Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2025-04-14

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) assisted with the Roseau Firearms Safety Class early in the week and checked anglers on Lake of the Woods.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods via snowmobile, and the Rainy River via boat. Fontes reports that anglers on both water bodies had mixed success. Enforcement action was taken for the use of an extra line, expired ATV registration, and failure to have necessary safety equipment onboard boat.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports increased boat traffic as anglers target walleye and sturgeon for the final days of the seasons. Angling success is spotty, but many anglers report catching fish. Time was spent working angling and watercraft safety activity. CO Prachar followed up on numerous cases including an individual burning an abandoned trailer house that led to an obstruction investigation of 2 firefighters.

CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) worked with neighboring officers checking anglers along the Rainy River. Most violations were related to watercraft safety violations and registration. Enforcement action included angling with extra lines and angling without a license. He also assisted with a follow-up investigation related to a fire.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) conducted a taxidermy inspection, attended a career fair, and checked local anglers. Enforcement action was taken for angle without valid license, no taxidermy license, and untagged bobcat.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time at Northland College for a career fair with CO Woinarowicz. Time was also spent handling nuisance animal complaints. Enforcement action was taken for passing in a no passing zone.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports checking shore anglers on the Red River, conducting a taxidermy inspection, and assisting local law enforcement agencies throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for multiple angling violations.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) patrolled area forest roads and ATV trails. Time was spent assisting with the Firearm Safety Class at the Kelliher Public School. Officer worked a detail on the Rainy River over the weekend. The river is open to the lake and was very busy with the warm weather over the weekend.

CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for angling and recreational vehicle activity. Additional time was spent checking spring trappers. Shaw cautions vehicle use on frozen water bodies as the ice conditions are continuing to deteriorate with the changing weather.

Weekly CO report

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2025-04-14

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports responding to various calls for service. Time was further spent monitoring angling activity on area rivers and creeks. Trapping activity was also checked. An informational booth was also staffed at the Crookston armory.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent his time patrolling roads and trails for ATV activity. He also participated in aviation training, getting familiar with the new camera systems. Ice conditions on most lakes have severely deteriorated with the warming weather this past week.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) monitored ice out on area lakes. Water levels are low, but winter fish kill appears to be minimal. Time was spent checking shore anglers, educating ATV riders and monitoring fire activity. People should be aware that spring burning restrictions are in place.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week training with K9 Axel and the other DNR dogs at K9 school. Other time was spent checking local fishing areas looking for spring walleye run activity. CO Swedberg answered several questions about new fishing regulations and limit changes for area lakes.

CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked the stream trout opener, which saw mixed success. Forest roads and trails were monitored, as they remain closed for spring break-up. Conditions are dry and burning restrictions are in place across Becker County.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers and preparing station watercraft for the open water season. Over the weekend, several lakes opened and the rest aren?t far behind. Anglers are reminded to check their watercraft for registration, lifejackets, and all other safety equipment prior to hitting the water. Some anglers have already scratched the itch to fish open water on the Red River, with a few walleyes being caught. Unfortunately, angling without a license has been a common occurrence. Calls from the public included questions about scheduling upcoming firearms safety classes. Parents should start looking now if their child needs to register for a course. Officer Landmark also provided assistance to Becker County on a missing person report.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on leeching and fish run activity. WMAs and WPAs were patrolled. Off road and ATV activity was worked and forest trails were monitored. Patrol was conducted for fire activity.

CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) spent time dealing with complaints and disputes of leech trappers. Violations of abandoned traps/ preempting spots were dealt with. Various wetland and shoreline issues have been occurring as ice melts and the ground thaws. CO Boyle also gave a law and ethics talk to approximately 50 firearm safety students.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked anglers at areas on the Clearwater River, for the stream trout opener. Good compliance was seen with valid licenses and trout stamps. Wetland and TIP cases were also reviewed, and public accesses and lands were patrolled for activity.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling Itasca State Park and public land. He continued to monitor angling and ATV activity and observed very few people out ice fishing on area lakes, as ice condition continue to decline.

CO Curtis Jepson (District #2) spent the week patrolling wildlife management areas and monitoring ATV activities, which have picked up with the warmer weather and lack of snow. Time was also spent at a career fair in Clearbrook, where many high school students stopped by to see how to become Conservation Officers.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2025-04-14

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) monitored fishing and trapping activity through the week and continues to work on deer hunting license investigations. Calls were handled of a dead Swan and a dead Bald Eagle.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) focused his enforcement efforts on angling and ATV activity during the week. Questions were also answered about the upcoming fishing opener. Additional time was spent with wetland investigations and miscellaneous animal complaints.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, ATV?s, and boats. The lakes have opened up in the area and people are out trying their luck fishing. Please remember to purchase your angling license before going fishing.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) patrolled Douglas County for angling and ATV activity. Time was spent working on Lake Traverse and the Mustinka River for angling activity. A variety of enforcement action was taken for angling violations as well as operating an ATV on a State Highway. Additional time was spent on station equipment maintenance as well as following up on ongoing cases.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) assisted DNR Fisheries and her local Viking Sportsman?s Club in stocking efforts at Spruce Creek. She along with numerous local preschool-high school classes released rainbow trout and brown trout into the stream. During this time, she taught the classes from Brandon, Parkers Prairie, Alexandria, and Osakis about laws and ethics related specifically to trout regulations and general fishing regulations. She responded to animal complaints while also patrolling the busy trout opener.

CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) continues to report significant boating and angling activity on Lake Traverse and neighboring waterways. Significant parking related issues has occurred at the Mustinka, Fish Camp, County Park, and the Browns Valley access points. As a friendly reminder, please afford your neighbor ample space to park trailers after launching boats. Overall, we are off to a good start; however, lack of floatation devices on watercraft appears to be trending downward. Other enforcement action included no angling license, no angling license in possession, and gunwale riding.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for operating an ORV on public roadways. Calls were also handled regarding incidental otters and injured wildlife.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking fishermen, ATV operators, and monitoring spring fish run. Additional time was spent performing inspections at minnow retail locations, and a game farm inspection. CO Baumbarger continues to work on an on-going commercial investigation, and prepared spring equipment for use.

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2025-04-14

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked late season angling. Ice continues to deteriorate at a fast rate and conditions are different lake to lake. ATV patrol was conducted in the closed areas with recent activity observed. Equipment maintenance and preparation for the spring season was also conducted.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) Spent the week monitoring ATV traffic and closed forest roads. Time was spent on the Straight river for trout opener, several anglers were having success. A call of a goose being shot out of season was taken, it was later found people were out pigeon hunting and had not shot a goose.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) checked anglers on the Rainy River, and completed airboat training during the week. CO McGowan also spent time following up on cases from this past winter. Enforcement action was taken for numerous angling and boating violations.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled angling activity on the Rainy River. Spring beaver trapping in the area was monitored.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked trapping and ATV activity. She also took calls regarding accidental otters and nuisance animals.

Staples vacant.

Cass Lake vacant.

ATV rec officer vacant.