MN DNR Conservation Officer
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-09-02
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) and COC Jayden Frank spent time checking bear bait stations in preparation for bear opener. Many hours were spent on Lake of the Woods checking anglers and enforcing boating laws. Enforcement action was taken for operating a watercraft without required navigation lights after sunset, having an insufficient number of life jackets, no fishing license in possession, and personal watercraft operation beyond one hour after sunset.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week monitoring area bear baiting, monitoring ATV traffic, responding to various complaints, and checking area anglers. Violations encountered were no license in possession, angling with extra lines, illegal-length walleyes, failure to have life jackets in watercraft, operating personal watercraft during closed hours, and operating watercraft without navigation lights after sunset.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week preparing for the bear-hunting season and patrolling Lake of the Woods. Fontes encountered a variety of violations, including the illegal cutting of trees in the state forest, juveniles on ATVs without helmets, and the use of an extra line while angling. The evening of Labor Day, Fontes responded to a call about a distressed boater on Lake of the Woods. Upon arrival he found two boaters, one on the capsized boat and the other in the water. Fontes quickly secured both boaters in his boat and transported them back to Warroad where they were met by a rescue unit followed by an ambulance for treatment due to exposure to water temps less than 68 degrees for an extended time.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports steady bear baiting activity. Time was spent working big-game investigations as well as ongoing cases. Enforcement action was taken for allowing illegal operation of ATVs by juveniles.
CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) spent time checking anglers, bear baits, and ATV activity. Bear hunters reported seeing bears at several baits as the week went on. Anglers continued to report a slow sturgeon and walleye bite as water levels are extremely low along the Rainy River. Enforcement action for the week included operating an ATV on a state highway, passenger under 18 on an ATV without a helmet, and no license in possession.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an increase in road traffic, ATVs, baiting, and overnight camping surrounding the bear season. Stringer wants to remind bear hunters to read and understand the bear-hunting regulations and be prepared with safety harnesses when climbing in and out of tree stands. Remember, always use a haul line, and unload firearms before your climb. Enforcement actions for the week included transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, operating ATVs within wildlife management areas, ATV/ORV violations, bear bait violations, and negligent acts resulting in a fire.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week inspecting bear baits, monitoring shore anglers, and patrolling for ATV traffic. Enforcement action was taken for multiple ATV violations and bear bait issues.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) continued field training and worked sport fishing, boat safety and ATV enforcement this week. The holiday weekend brought a lot of recreational vehicle traffic. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of violations including juveniles without helmets, operating a dirt bike on the roadway, expired registration, and operating without headlights. Investigations into illegal bear baits continue.
CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) appeared with local law enforcement at a “Casting with Cops” event where she educated youth on watercraft safety. Additional time was spent working an ATV detail on the Wilton trail system. Enforcement action was taken for youth ATV operation without a helmet and other various safety violations.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-09-02
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and boaters this week. Time was also spent working bear-baiting activity. Various hunting and fishing related complaints were followed up on.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week working security at the Minnesota State Fair and monitoring ATV activity. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display ATV registration, ATV headlights required, ATV helmet required, and operating an unauthorized motor vehicle on a trail designated for ATVs.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) spent the week conducting aquatic plant and public water compliance checks. Numerous illegally operated hydro jets were found excavating the lake bottom and uprooting vegetation. Summer’s end brought out numerous personal watercraft operators who didn’t adjust their operation to align with the earlier sunset hours. Goodman assisted local law enforcement agencies and made a DWI arrest during the busy holiday weekend.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week following up on a wetland complaint, assisting with security at the State Fair, and doing K9 demonstrations at the State Fair. Other time was spent checking individuals harvesting wild rice and checking ATV activity leading up to bear hunting.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) continued field training this week with COC Nathan Garza. The week consisted of bear bait checks, ATV safety enforcement, and boating safety enforcement. Additional time was spent assisting other agencies with vehicle crashes. Enforcement actions taken included citations for insufficient number of life jackets, youth without helmets, and driving after revocation.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) continued this week field training COC Corbus. Time was spent on checking anglers, watercraft enforcement and safety, and ATV enforcement. It was good weather during the holiday weekend, bringing out lots of people on the water and ATV trails. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without licenses, failure to remove the drain plug, transportation of aquatic macrophytes and invasive species, operating an unregistered ATV, and operating an ATV without lights.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. AIS regulation compliance was monitored. Warren assisted White Earth Tribal conservation officers with possible rice harvest violations. ATV and off-road vehicle activity was worked. Bear baiting and the bear-hunting opener were worked. Follow up on open investigations was performed.
CO Matthew Boyle (Pelican Rapids) worked the Info Booth at the State Fair, where he answered questions relating to CWD, wolves, and marijuana laws. Boyle spent the weekend patrolling area lakes. Violations for the week included fishing without a license, expired boat registration, no life jacket on a PWC, no throwable onboard, allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a by juvenile, and harvesting wild rice after hours.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) worked ATV enforcement with other area officers. Registrations were valid, but some were not displayed. Other ATV-related enforcement action taken was youth without helmets and illegal youth operation. Bear bait stations were checked, and public lands were patrolled. Laws and ethics were discussed at a firearms safety class and a youth fishing event with officers in Bemidji was attended. Failure to remove a drain plug from a boat towed on the highway was also addressed. Very good numbers of wood ducks and fair numbers of teal were also seen throughout the area.
Bemidji #2 – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-09-02
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. Violations over the holiday weekend included failure to display boat registration, children under 10 without life jackets, insufficient number of life jackets, no angling license, angling with an extra line, no navigation lights, gunwale riding, northern pike within the protected slot, and boating under the influence.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked area wildlife management areas for illegal stands, illegal brush cutting, bear baits, and illegal ATV traffic. Boating and fishing enforcement was the primary focus over the busy holiday weekend, with many people out enjoying the nice weather. A day was spent field training a new officer and many boat and water checks were conducted. Assistance to local authorities was given on an area lake.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports focusing his enforcement effort on angling and boating this week. Additional time was spent on a security detail at the State Fair. Complaints about people camping on the Central Lakes Trail were also received.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders, and responded to deceased-animal calls. A medical emergency was responded to on the water while on patrol. Hunting related questions were received and answered.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Additional time was spent working a security detail and DNR Info Booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Enforcement action was taken for littering and failure to wear a seatbelt on a Class 2 ATV.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent a busy weekend patrolling area lakes and ATV activity. There was lots of recreational activity throughout the holiday weekend. Fishing reports were a bit slow, but many anglers still had fish in the buckets, including several northern pike within the protected slot. There was excellent compliance among juveniles wearing their life jackets. No fishing license in possession was the violation theme for this week.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) spent the week checking area anglers. Lake Traverse had a good showing of boats with walleyes in the livewell. Squad maintenance was also performed during the week.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working a busy holiday weekend. Violations encountered included fishing with extra lines, riding on the gunwale, and no navigational lights. A DWI arrest was also made.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to boating and angling enforcement. Violations encountered this week included watercraft-registration issues, no throwable PFD onboard watercraft, and angling without a license. Questions were answered regarding the upcoming hunting seasons and ATV operations. He provided a ride-along to a person interested in becoming a conservation officer.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-09-02
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked off-highway vehicles, boating, angling, and bear hunters. Cross also assisted at the Minnesota State Fair. Enforcement action was taken for ATV, angling, boating, and bear-hunting violations.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for ATV and bear-hunting activity. Bear hunters reported varying success around the area. Baum took enforcement action on various ATV and big-game violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent a majority of the week assisting at the Minnesota State Fair for a security detail. Several people took advantage of the Huntersville State Forest ATV/OHM trails over the holiday weekend. Time was spent enforcing ATV laws. Violations consisted of operating unregistered ATVs and failure to transfer ownership of an ATV.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) and COC Kaitlyn Istvanovich worked Leech Lake during the week. Enforcement action was taken for numerous fishing and boating violations during the week.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) spent the week working a variety of activities and complaints. Several successful bear camps were checked after the opening day. Many boaters and anglers were out soaking up some of the last days of summer. Enforcement action was taken for violations including operating ATVs on state highways, allowing juvenile ATV passengers to ride without helmets, no PFDs when required, and attempting to take fish with a cast net.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked watercraft and bear-hunting activity. She responded to a vehicle accident. Enforcement action was taken on fishing and boating violations.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) worked at the State Fair this week. He also fielded calls regarding bear baiting and hunting.
Walker – vacant.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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