The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources K9 unit. Left to right: Lt. Phil Mohs and K9 Mack; Conservation Officer Mike Krauel and K9 Bolt; Conservation Officer Mike Fairbanks and K9 Fennec; Conservation Officer Adam Seifermann and K9 Jet; and Conservation Officer Luke Gutzwiller and K9 Earl.

Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2025-05-19

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked a turkey hunter in Roseau County and many anglers on Lake of the Woods. The bite has been decent, but there are fewer big fish being caught than around the opener. Violations for the week included possession of an overlimit of walleyes and illegal-length walleyes.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up with various complaints. Anglers are reporting success. Hams would like to remind anglers that are new to Lake of the Woods to double-check the regulations as LOTW is a special management water and the rules differ from statewide inland water rules. Violations encountered were no license in possession, overlimit of walleyes, illegal-length walleyes, and angling with extra lines.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling area lands and waters. Fontes spent a portion of the week at the Minnesota Peace Officer Memorial in St. Paul for Peace Officers Memorial Day.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports weather-dependent fishing pressure this week. Between the wind and snow a few anglers braved the weather and found success catching walleyes. Prachar investigated an individual for a gross misdemeanor driving violation and ultimately arrested them for felon in possession of a firearm and 5th-degree felony possession of methamphetamine.

CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) worked angling activity throughout the week along the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay. Several anglers reported a slower bite as the week went on. Nuisance-animal calls are increasing related to bears and beavers. He also worked a TIP complaint with a neighboring officer. Enforcement action for the week included angling with extra lines, taking sturgeon out of season, and gross overlimit.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week in central Minnesota participating in training.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) continued to work angling activity on Upper Red Lake. Anglers reported mixed success as temperatures ranged from the upper 80s early in the week to mid-30s later in the week. Vollbrecht also patrolled area forest roads and trails for ATV use.

CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for angling and recreational vehicle activities. Additional time was spent investigating aquatic plant management permit violations. Shaw also worked the Rainy River with CO Kennedy.

Thief River Falls West vacant

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2025-05-19

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking on a suspected public waters-related complaint. Several otters were tagged this week. Time was further spent checking watercraft operators and anglers on area lakes and rivers.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent his time enforcing boating and angling laws. Ladzinski and a fellow officer recovered an abandoned watercraft from the Mississippi River. A water safety interview was conducted for Beltrami County.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports seeing slower activity, with cooler weather settling in. A few anglers were contacted, and complaints of aquatic plant removal and wetland violations were investigated. Additional time was spent on ATV and off-road vehicle enforcement on area roads and highways. Goodman noticed that winter-killed weeds have washed up on shores, including at public accesses. Users are reminded to clean aquatic vegetation of their watercraft and trailers before leaving the access.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week training with K9 Axel at K9 school. Other time was spent answering questions about fur registration and fishing regulations.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up on nuisance-animal complaints, investigating small game taken out of season, and registering otters.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent the week on angling and leeching activity. Boats were checked for regulation and safety compliance. A local fishing tournament was monitored, with anglers enjoying a very cold and windy day. Patrol was conducted for ATV, off-road vehicle, and fire activity.

CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) spent time checking area anglers. The bite has been consistent on many area lakes. Poor weather conditions kept fishing activity to a minimum. Maplewood State Park has been receiving a large amount of traffic, with campsites now being open.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked anglers and public lands throughout the week. Calls about wildlife were answered, and a calf attacked by a wolf was investigated. An abandoned boat was also retrieved from the Mississippi River. A water safety video for Beltrami and surrounding counties was made with CO Ladzinski and time was spent assisting a local sixth-grade class on their fishing field day. Regulations, species ID, water safety, and fishing methods were discussed.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week at Camp Ripley assisting in training the cadets of the DNR Academy in defensive tactics and firearms use. Time was also spent monitoring boating, fishing, ATV activity, and assisting with a firearms safety class. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a trout stamp and illegal-length northern pike.

CO Curtis Jepson (District #2) checked area anglers and performed ATV enforcement during the week. Fishing activity was slow on most area lakes, as shown by the scarcity of boat trailers at public access sites, which was attributed to the windy conditions all week. Complaints were followed up on, and enforcement action was taken for a Class II ATV operating in a ditch alongside a county highway.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2025-05-19

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) conducted an ATV safety training course with 23 students in attendance. Anglers, turkey hunters, and ATV operators were monitored. Calls have been handled regarding ?abandoned? baby animals. People are strongly encouraged to leave baby animals in the wild. Most of the time they are not abandoned.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling activity. He also worked on wetland investigations. Angling activity improved over the week going into the weekend, according to anglers.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boats, and ATVs. Littering and fishing violation complaints were received. Calls about injured and nuisance animals were received and handled.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling activity. Time was also spent patrolling for ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of ATV-related violations.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) focused her week on patrolling angling activity. She also received numerous complaints related to ATVs and dirt bikes. She responded to various wildlife-related calls for service. Znajda served on Honor Guard during Police Week at the Police Memorial in St. Paul. She and other Honor Guard members stood watch over the memorial to honor all officers who have died in the line of duty.

CO Bobby Stringer (Wheaton) reports a slower week for anglers as cooler weather, rain, and windy conditions prevailed throughout the region. Although that is the case, the fire danger remains high, and he responded to multiple fires. Stringer wants to remind people to check local fire conditions and apply for a permit before burning in the area. Enforcement actions for the week included no angling license in possession, trespassing on agricultural property for recreational purposes, allowing illegal operation of a Class II ATV, failure to display ATV registration, and burning prohibited material.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and boating activity. Enforcement action was taken for keeping northern pike within the protected slot and harvesting bass out of season.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week were concentrated on checking anglers and boaters and monitoring AIS law compliance. Baumbarger spoke with a group of second- through fourth-grade students at Minnewaska Elementary School about furbearing animals of Minnesota. Additional time was spent investigating hydraulic jet complaints and continuing work on commercial cases.

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2025-05-19

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling and ATV patrol throughout the week. Cross also answered calls for service and responded to multiple wildfires.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week checking anglers on area lakes. Mixed success was observed. A Hooked-on Fishing Not Drugs event was attended, and Saewert brought two students out fishing. The two were able to catch three different species of fish, although the weather conditions were not ideal.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) continued to patrol angling activity in the area. Sura and CO Holt responded to a call for two anglers who got their boat stuck on a sand bar in the river. A large ATV ride organized by ATV MN and area clubs was hosted in the Remer area. A brief safety talk was given before the ride and area ATV trails were monitored by DNR Enforcement and the Cass County Sheriff?s Office.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling and ATV activity. She responded to calls regarding fishing concerns, fire reports, and assisting other agencies.

CO Levi Brown (Staples) spent time this week on the water checking anglers. Fishing was still slow on some lakes and anglers had better luck on others. Brown also assisted with the current CO Academy training. He also assisted with the Staples School District Hooked on Fishing event on Lake Shamineau.

CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Leech, Cass, and Winnibigoshish lakes throughout the week. Anglers are reporting mixed success with walleye fishing. McGowan also assisted with wildfire investigations. Enforcement action was taken for numerous fishing and boating violations.

Walker vacant.

ATV rec officer vacant.