Caption: DNR Assistant Commission Bob Meier (far left), DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen (second from left) and Col. Rodmen Smith, DNR Enforcement Division director (far right), are pictured here with the 18 new conservation officers who graduated from the CO Academy and now are field training across the state.
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2026-04-27
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) reports checking turkey hunters and monitoring trapping activity throughout the week. Assistance to local law enforcement agencies was given. Enforcement action was taken for taking fish during the closed season, burning without a burn permit, agriculture trespass, and various ATV violations.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week focusing on trapping, burning, and recreational vehicle activity. Enforcement action was taken for burning without a permit, expired off-highway motorcycle registration, and allowing a juvenile to illegally operate an ATV.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports continued angling pressure on the Rainy River. Time was spent working boating safety, angling activity, and illegal burning. Enforcement action was taken for burning without a permit, burning during a burning ban, and burning prohibited material.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports area turkey hunters saw many birds as longbeards begin to break up. Additionally, turkey hunters reported good success in wildlife management areas during regulatory checks. Multiple unpermitted fires were reported as farmers began to work in fields. Stringer wants to remind people to look up area variance permit requirements prior to burns. Enforcement actions for the week included burning prohibited material, unauthorized incinerator, and multiple ATV violations.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River East) time was spent working trapping and turkey enforcement. Assistance was given to State Patrol, Kittson County, Marshall County, and Pennington County on different calls.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
Blackduck North – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-04-27
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week monitoring angling and ATV activity. Time was also spent following up on cases from deer season, answering calls from the public, and handling trapping related complaints.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) spoke about hunting laws and ethics at an outdoor youth camp, where hunters became firearms safety certified before hitting the field to hunt wild turkeys. Additional time was spent preparing for upcoming training events, attending youth outreach events, and monitoring the fish run. Shore angling activity has increased, with many reports of anglers targeting species during the closed season. Folks should be aware that recent law changes allow bass to be targeted year-round, which has resulted in more people seeing walleyes and northern pike being caught during the closed season.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time checking spring anglers and working fires in the area. With dry and windy conditions, there were multiple fires that started around the county. Other time was spent attending division meetings and preparing for the upcoming deputy boat and water school.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling, leeching, and fish run activity. Area WMAs and waterfowl production areas were patrolled. ATV and off-road vehicle activity was worked as well.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) answered calls from the public regarding commercial leeching complaints, trespass, nuisance-beaver complaints, and requests for otter registrations.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking anglers and preparing equipment for the summer months. Corbus saw lots of success among crappie and panfish anglers. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked bass and trout anglers this week. Most lakes in the area appeared to have opened. Turkey hunters and public land areas were also checked. Shotgun shells, a mallard carcass, and dumped coyotes were found on two separate roadways. Two career fairs were attended with partnering officers at Bagley High School and the Scouts Camp Wilderness at Bad Axe Lake.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent this past week checking local anglers and patrolling forest roads for turkey hunters. Schaefer investigated an illegal-dumping incident involving several beaver carcasses being placed on private property. Schaefer also assisted with a career fair for high school-aged students. Enforcement action was taken for individuals fishing without an angling license and not having their angling license in possession.
Osage – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-04-27
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling, trapping, and ATV activity throughout the week. Questions regarding the upcoming fishing opener were answered and incidentally caught otters were handled.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. A firearms safety class presentation was given in Millerville. An aquatic plant removal complaint was received and investigated.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for trapping and angling activities. Time was spent following up on ongoing cases. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license and other angling violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) patrolled angling, ATV, trapping, and turkey hunting activities. She reports seeing lots of birds, but not many hunters. She observed the fish run in her patrol area and got to point out to a group of juveniles northern pike jumping a dam to get upstream.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) monitored turkey hunting and fishing activities throughout the week. He’s seeing more anglers getting out on the lake and starting to congregate on the riverbanks. A reminder to the angling public that only border waters are continuous for all game species of fish. The walleye and northern pike opener is May 9. Jepson assisted the Breckenridge Police Department with recovering a vehicle that went into the Otter Tail River. Enforcement action for the week included no angling licenses and possession of walleyes during the closed season.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working turkey and fishing activity. An incidental otter was taken and multiple commercial inspections were completed.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to angling, trapping, and recreational vehicle enforcement. He conducted a firearms safety class in Pope County that resulted in 25 youth earning their safety certifications. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession and ATV operation violations.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-04-27
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for angling and ATV activity. CO Baum found many anglers enjoying the spring panfish bite around some of the local lakes. CO Baum reports Paul Bunyan Forest roads are now open to motor vehicle traffic. CO Baum wants to remind those getting boats ready for the upcoming fishing opener to review safety equipment requirements and ensure registration is up to date. CO Baum attended a career day at Northern Lights Boy Scout’s camp to talk to youth about the opportunity of becoming a MN DNR Conservation Officer. CO Baum took enforcement action for an OHM violation.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent time this past week working angling, trapping, and turkey hunting activity. ATV traffic continues to pick up in the Huntersville State Forest and campgrounds are starting to see more activity. Enforcement action for the week included, operating class 2 without headlights, bow fishing out of season and no license in possession.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked anglers and ATV activity throughout the week. CO McGowan also worked a detail on the Rainy River and assisted with a fire investigation. Enforcement action was taken for keeping walleye and sauger in a closed season, angle without a license, and numerous boating violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) finished prepping his boats for the open water season. He noticed a few boats have made their way out to the lakes. Lien attended a youth cub scout career fair with some fellow COs and also visited a local deer hunting association banquet.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) assisted with an ATV safety course that certified 22 students. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who helped out, and are a crucial component to these safety classes! Sura continued preparations for the open water season. A shift was worked on the Rainy River for the sturgeon keep-season. Fishing was on the slow side. Enforcement action was taken for life jacket violations.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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