District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-12-15
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked muzzleloader hunters and early ice anglers. Fishing on Lake of the Woods was spotty, with some folks doing well, and others doing quite poorly. Only minor violations were encountered.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up on various complaints. Ice conditions continue to improve with the recent cold weather. Violations encountered were no license in possession and driving after revocation.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week monitoring angling and trapping activity in the area. Enforcement action was taken for no state park permit.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports high angler success on Lake of the Woods. Anglers are finding limits of walleyes and sauger in a matter of hours and reporting 150-plus fish days. Enforcement action was taken for an overlimit of walleyes, no angling license, failure to display recreational vehicle registration, and other violations.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports continued angling activity on the Red Lake and Thief rivers. The arctic blast has generated new ice, but heavy snowfall has insulated the river and created slush pockets and thinner ice in spots. Snowmobile activity has increased dramatically throughout the area. Stringer wants to remind operators to ensure registration decals are affixed in accordance with snowmobile regulations. Enforcement actions for the week included operating an off-road vehicle within a road right-of-way, discarding litter on the ice, no angling license in possession, and several snowmobile violations.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) concentrated efforts during the week on angling and trapping enforcement. Time was spent participating in the “Shop with a Cop” event with other area officers.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) continued field training with COC Nathan Garza. Time was spent working ice fishing on Upper Red Lake. Enforcement action was taken for registration violations, extra lines, and walleye overlimits.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-12-15
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week checking deer hunters and working ice angling enforcement. Time was also spent taking various calls for service and working on online training.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked from the snowmobile throughout the week and weekend. Anglers checked reported mixed success but were glad to have solid ice this time of year. That’s a change from the past couple of years. Ice conditions remain highly variable and frequent ice thickness checks are recommended. A few snowmobilers were found riding area trails, which are open but not yet groomed. Another 6 inches or more of snow would make riding conditions prime.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking snowmobilers and ice anglers. Ice conditions continue to improve, and fishing has been good on area lakes. Recent snow made area snowmobile trails accessible and most of the trails and gates should be open now for riders to enjoy the trails.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) worked ice angling activity, with anglers reporting good success. People are reminded that ice conditions continue to vary, so caution should be used. Recent snowfall has allowed for some snowmobile activity, but most trails have yet to be groomed. A call of an injured deer was received. Wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas were worked for activity.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up on reports of deer-hunting violations, issuing permits for car-killed deer, and completing annual online training. Time was also spent assisting with the law and ethics portion of the Clay County Trailblazers snowmobile safety class.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking ice anglers, enforcing snowmobiling laws, and working with the county and state on wetland and public waters violations. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, wetland and public waters violations, operating an unregistered snowmobile, and failing to transfer ownership of a snowmobile.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked public lands during the final week of the muzzleloader season and also checked lakes and accesses. The cold weather had slowed activity this week. A youth snowmobile safety class was also attended to discuss safe riding and laws. TIP calls and miscellaneous calls about wildlife were received.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) completed annual online training and recertified his license as a DMT operator. Time was spent checking local deer hunters attempting to harvest a late-season whitetail as the muzzleloader season ended. Small numbers of anglers continue to be present on local area lakes, with most folks reporting around 7 inches of ice. Enforcement action was taken and documented for individuals failing to have their angling license in possession while out fishing.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-12-15
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week working on snowmobile and trail and angling enforcement. She also followed up on wetland violations and participated in Fergus Falls’ Shop with a Hero events.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) monitored early ice fishing and snowmobile enforcement. Division training was completed, and equipment maintenance was performed. A public waters violation investigation continues with a survey being conducted by the local government units soon.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and the remainder of the muzzleloader season. Fish houses out on area waters were observed but ice thickness is still unstable in spots. Use caution and test ice thicknesses. Follow up was conducted on deer-season cases were conducted and annual training was completed.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) coordinated a snowmobile safety class with area instructors. He checked area lakes for ice thickness and activity. Osborne responded to injured-animal complaints and a complaint of someone blocking a public access.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) patrolled Douglas County for snowmobiling, angling, and trapping activities. Additional time was spent completing yearly training and equipment maintenance. Homan wants to remind individuals to be careful when venturing out onto the ice.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) reports checking more anglers and snowmobilers as the ice thickens and snow continues to fall. She attended the Shop with a Cop event in Douglas County and taught laws and ethics at multiple snowmobile safety classes. As always, she reminds people that ice is never safe.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) reports colder weather has slowed overall outdoor activity across the area. Those who braved the cold experienced mixed success with the walleye bite. Time was also spent checking a few muzzleloader hunters as the season wrapped up on Sunday. Increased use of side-by-side ATVs was observed on the ice, and one went through the ice on Lake Traverse earlier in the week. A reminder that no ice is ever safe.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational enforcement throughout the week. Follow-up work was also completed on various deer-season cases.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) spent his time on snowmobile and angling enforcement. Many anglers are reporting 8 to 9 inches of ice on local lakes and a slow bite. He received a complaint of snowmobiles trespassing and causing damage to a fence.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-12-15
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling/spearing, late-season deer hunting, and snowmobiling. Training was completed and equipment maintenance was conducted. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and angling violations.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for ice angling and snowmobile activity. Baum had contact with several area snowmobile trail groomers who were excited about the recent snowfall. Area snowmobile trails are being groomed and rolled to ensure a solid base for the remainder of the season. Ice anglers are having varying success. Lakes around the area have varying ice thicknesses and extra caution should be taken before venturing out. Ice anglers are encouraged to have safety equipment like ice picks and floating gear when heading out on early ice.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent time checking trappers as the fisher/bobcat season opened on Saturday. Early ice anglers were checked, and those braving the cold were able to find success with walleyes and panfish. Time was also spent on equipment maintenance.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) continued training a new officer during field training. McGowan patrolled Leech, Winnibigoshish and Upper Red lakes during the week and weekend. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) continued to check ice anglers and began snowmobile enforcement in his area. With the recent cold weather, the ice is getting thicker, and more anglers have been seen on the lakes. Lien would like to remind all snowmobilers to verify they are following regulations and that their machines are operational, safe, and registered.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled area snowmobile trails and checked local lakes for anglers. Sura responded to assist the Cass County Sheriff’s Office with a call of an ATV that partially broke through the ice on Roosevelt Lake. Luckily, the operator only got one boot wet and was able to walk back to shore. The ATV broke through 3 to 4 inches of ice near an area of the lake that is more than 100 feet deep.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked hunting, trapping, fishing, and snowmobile activity. She followed up on hunting concerns and other ongoing cases.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) spent time conducting snowmobile enforcement with the large increase in activity on grant-in-aid Trails. Brown observed that by the end of the weekend the groomers had been out and about on most trails. However, fresh snow is needed on some parts of the trail systems. Fishing activity in the area is increasing slowly due to the amount of snow cover on the ice. Only a few permanent shelters have been observed on local lakes. Brown would like to remind riders that snowmobile registration expires in the summer of the year on the registration and a new registration would be needed to ride on trails that following winter.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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