk to a snowmobile safety class of 20 students in Thief River Falls. Assistance was given with a crash involving several semi-trucks that spilled corn and grass seed on the road during a snowstorm.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking ice anglers. Time was also spent investigating big-game violations that occurred during the 2024 deer season.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake throughout the week. Weather conditions in the area over the past few days have made angling activity difficult. The bite remains slow on most of the lake.
CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for sport fishing and recreational vehicle activity. Additional time was spent checking anglers coming in from the Northwest Angle. Enforcement action was taken for no trout stamp in possession.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-01-21
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week checking anglers and recreational vehicle operators. Aeration inspections were completed. Calls regarding sick/injured deer were taken care of.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time patrolling local lakes checking anglers. Dedicated anglers, in the frigid weather, were catching a few walleyes and crappies. He spoke about laws and ethics at a youth snowmobile safety class. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, extra lines, and various shelter violations. Reminder, portable shelters are required to have identification and a shelter license if they are left unattended on the ice.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) continued to find anglers on most area lakes in search of a decent bite. A few inches of snow have allowed snowmobiles to travel across lakes and a few ditches, but much more is needed for trail riding. Additional time was spent on investigations relating to deer and a public waters violation.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) continued to check anglers and saw a few snowmobiles out and about. However, trail conditions are poor. The bite is reported to be slow in the area. Time was also spent investigating deer-related cases.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up with ongoing cases and starting new deer-hunting related investigations. Time was also spent handling reports of incidentally caught fisher.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on ice angling activity. Anglers are reporting improved ice conditions, with a fair success rate. ATV checks were performed, and the machines were the main choice of anglers. Snowmobile activity was worked, with a few riders out after the latest snow. Warren discussed possible trespass, wildlife complaints, and fish house regulations with White Earth conservation officers. Areas were patrolled for predator-hunting activity.
CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) retrieved multiple fishers that were caught incidentally during the bobcat-trapping season. Fishers will be donated or sold and utilized for their fur. Boyle also spent time on area lakes, checking angling activity.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked area lakes for angling activity and patrolled the area snowmobile trails this week. Big-game-license violations and TIPs from deer season were also investigated.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week monitoring angling and snowmobile activity. Most trout anglers checked over the weekend were having success, while anglers fishing for other species throughout the week were not. Some of the enforcement action taken throughout the week was taking a walleye/sauger overlimit, litter outside a shelter, fishing with extra lines, possessing dressed fish or fillets or unmeasurable fish, unattended lines, and fishing without a license.
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.
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.
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