District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2026-05-04

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent time at Camp Ripley participating in annual training. Time was spent preparing for the upcoming fishing opener. Enforcement action was taken for multiple trapping related violations.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers, responding to various complaints, and assisting with a local firearms safety field day.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week attending training, patrolling area public lands, and following up on open cases. Fontes also gave a law and safety talk at a firearms safety class and ATV safety class.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports continued angling pressure for sturgeon on the Rainy River. Time was spent working angling activity and attending annual training at Camp Ripley.

CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an active week for fire enforcement as local area farmers work in the fields. Overall, most landowners followed local variance permit requirements. Stringer attended in-service training at Camp Ripley and supported the Plummer Area Sportsmen’s Club firearms safety field day. Enforcement actions for the week included burning prohibited material, failure to obtain a burn permit, and a DWI investigation.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time attending annual training. A law and ethics talk was given at a firearms safety class in Thief River Falls. A wolf-depredation complaint was investigated.

Baudette East – vacant.

Blackduck South – vacant.

Blackduck North – vacant.

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2026-05-04

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending firearms safety classes in Plummer and Fertile this week. Time was also spent attending annual training at Camp Ripley. Anglers were also checked.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week attending training at Camp Ripley, monitoring closed fishing areas, answering calls from the public, getting equipment ready for fishing opener, and monitoring area ATV activity.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) attended annual in-service training, conducted boat and water safety outreach at Perham Middle School, and assisted a local agency with a two-vehicle crash. Angling and bowfishing activity were monitored, with a focus on cold water safety and species being targeted or kept during the closed season. Enforcement action on various types of off-highway vehicles continues.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time checking spring fishing activity on area rivers and streams. Some anglers were having luck finding suckers and other rough fish. Other time was spent assisting with firearms safety classes in Hawley and Frazee.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and leeching activity. Fish run activity was worked on area streams. Patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Warren also attended training at Camp Ripley.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) continued working on commercial leeching and minnow investigations and attended annual in-service training at Camp Ripley.

CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring turkey hunting, angling, and boating activity. He assisted with a local firearms safety field day and has been working with the District 2 intern as well. With the warmer weather, angling activity has been increasing steadily, with success varying from boat to boat. Enforcement action was taken for various angling and boating violations.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Public lands were patrolled for turkey hunting and public accesses and lakes were also checked. TIP calls were followed up on regarding dumped animal carcasses.

CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent this past week checking local anglers and turkey hunters and patrolling forest roads for ATV traffic. Anglers have found success in shallow waters as the crappie and sunfish bite is starting to pick up on lakes in the area. Schaefer assisted with a K9 demonstration showing AIS identification to a group of fifth-grade students, and answered a variety of wildlife-related questions from the public. Schaefer also investigated a report of stolen minnow traps and individuals entering a state park after hours and spearing fish. Schaefer wants to remind anglers to make sure they purchase their fishing license, and to not keep protected species until the season opens on May 9. Enforcement action will be taken against those who violate the rules and laws.

Osage – vacant.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2026-05-04

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week working on follow up, teaching at in-service, and conducting angling enforcement. ATV enforcement was also worked. She attended a Ducks Unlimited-Green Wing Duck Fair event at the West Otter Tail County fairgrounds.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time working fish run activity and rough fish spearing. ATV enforcement was worked, as were trapping and turkey hunting. Time was spent working with local government units on ongoing wetland violation and restoration cases.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports focusing his enforcement effort on angling and ATV activity during the week. He also spent time at Camp Ripley for training. Calls regarding nuisance animals were received and fielded.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) assisted with a firearms safety class in Morris. Osborne attended annual training at Camp Ripley. Calls about aquatic plant removal, burning without a permit, and injured animals were received and handled.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling activities. Time was spent following up on ongoing cases. Additional time was spent assisting with ATV safety classes and firearms safety classes. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of ATV and angling violations.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) continues to patrol angling activity, which is on the rise. She also responded to numerous wounded-wildlife-related calls for service this past week. She received multiple complaints including dogs chasing deer and careless ATV operations.

CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) spent the week at Camp Ripley attending training. He also checked several popular shore fishing locations and noted an increase in angling activity over the weekend. Various calls were handled, and questions from the public were addressed.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) attended training throughout the week. She also ran a local firearms safety class where 16 students were certified. A complaint regarding unchecked minnow traps is also being investigated.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to recreational vehicle and angling enforcement. Anglers continue to have luck catching sunfish and crappies from popular shore fishing spots. An arrest was made for DWI at a public water access. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license and angling with an extra line.

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2026-05-04

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) performed division firearms armoring at Camp Ripley. Additionally, Cross worked spring trapping and finished the week on the Rainy River for the sturgeon season. Enforcement action was taken for angling and boating violations.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) attended spring in-service at Camp Ripley. Baum patrolled the area for angling and ATV activity. He reports that anglers are having varying success on the area lakes.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week monitoring angling and ATV activity. Time was also spent following up on cases from deer season and answering calls. Enforcement action was taken for individuals bowfishing in a closed season. People are reminded to check their boating equipment before heading out on the water and to make sure they have PFDs.

CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked area lakes for angling activity. Most lakes are ice free, and boaters are reminded to ensure all safety gear is on their boats. McGowan also worked on the Rainy River. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.

CO Jack Lien (Walker) patrolled local lakes and saw more anglers getting their boats ready for the May 9 walleye-fishing opener. He attended spring in-service training at Camp Ripley, which brought great training and opportunities to hone skills. Lien continues to enforce ATV and fishing activities. Violations noted were expired boat registration and angling without license in possession.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) presented for an ATV safety class with the Over the Hills Gang ATV Club in Outing. Sura monitored spring trapping and angling in the area.

ATV rec officer – vacant.