District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2026-09-29

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports checking anglers and boaters this week. Time was further spent contacting duck and prairie chicken hunters. Bear-hunting related activity was also monitored.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent time working the busy waterfowl opener, with area hunters having mixed results. Veit also spent time monitoring area ATV activity, checking grouse hunters, and patrolling for shiners. Enforcement action was taken for transportation of loaded firearms, life jacket violations, operating with expired ATV registration, failure to display ATV registration, hunting with an unplugged shotgun, and operating an ATV in a restricted area.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) checked waterfowl hunters and anglers throughout the week. Regular waterfowl opening weekend weather was a tale of two halves, with unrelenting rain and wind Saturday, followed by a clam bluebird day Sunday. Hunters who stuck out the weather each day managed to bag some birds, while others were limited in their success. Angling pressure increased Sunday, also with varied success. Many calls and contacts resulted in questions and impromptu tutorials of the new electronic licensing system. Goodman would like to encourage firearms deer hunters to get their license sooner rather than later in order to get familiar with the new system.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the weekend checking duck hunters around the Detroit Lakes area. Most groups had good success, with a mixed bag of wood ducks, teal, and mallards. Swedberg and K9 Axel also trained with other members of the DNR K9 Unit. Time was also spent assisting Polk County with a K9 search.

CO Curtis Jepson (Osage) worked the waterfowl opener, with most hunters reporting a scarcity of birds. Various calls for service were also received during the week.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling and boating activity. Areas were also worked for archery and small-game hunting activity, and patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicles. Waterfowl opener was worked, with low numbers of hunters and waterfowl observed.

CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week monitoring archery, ATV, prairie chicken, and waterfowl-hunting activity. Waterfowl opener was disappointing for the most part. Some groups did okay, while others struggled to find birds, or only harvested one or two. Those hunting prairie chickens averaged one bird per hunter and reported seeing improved pheasant numbers while in the field. Landmark worked with the Region 1 intern, assisted Otter Tail County with an incident, and responded to numerous questions regarding the new licensing app and hunting season questions. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of ATV and waterfowl violations, including unplugged shotgun, no small-game license, no federal stamp, youth ATV helmet requirements, and class 1 ATV violations.

CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking anglers, fielding wildlife-related calls, and working waterfowl hunting, with the season now open. Corbus saw varying success, with most hunters seeing and harvesting some ducks. Enforcement action was taken for hunting without a license, unplugged shotguns, and transporting a loaded firearm.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked waterfowl hunters and public accesses for activity this week. Nice mixed bags of ducks were observed, including wigeons and pintails. Violations encountered were no state waterfowl stamp, no HIP survey certifications, and transportation of a loaded firearm in a duck boat. Double check your licenses and get the required HIP survey completed if you plan to hunt migratory birds.

Bemidji #2 – vacant.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2026-09-29

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week and gloomy weekend focused on follow up, angling, and waterfowl enforcement. Some time was also spent on training.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) Checked archery and bear hunters, dealt with nuisance beaver and sandhill crane issues, prepared equipment and scouted for the waterfowl opener.
Duck opener was a wet one with minimal ducks observed in the area. Some wood ducks, mallards, geese, and teal were observed in hunter’s bags. Violations encountered were: lack of life jackets in duck boats, unplugged shotguns, and no state or federal duck stamps.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) focused his enforcement effort on angling and boating during the week. Heavy rain during the weekend seemed to have kept a lot of duck hunters indoors. Sunday bag limits saw a better turn out with mixed bags being observed.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, ATV’s, boats and waterfowl hunters. APM investigations continue on area lakes. Assistance was provided to local law enforcement.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas and Traverse Counties for angling, ATV, and waterfowl activities. Harvest appeared to be promising for waterfowl. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of angling and waterfowl violations.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) reports a busy waterfowl opening weekend with lots of hunters Saturday and surprisingly fewer on Sunday. Overall lots of birds in the bags mostly being teal, mallards, and wood ducks. Several violations were investigated including but not limited to: Unplugged shotgun, lead in possession while waterfowl hunting, no small game license, no state stamp, no federal stamp, no HIP certification, overlimit of waterfowl, and most commonly no life jackets on board duck boats. Various enforcement action taken.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports monitoring waterfowl activity over the weekend. Enforcement action was taken for no life jackets and various license violations. A nuisance animal call was also handled.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time towards waterfowl enforcement. The duck season kicked off with lots of rain and wind but hunters were still able to get some wood ducks and teal in their bags. He investigated complaints of hunter harassment and trespass issues. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms in a motor vehicle and insufficient life jackets.

Wheaton – vacant.

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2026-09-29

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, boating, off highway vehicles, small game, big game, and migratory waterfowl hunting. Cross saw good success angling and waterfowl hunting. Enforcement action was taken for off highway vehicle, angling, boating, invasive species, and small game violations.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for Big / Small Game, Waterfowl, Angling and Recreational Vehicle activity. CO Baum found several Duck Hunters having success on area lakes. Local ATV trails are in great condition with recent rain keeping dust down. CO Baum assisted Hubbard County Sheriff Office with an ATV rollover. CO Baum assisted with an ATV Safety Class in Park Rapids. CO Baum took enforcement action on various waterfowl and recreational vehicle violations. CO Baum wants to remind hunters to verify licenses before heading out into the woods or marsh.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) checked anglers, archery deer hunters, and small game hunters over the weekend. The waterfowl opener was worked, several hunters were checked with a decent bag of wood ducks observed. The public is reminded all boat and water safety regulations still apply while waterfowl hunting from a watercraft.

CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked the opening waterfowl weekend on Leech and Winnibigoshish lakes. CO McGowan also checked numerous anglers throughout the week and weekend. McGowan also assisted local law enforcement agencies with calls for service. Enforcement action was taken for unplugged shotguns, possess lead shot, transport loaded firearms in a boat, take waterfowl without a license, and numerous boating violations.

CO Jack Lien (Walker) patrolled his station and the Longville area. A variety of patrols were conducted through various patrol equipment platforms. Lien checked anglers and noted a good number of Walleye caught on Friday evening during overcast with fair weather. This seemed to bring overall good angling success in some areas. ATV patrols were conducted; waterfowl, small game, and archery hunters were sporadically checked all over Cass and Hubbard counties. Lien reports more outdoorsman in the woods as the fall season brings for much more activity in the woods. Lien also investigated wildlife calls and aquatic plant management concerns.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) focused patrol efforts on waterfowl hunting activities over the much-anticipated duck opener weekend. Overall hunter success seemed to be on the lower end. Hunters that put some effort into scouting spots off the beaten path were generally rewarded with better shooting opportunities. A call was handled where a group of hunters were seemingly blocking access to a trail on public lands.

CO Levi Brown (Staples) spent the week checking big and small game hunters. The weather towards the end of the week kept a lot of hunters indoors, however, the weather was great for opening weekend of the Waterfowl Season. Brown checked multiple waterfowl hunters over the weekend. The most common birds seen in peoples’ bags were wood duck, teal, mallards, and geese.

ATV rec officer – vacant.

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