MN DNR Conservation Officer
Weekly CO report
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-07-21
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up with various complaints. Hams responded to a call of two orphaned raccoon kits. The kits were acquired and transferred to a rehabilitation center.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for the use of an extra line, possession of an illegal-length fish, and no angling license in possession.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports continued ATV activity in the area. Fishing success has diminished, but persistent anglers are finding fish. Enforcement action was taken on numerous ATV violations and failure to submit to a watercraft inspection at a public water access.
CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) assisted during a site visit for a possible wetland violation earlier this past week. He continued monitoring ATV activity on area trails. Anglers were checked throughout the week with several good reports coming in. He also assisted local agencies on calls for service. Enforcement action for the week included expired ATV registration, no license in possession, illegal-length fish, and an overlimit of walleyes.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an active week supporting DNR Wildlife in banding local geese and coordinating with landowners to allow access. In total, 140 geese were banded in the local area. Stringer also investigated a DNR Forestry lands violation, helping to protect endangered, threatened, and special concern species. Other enforcement action for the week included failure to obtain a burn permit, no angling license in possession, camping overnight in a closed campground, and multiple ATV violations.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking shore anglers, who were having success on the Red Lake River. Time was also spent investigating a big-game violation that occurred during the previous deer season.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake. Anglers enjoyed the nice weather, but angling activity has slowed significantly as the water has warmed. He also patrolled area forest roads for ATV activity.
CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for angling and recreational vehicle activity. Shaw assisted on a boat and water safety detail with three other District 1 officers on Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for angling with an extra line, angling without a license, and various safety equipment violations.
Weekly CO report
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-07-21
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked off-highway vehicle and boating enforcement during the week and into the weekend. Recreational boating activity seemed to slow with the cooler weather and persistent wind, while angling activity picked up. Area fishing tournaments were monitored, and assistance was given to the sheriff’s office on a water-related complaint.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week assisting with the CO Academy; helping teach the cadets how to properly operate a watercraft and approach other boats. Swedberg also patrolled area lakes, checking fishing and boating activity. There were many people out, but for the most part everyone was operating safely and had all the proper safety equipment and licenses they needed.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked ATV trails, patrolled area lakes, and addressed several nuisance-animal complaints. Enforcement action for the week included underage consumption, no PFDs, gunwale riding, litter, and several ATV violations.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) assisted with boating operator instruction at the CO Academy.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. AIS regulation compliance was worked. Patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Complaints of swimmers blocking boat launches at public accesses were worked. Warren spoke at the Island Lake Association meeting in Mahnomen County.
CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) spent time patrolling for ATV and angling activity. Boyle educated an individual operating an unregistered dirt bike on a county highway. Boyle reports less boat traffic and a slower bite this week with the mild weather.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) patrolled public forest lands and lake accesses this week. A calf kill was also investigated, and time was spent on the water at the Pine Lake Kids Northern Pike Derby this past week. The kids had good success and were having a fun time on the water. Checks on slot limits for the pike were in good compliance. Watercraft-registration compliance was also good in the area.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) spent the week patrolling area lakes and ATV trails. Time was also spent assisting with the CO Academy. Enforcement action was taken for ATV youth helmet required, ATV operating without required headlights, ATV/OHM failure to display registration, and no PFDs on a watercraft.
CO Curtis Jepson (District #2) reports working on fishing and AIS enforcement this week. A common violation observed was the presence of drain plugs still in place as boats entered public accesses. A good walleye bite was also observed on a select few lakes.
Weekly CO report
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-07-21
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, ATV and off-highway motorcycle operators, and boaters. A dock-related complaint was received, and information was provided to the landowner. Public waters investigations are ongoing on area lakes.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent this past week focusing on angling and ATV activity. She received several reports of wounded wildlife and multiple complaints about dirt bike operations. Znajda taught laws and ethics at a firearms safety class.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and boating enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for possession of a northern pike within the protected slot and PFD violations. Multiple complaints of snagging carp were taken, and enforcement efforts were increased in the complaint area.
Glenwood – vacant.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-07-21
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) worked boating, fishing, and ATV riding activity in the station. An AIS check station was attended, and violations for transporting aquatic invasive species were observed. Calls regarding nuisance wildlife were taken throughout the week.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) patrolled Cass County lakes for angling and boating activity. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled boating and angling activity. Enforcement action was taken for a sunfish overlimit and expired watercraft registration.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) spoke at a local meeting and at a lake association meeting. She followed up on ongoing cases. She also assisted Cass County and investigated a trespass complaint.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) spent time this week checking anglers. Well into the fishing season, Brown continues to find people who are fishing without a fishing license. Brown also fielded a call regarding a juvenile hawk that was seen jumping around on the ground. This is normal behavior this time of year in Minnesota. The juvenile hawks should be in their fledging stage of development where they will leave the nest and attempt to fly. The juveniles are being protected during this time by the adult hawks. If you approach one during this time it is likely you will become targeted by the adult hawks, which will swoop down at you to scare you off.
Walker – vacant.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
Comments