MN DNR Conservation Officer
Weekly CO report
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2026-07-13
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and Hayes Lake. Violations encountered included anglers using too many lines and anglers without licenses.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week monitoring ATV traffic throughout the area. Public land violations were investigated. Angling activity was monitored on the Red Lake River. Varying success was seen.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers, monitoring ATV traffic, and following up on various complaints. Violations encountered were no license in possession and possessing illegal-length walleyes.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) reports a busy week on Lake of the Woods. Fontes reports that enforcement action was taken on the area ATV trails for operating an ATV with a juvenile not wearing a helmet. Fontes also notes that multiple violations resulted from an angling check including multiple illegal-length fish, several hidden packages of fillets, and multiple unlicensed anglers.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports a slower week as hot conditions continue to plague the region. ATV and off-highway motorcycle traffic in the state forest was minimal with dusty conditions observed throughout most of the trail system. Stringer wants to remind operators to ensure lights are on and give plenty of distance to avoid major accidents. Stringer assisted DNR Wildlife in banding local geese and completing waterfowl surveys. Enforcement actions for the week included a variety of watercraft and ATV violations.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working area activity for angling and recreational vehicles. A law update talk was given in St. Hillaire to the Lions Club. Assistance was given to the Wildlife Section for summer goose banding. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, no throwable, extra lines, and expired registration.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck #1) reports significant outdoor activity despite the heat. Time was spent working boating and ATV activities. Enforcement action was taken for multiple ATV-related violations.
Baudette #1 – vacant.
Blackduck #2 – vacant.
Baudette #2 – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-07-13
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and watercraft operators this week. Time was also spent working with other officers on an AIS detail in Becker County. He assisted the area DNR Wildlife office with goose banding on area lakes.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week monitoring angling, boating, and ATV activity, and fielding calls about wildlife-related complaints. Many people were able to get out and enjoy the warm and sunny weather. Time was also spent working an AIS detail in the Detroit Lakes area. Enforcement action was taken for failure to renew ATV registration, youthful operator prohibited on public road, seatbelt violation, failure to transfer ATV, and sunfish overlimit.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) conducted site visits with local government units related to waters and wetland violations. Boat and water safety patrol continued to be the primary focus, along with checking anglers on area lakes and rivers. Goodman participated in an AIS saturation detail over the weekend, with high compliance rates observed. Calls regarding illegal aquatic plant removal, injured wildlife, and public water access violations were handled.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week working boat and water activities around the Detroit Lakes area. Swedberg and K9 Axel also assisted with two AIS details, one in Becker County and another in the southern part of Otter Tail County. Other time was spent assisting Becker County with public safety response following the tornado.
CO Curtis Jepson (Osage) spent time working on recreational vehicle activities in the Smoky Hills/Two Inlets State Forest and checking angling activity. With the extreme heat that pushed in, anglers were still on the water catching limits of panfish. An AIS detail was worked with fellow wardens in the Detroit Lakes and surrounding area, with overall compliance being high.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activities. Questions about nuisance bears and deer feeding ban areas were answered. An AIS compliance detail was worked with area COs, and boating violations were worked with White Earth conservation officers.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week focused on staffing the TIP trailer at the Clay County Fair. Many questions were answered regarding CWD and deer feeding bans. Calls from the public included complaints of illegal jet ski operation and wake boats operating close to shore. Boaters are encouraged to use good discretion while operating their watercraft, as to not negatively impact other lake users.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring angling and boating activity. After the holiday weekend, angling has seemed to slow, with less success and fewer limits seen, particularly for walleyes. Enforcement action was taken for various boating violations.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) worked with station partners this weekend addressing invasive species. Weeds on a trailer and motor prop during transportation were addressed. Anglers and public accesses were checked, and the fishing report has now slowed. ATVs being operated without lights on were also observed and addressed.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent this past week checking local anglers and monitoring ATV activity. Very warm weather has slowed fishing reports on most area lakes. Schaefer assisted with an AIS detail in Detroit Lakes with other area COs. Assistance was also provided to the Itasca State Park for an abandoned watercraft. Enforcement action was taken for individuals transporting invasive species on their watercraft.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-07-13
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week working on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. Invasive species enforcement was also worked.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) followed up on fishing related complaints and boating violations from the holiday weekend. An ATV safety class is scheduled and registration of students continues to flow in. Equipment maintenance was performed and a wetland case involving local government units was handled. An invasive species check station was worked with other area officers.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and boating activities following the busy holiday weekend. Brown also received and fielded calls regarding a domestic dog stuck in a trap and wildlife-related complaints. An AIS check station was also worked with local partners.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. Class 1 ATVs operating on county highways were the common violations for the week. An AIS check station was worked in Otter Tail County.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling, AIS, and ATV activities. The warm weather brought out many recreational boaters. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of angling and boating violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) continues to patrol lakes for angling enforcement and boating safety. The violation theme of fishing without a license goes on. Fishing with extra lines, keeping northern pike within the protected slot, and divers failing to display divers flags were also encountered. She served on Honor Guard at the funeral for retired Game Warden Orville (Orv) Meyer, who retired in 1991 after 30 years of service.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) worked fishing and boating activity. Enforcement action was taken for gunwale riding and registration issues.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) focused his time on boating safety and angling enforcement. He investigated TIP complaints of walleye overlimits and chemical use for aquatic plant management. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license and various watercraft violations.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-07-13
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked anglers, boaters, off-highway vehicle riders, and responded to calls for service. Enforcement action was taken for boating and angling violations.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for angling, boating, and ATV activities. Baum found several people enjoying the warmer weather on boats and ATVs. Baum assisted the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office with a property damage to boat lift investigation. Baum took enforcement action on various violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week patrolling the Wadena area for angling, boating, and ATV activities. The warm weather brought many people out on the water. The Menahga Midsummer Festival fireworks show was worked on Spirit Lake. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of boating and ATV violations.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked ATV and angling activities throughout the week. McGowan also spent time with trainings, equipment maintenance, and AIS enforcement.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) spent time near area lakes enforcing AIS laws. The local area lakes access points have become weedy, and Brown noticed many watercrafts leaving the access with violations present. Brown also stopped multiple ATV riders for violations ranging from seat belt to juveniles without helmets.
ATV rec officer – vacant.


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