Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer Reports-October 19, 2026

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week working the youth deer hunting season and the early antlerless deer season. Duck, small-game, and archery deer hunters were also checked. Various wildlife-related complaints were received.

CO Curtis Jepson (Osage) spent the week focused on small-game, archery deer, recreational vehicle, and waterfowl enforcement. The MEA youth deer hunt weekend started slowly, with windy, rainy weather and ended with favorable conditions, with orange spotted in stands throughout the station. No mishaps or violations were encountered or reported, only minor licensing discrepancies. Ongoing investigations are looking into multiple fires on public lands that may have started from illegal small-game activity. Reminder about prohibited hunting methods: a person may not take a protected wild animal with the aid of an open fire or smoke.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on small-game, duck, pheasant, and archery hunting activity. Youth deer season was worked, with a few hunters trying their luck. Angling activity was monitored and patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Warren also assisted Mahnomen County and the Becker County Sheriff’s Offices with missing hunter calls.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking waterfowl hunters, pheasant hunters, and youth deer hunters in the Moorhead station. Pheasant-hunting success has improved over the past couple years, and youth deer-hunting success was good as well. Numerous calls from the public were received related to licensing system questions and deer-hunting regulation questions.

CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week working waterfowl-, pheasant-, and deer-hunting activity. Time was spent conducting big-game-related interviews regarding deer-hunting violations, conducting trespassing related interviews, and checking lots of hunters in the field. Corbus reports varying harvest success, seeing many juveniles harvesting their first deer. Corbus wants to remind hunters to purchase their licenses well before the season starts given license system changes.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked small-game hunters, patrolled public land, and focused on nighttime work, looking for shining activity. TIPs on deer baiting and a deer that was found shot in a field north of Zerkel were investigated. Complaints of deer poached from agricultural fields and roadways at night and early mornings have been high in the area this year. People can assist by calling the TIP line and providing license plates, videos, and/or photos if they are able.

Bemidji #2 – vacant.

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling, small-game, and recreational vehicle enforcement. Some big-game enforcement was also worked for the early antlerless/youth firearms deer seasons.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) attended a firearms safety class and worked trapping, youth deer hunting, and early antlerless hunting activity through the weekend. Some youth found good success while several early antlerless tags went unused. Numerous calls were handled on the new license system, and assistance was given to several folks getting the proper license the night before youth deer season. An investigation of illegal use of forestry property was conducted and will continue with the Forestry Division.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking angling and hunting activity throughout the week. Calls regarding nuisance and injured animals were received and fielded. Annual training was also completed.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, ATV riders, and pheasant, deer and waterfowl hunters. Several youths were checked during the youth deer season. Numerous license- and regulation-related questions were received and answered.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas, Grant, and Traverse counties for waterfowl-, pheasant-, and big-game-hunting activities. Time was spent following up on ongoing cases. Enforcement action was taken for transporting a loaded firearm, no small-game license, hunting waterfowl in a closed area, and various other violations. Additional time was spent assisting local agencies on calls for service.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) checked anglers and pheasant, duck, and deer hunters. Lots of pheasant hunters were happy with the cooler weather compared to last weekend. Znajda received multiple questions throughout the week about the new electronic licensing system. She responded to reports of stranded duck hunters.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working waterfowl and recreational enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for various stamp violations. Many questions were fielded regarding the new licensing system.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time towards migratory waterfowl and big-game enforcement. He responded to a call about a stranded duck hunter in Todd County. He followed up on a complaint of a ladder stand left unattended on a wildlife management area. Trespass complaints began ramping up with the increased fall hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for youth operating ATVs without helmets or registration.

Wheaton – vacant.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, small-game, and big-game enforcement. Time was spent completing training. Multiple calls for service were answered, and multiple questions were fielded with technical advice and assistance being provided.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week working small-game hunters and the youth deer season. Several calls were taken on Wednesday – the day before the youth season – from people experiencing issues with the new mobile app. People are reminded to buy licenses ahead of time rather than the night before the season opens. You can also still purchase hunting licenses in-person at certain locations.

CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Leech, Winnibigoshish, and Cass lakes for angling and waterfowl-hunting activity. Given the nice weather, numerous anglers are still fishing and report decent success for walleyes and perch. Enforcement action was taken for numerous waterfowl and angling violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) patrolled the lakes and woods this week, finding an increasing number of hunters in the woods, including youth deer hunters. Grouse-hunting success has been reported as low, but many squirrels were harvested. Anglers have been reporting perch-fishing success on Leech Lake but the number of watercrafts on the water seemed to decrease. Lien reminds hunters to unload their firearms before motorized transportation, to have their recreational vehicles properly registered, make sure all youth passengers have on helmets as required, and to make safe decisions if choosing to have a campfire.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) checked youth deer hunters and waterfowl hunters over the past week. North winds Thursday into Friday brought a few fresh birds in, however most hunters checked by Sura continued to have average success.

CO Levi Brown (Staples) investigated an illegal bear bait and checked multiple big-game hunters out for the youth and early antlerless seasons. A report was investigated of ducks being dumped at a common access point to the Gull River. Multiple ducks were dumped and some were left in the round. Brown also checked anglers during the week enjoying the warm weather. This weekend provided many youth hunters success on bagging a deer.

ATV rec officer – vacant.