MN DNR Conservation Officer

Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2024-09-30

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling area lands and waters. Violations encountered were the use of an extra line and no park pass in a State Park.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) continued training with COC Matthew Boyle, the officers spent time patrolling state forests for small game activity. Time was also spent on Lake of the Woods where enforcement action was taken for various safety violations, boating while intoxicated and an over-limit of Walleyes.

CO Jeremy Woinarowicz (Thief River Falls West) continued training with COC Stringer. Area grouse hunters are having a hard time harvesting birds with the unseasonably warm temperatures and heavy leaf coverage still in place. Violations encountered this past week included possess toxic shot, no small game license, allow unlawful operation of an ATV by juvenile, no helmet on juvenile passenger of ATV, untagged migratory waterfowl, and ATV registration violations.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working the small game waterfowl seasons. An outreach event was attended in East Grand Forks at a local business where questions from the public were answered. Enforcement action was taken for allowing illegal youth operation of an ATV.

CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week working waterfowl hunters, small game hunters, and responding to wildlife complaints. Time was spent teaching the law and ethics portion of firearms safety to a Youth Firearms Safety Class. Enforcement action was taken for a group of hunters who entered a State Wildlife Sanctuary to hunt waterfowl. A trespass complaint is currently being investigated.

CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) completed step one of field training with COC Mooers. Time was spent checking anglers on Upper Red Lake and Blackduck Area Lakes. Officer patrolled area forest roads for ATV and Grouse Hunting activity. The foliage on the trees is still making it difficult for hunters to see the birds. Very few duck hunters were observed in the area due to warm weather and very few birds in the area.

Weekly CO report

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2024-09-30

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports working on open public land trespass and wetland cases. Time was further spent checking anglers, duck hunters, and working archery deer hunting enforcement.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Bemidji #1) spent time checking anglers, hunters, and recreational vehicle riders. He responded to a TIP call of waterfowl hunters shooting after hours on Three Island Lake, resulting in citations being issued and seizure of a shotgun and multiple waterfowl. He also conducted annual taxidermy inspections and extra patrols in the State Highway 89 area, for a small game hunting contest that occurred. Enforcement action was taken for no registration displayed on ATVs and juveniles on ATVs without helmets.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) continued to work the variety of hunting seasons currently open throughout the week. Blue bird mornings led to checking anglers and paddlers, in between duck blind checks. Teal are still the most common fowl in the bag, while geese remain elusive. Additional time was spent on ATV enforcement and wetland violation cases.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time checking small game and waterfowl hunters. Waterfowl hunting success has seen a decrease with the above normal temperatures. Enforcement action this week was taken with multiple ATV violations. Violations found included no helmets on youth under 18, failure to display registration, and operating an ATV under the influence of alcohol. CO Swedberg also attended a Pheasants Forever youth hunt, that gave new hunters an opportunity to learn about pheasant hunting.

CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up with ongoing cases and working on commercial inspections. Calls from the public included various law questions pertaining to waterfowl season and prairie chicken season.

CO Angie Warren (Mahnomen) worked bear, archery, duck, and small game hunting activity. Area WMAs and WPAs were patrolled. Information was provided to hunters about rules and regulations. ATV and off-road vehicle patrol was conducted. Time was spent on boating and angling activity.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked small game and waterfowl hunters. More migratory birds were observed in the area than the prior week. Angling, boating and water safety was worked on Clearwater Lake, with good compliance seen. Public lands were also patrolled with private property found and areas were investigated for potential baiting violations. A Firearms safety class was also instructed to 11 youth.

Pelican Rapids vacant.

Weekly CO report

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2024-09-30

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) started field training COC Sara Mooers. Officers attended Conservation Days and presented to 5th and 6th graders from Wadena, Deer Creek, Menahga, and Sacred Heart. They demonstrated safety equipment, presented various furs of Minnesota mammals, and educated students about hunting, fishing, ATV, snowmobile, and watercraft laws. Officers also taught a Firearms Safety class in Battle Lake, where they spoke about the laws and ethics of hunting. Officers monitored fishing activity, waterfowl, turkey, bear, and deer (archery) hunting activity throughout Otter Tail County. Officers received multiple complaints of trespassing violations, investigated several TIP reports, and detected a high rate of hunting license violations.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking waterfowl and angling through the week. He also responded and assisted surrounding agencies with an ATV crash over the weekend. Additional time was spent with dogs chasing deer complaints.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked waterfowl, small game and archery hunters. There was a mix of divers and puddle ducks observed in the bag over the week. Goose numbers are down in the area.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. A law talk was given to a local firearm safety class. CO Homan responded to four duck hunters who capsized their duck boat and helped in rescue efforts. Time was also spent assisting at an ATV fatal accident in northern Douglas County. People are reminded to use proper safety gear for outdoor activities that can be dangerous.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) checked several duck and goose hunters throughout the week. Many hunters out on Saturday but a significant drop-in activity Sunday. Hunters complained of the warm temperatures. Variety of violations encountered including no life jackets and lead shot. She was dispatched to a variety of calls including an overturned duck boat with no life jackets on board, a fatal ATV collision, and the report of intoxicated boat operators.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working small game and waterfowl enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for no federal stamps and using an unplugged shotgun. Injured animal calls were also handled.

CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) continued field training COC Ziegler. Enforcement efforts were focused on checking waterfowl hunters and fishermen. Additional time was spent following up on pending cases.

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2024-09-30

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for Small Game, Waterfowl, and ATV Activity. CO Baum found varying success for Small Game and Waterfowl hunters. CO Baum took enforcement action on ATV and Waterfowl violations.

CO Patrick McGowan (Walker) worked a busy Leech Lake over the past week. Waterfowl hunters are reporting slow success with the mild weather, while anglers are reporting limited success. Enforcement action was taken for numerous angling and boating violations.

CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked hunting and fishing activity. She followed up on shoreline violations and assisted the county with various calls.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) Spent time checking State Forest land and local WMAs for abandoned property. Five deer stands have been located abandoned. Time was also spent at conservation days at the Old Wadena campground. A fur collection was presented to 5th grade students from Staples, Sebeka and Verndale schools. Enforcement action for the week includes burning prohibited materials, operating an OHM on a public roadway, and youth operating a class 1 ATV without a safety certificate.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked waterfowl, small game, and big game hunting. Boating, fishing, and ATV enforcement was also worked. Taxidermy inspections were completed throughout the area. Enforcement action was taken for hunting, angling, ATV, and taxidermy violations.

CO Mark Mathy (Cass Lake) primarily checked anglers as the temperatures felt more like summer than hunting season. A few duck and grouse hunters were seen. A trespassing/ bough cutting complaint was investigated. Mathy also worked on an ongoing investigation and took a call of a problem bear. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.