MN DNR Conservation Officer

Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2025-02-24

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) worked Lake of the Woods, checking both anglers and snowmobile activity during the busy weekend at the Northwest Angle. Fishing in general is slow. Violations for the week included angling without a license, no shelter license, angling with extra lines, and operating an unregistered snowmobile.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and monitoring snowmobile traffic. Violations encountered were angling without a license, no angling license in possession, no shelter license, failure to display shelter license, and littering.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) attended emergency vehicle operation course training at Camp Ripley this week. Fontes also assisted with a law enforcement funeral.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports increased angling and snowmobile activity. Time was spent on Lake of the Woods following up on complaints of vehicles operating on the grant-in-aid snowmobile trail and patrolling near the Northwest Angle. Enforcement action was taken for illegal operation of an ATV, DWI, and expired registration on a snowmobile.

CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) checked on local anglers and patrolled area snowmobile trails with neighboring COs. With the higher temps later in the week he saw an increase in both activities. Warmer weather in the forecast may result in trail conditions deteriorating quickly. Enforcement action for the week included failure to display registration, no license in possession, no shelter license, and unmeasurable fish/fillets on ice.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports checking anglers on the Red Lake River who were enjoying the nice weather over the weekend. Time was spent speaking to a class of ninth- to 12th-grade students about becoming a conservation officer.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake. Snowmobile trail conditions deteriorated rapidly over the weekend with the warm weather. Angling success continues to vary on Upper Red Lake depending on where an individual sets up.

CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for angling and recreational vehicle activity. Additional time was spent working Upper Red Lake. Enforcement action was taken for litter and illegal possession of walleyes.

Weekly CO report

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2025-02-24

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending most of the week checking ice anglers. More activity was observed on area lakes after the recent warmup. ATV and snowmobile operators were also checked. Various recreational vehicle and angling violations were encountered.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) hit the trails and lakes this week, keeping a watchful eye on anglers and snowmobilers. The panfish were piling up in buckets, but so were the violations. Citations and warnings were issued for no trail passes, fishing without a license, and unregistered shelters. A friendly reminder: Angling licenses expire on Feb. 28.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) returned to Camp Ripley for emergency vehicle operation training during the week. Anglers, coyote hunters, and snowmobilers were checked throughout the weekend. Trail conditions deteriorated quickly, with the balmy temperatures settling into the area. Fish houses and shelters have also begun to disappear from area lakes, with the end of the walleye season and melting snow/slushy conditions. Ice litter, covered by snow, has been exposed and will be an enforcement focus the next few weeks, so anglers are urged to pick up after themselves.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) attended training at Camp Ripley and patrolled trails during what could be the last weekend of snowmobile riding of the season. Trail conditions are poor after the warm weather. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile registration and trail sticker violations. Shelters were documented, as the removal deadline for half the station is 11:59 p.m. on March 3.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers in the Moorhead station and following up with ongoing cases. Anglers in the station are finding that the panfish activity is increasing. Ice anglers are reminded that fish houses must be removed from the ice, on lakes south of Highway 10, by 11:59 p.m. on March 3. Calls from the public included ride-along requests and a report of snowmobiles trespassing.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and snowmobile activity. Warren finished mandatory online training. Wildlife-permit questions were answered.

CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) spent the week patrolling for angling and snowmobile activity. Boyle reports the panfish bite has picked up with the warmer weather.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) patrolled snowmobile trails and checked anglers and ice shelters. A high school recruitment event was attended, as was a local sportsmen club fishing derby meeting. Violations addressed this week were fishing with extra lines and expired snowmobile registrations. Unattended portable shelters were also discovered on area lakes. He would like to remind anglers to remember to purchase their new license after the end of the month.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling area snowmobile trails and monitoring angling activity. Area snowmobile trails were busy over the weekend with the warmer weather. Many anglers reported a slower bite throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for expired snowmobile registration and not having the required snowmobile trail sticker on state or grant-in-aid trails.

Weekly CO report

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2025-02-24

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week at training and working on recreational vehicle and angling enforcement. She would like to remind people to be mindful of ice conditions with the warm weather.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) attended Division training, spent time working ice fishing and recreational vehicle activity, and attended a large ice fishing derby.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports spending his enforcement effort on angling and snowmobiling activity during the week. He observed a lot of people getting out on snowmobiles over the weekend. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. on March 3 to remove fish houses from the ice.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) attended training at Camp Ripley. Fish houses are being marked for the upcoming removal deadline. Snowmobiles and snowmobile trails were worked.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County lakes and trails for snowmobiling and angling activity. Time was spent attending a training put on by a neighboring law enforcement agency. Enforcement action was taken for numerous angling and recreational vehicle violations.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent her week monitoring angling and what might be the last of the snowmobiling activity for the season. Many anglers and snowmobilers were out with the extremely nice weather. She encountered various violations including overlimit of fish, unattended lines, extra lines, and fishing without a license. Litter on the ice continues to be an issue. She served on Honor Guard at the funeral for Fallen Border Patrol Agent Maland. She also served her duties at the funeral for retired CO Greg Turner.

CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) reports an increase in anglers on local lakes as warmer weather makes a presence in the region. Anglers report success throughout Lake Traverse with a preponderance towards the late afternoon to evening. Local accesses are starting to feel the pressure, with several large ruts observed. Remember, drive to stay alive and check for open water and fractures before attempting access. Stringer supported region partners while attending the Battle Lake Fishing Derby. Enforcement actions included no license in possession, litter on the ice, extra lines, and ATV violations.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing enforcement and attending Division trainings throughout the week.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) spent the week checking anglers and ATV and snowmobile operators. Additional time was spent checking coyote hunters and fielding calls about the upcoming fish house removal deadline.

Weekly CO report

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2025-02-24

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling and snowmobile patrol. He also completed training. Cross saw a very busy weekend on the snowmobile trails. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobiling violations.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for ice angling and snowmobile activity. Baum found many snowmobilers enjoying warmer weather and decent snow. Trail conditions deteriorated through the weekend with increased traffic, warmer weather, and minimal snowpack. Baum found several anglers out on area lakes closing out the walleye season. Baum found varying success among area anglers. Baum took enforcement action for various snowmobile and angling violations.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent a majority of the week working snowmobile enforcement. People out ice fishing were seeing minimal success attempting to catch some late-season walleyes. However, the panfish bite has started to pick up with some warmer weather. Annual POST training was competed.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) patrolled area snowmobile trails and Leech Lake throughout the week. McGowan also assisted at Camp Ripley for emergency driving instruction for annual training. With the warm weather, ice heaves are active and moving on Leech Lake and caution is urged for late-season anglers. Enforcement action was taken for numerous snowmobile and angling violations.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) continues to check anglers. Many were out enjoying the nice weather, but success remained slow. Mathy also checked snowmobiles and worked on Bear Committee-related items. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) assisted with emergency vehicle and snowmobile operations training at Camp Ripley. A snowmobile safety day was put on for students at Northland Community Schools. Sura patrolled area snowmobile trails over the warm, busy weekend. A lot of contacts were made, and overall compliance was good. Many riders were reminded that their current snowmobile registration sticker needs to be attached to the machine, and not in their pocket or the storage compartment.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and snowmobile activity. Johnson also spent time at Camp Ripley for training.

Staples vacant.

ATV rec officer vacant.