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: 2026-09-14
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking early goose and teal hunters. Hunters were observed having some success. Time was spent preparing for the Elk season opener.CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area waterfowl hunters, monitoring area ATV traffic, and following up with various complaints. CO Hams received a complaint of a capsized boat on LOTW. CO Hams responded and located four individuals in the water. All four were transported back to a local resort where other emergency personnel were waiting.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and the surrounding area. Enforcement action was taken for transporting aquatic macrophytes and operating an unregistered watercraft.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) time was spent working the bear season and boat traffic heading south after the holiday weekend. Various phone calls were taken regarding new licensing questions and wildlife complaints.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) continued to focus on bear hunting activities throughout the district. Bear harvest numbers have decreased slightly over the last week as a noticeable movement away from bait has occurred. Stringer also patrolled local farm fields and contacted goose and Sandhill crane hunters. Of note, several geese were thrown into a ditch near the corner of Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge and 380th Street NE. Please contact TIP411 if you have any information. Enforcement actions for the week included a variety of bear bait and ATV violations.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck #1) reports a busy bear season. Time was spent working trespassing and bear hunting complaints. Enforcement action was taken for walleye over-limit, wood-duck and mallard out of season, and transporting migratory waterfowl with no identifying wing or plumage.
Baudette #1 – vacant.
Blackduck #2 – vacant.
Baudette #2 – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-09-14
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a firearms safety class in Crookston. Time was also spent checking anglers and watercraft operators. Early goose season activity was monitored.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week checking waterfowl hunters, fishermen, and bear hunters. Anglers are having success catching perch and walleye on the Cass Lake chain. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, angling without a license, and watercraft – fire extinguisher required.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) checked goose hunters and anglers this week, with most reporting success. Many docks, lifts, and boats are being removed from area lakes- presenting opportunities for AIS law education. Additional time was spent on Aquatic Plant Management and Public Water Access enforcement.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking youth duck hunters and bear hunters. There were not a lot of ducks around and hunters struggled to find the ones that were in the area. Other time was spent assisting with firearms safety classes in Hawley and Perley.
CO Curtis Jepson (Osage) spent the week monitoring bear activity, wild rice harvest, and local ATV traffic. The officer handled multiple nuisance bear calls, with one having to be dispatched; the bear was donated for consumption. Over the weekend, several successful youth waterfowl hunters were observed, with ducks in hand, during the youth hunt.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling and boating activity and handled various animal related calls for service. An angling tournament was also monitored, and end of season boat removals were inspected for AIS compliance. Bear baiting and hunting activity was worked, along with early goose hunting season- with few hunters and fewer birds observed.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) finished a background investigation and spent some time working on invasive species enforcement and youth waterfowl enforcement. Time was also spent assisting with several firearm safety field days in Hawley and Perley.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring wild rice harvesting, ATV activity and waterfowl activity. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV violations, and a wetland violation. Corbus would like to remind the public to review the hunting regulations booklet, with various hunting seasons approaching and different regulations that apply to each.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) monitored bear baiting and bear hunting activity in the area and followed up on ongoing investigations. Public land was monitored for ATV activity and fields were checked for early goose hunters. Most bear hunters found success early on, in the first few weeks of season, and less hunters are out and about.
Bemidji #2 – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-09-14
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. Aquatic plant management violations were also addressed.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor the early teal season and followed that up with the youth season. Additional time was spent with annual training and presenting Infront of a 5th grade class about Minnesota’s mammals.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl hunters, boaters and ATV’s. Aquatic plant removal and public water violation complaints were received and investigated. Hunting license and hunting regulation questions were received.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) continued working early teal season, patrolled goose hunters, and found a few youth duck hunters over the weekend. She assisted with trout stocking Spruce Creek where over 500 rainbow trout were added. She continues to monitor angling and ATV activity.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and small game enforcement. Questions were answered and complaints were handled regarding illegal hunting activity.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) spent his time on waterfowl and angling enforcement. Time was also spent on open wetland violation cases. He assisted other agencies for a medical call on Lake Minnewaska.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-09-14
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked boating, angling, early waterfowl hunting, off highway vehicles, and bear hunting. Cross reports seeing bear hunters have very good success thus far in the bear hunting season. Cross additionally fielded many questions and calls on the new licensing system.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for angling, boating, and recreational vehicle traffic. CO Baum found many people enjoying the outdoors with Summer slowly coming to an end. CO Baum wants to remind Hunters to be proactive and get an account in the new licensing system to avoid last minute issues with getting required licenses with season starting to open soon.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Cass and Leech lakes throughout the week. Anglers are reporting a slower bite for perch and walleyes. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) patrolled Leech Lake addressing boating violations and he checked anglers. Many reports of perch have been caught around the Walker area. Lien moved around the woods looking for bear hunters and learned there’s been a decent success rate in the area. Other events included helping local units with a vehicle accident as well as taking wetland complaints.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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