MN DNR Conservation Officer
Minnesota #DNR Conservation Officer Reports-Dec 30, 2025
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-12-30
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers on LOTW. Violations encountered were angling without a license, no license in possession, no shelter tag, no owner information on shelter, walleye/sauger over limits, angling with extra lines, and litter on the ice.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and area public lands. Fishing wasn’t quite as good as it had been, but a lot of folks were able to sort through large numbers of smaller fish to take home a meal. Enforcement action was taken for possessing fillets on the ice and no license in possession.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports significant activity on Lake of the Woods ahead of the Christmas Holiday. Time was spent working angling activity. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines and no angling license in possession.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an active week on the Red Lake and Thief Rivers as anglers hit the ice for the holiday break. Ice conditions continue to improve and an abundant amount of permanent shelters are now in place. Stringer wants to remind anglers to ensure shelters are properly marked and follow a no-trace mindset reference litter on the ice. Stringer also joined instructors and completed a snowmobile safety course in Red Lake Falls. Enforcement actions for the week included litter on the ice, no angling license in possession, failure to properly mark a shelter, and allow illegal operation of a snowmobile.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) focused patrol efforts on snowmobile and ice angling activity during the holiday week. Anglers were observed having success throughout the week.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake. Officer contacted several individuals who reported mixed angling success. Officer seized accidentally caught Pine Marten.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-12-30
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) spent the majority of his time checking anglers and shelters again this week. With zero snow cover on the ice and nightly misty precipitation, getting around on the lakes was slow going. A handful of reminders that ATV laws still apply in the winter were needed. Goodman responded to multiple reports of a vehicle floating in open water on an area lake where he found the driver dry and safe. The driver explained he couldn’t make it back up the access he entered the lake on so he navigated to another access not knowing there was open water due to river flowage.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking ice fishermen on area lakes. CO Swedberg also assisted area wildlife staff with fur registration for the close of fisher and pine marten season. There were not as many animals registered as usual, which is not too surprising with the extremely cold and windy conditions during the trapping season. Other time was spent assisting Becker County with a search warrant and finishing yearly trainings.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked angling and trapping activity in the area. Area snowmobile trails are poor with the warm weather and lack of snow fall, but other OHV users are reminded to stay off designated snowmobile trails. Enforcement action for the week included extra lines, expired ATV reg, no youth helmets, no shelter ID, and unattended lines.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time ice angling and ice shelter activity. Snowmobile trails were monitored for activity. ATV and snowmobile activity on area lakes were worked. WMA and WPA’s were patrolled for hunting activity.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers, trappers, and attending furbearer registration. Anglers are finding around 12” of ice on area lakes and fishing, specifically for panfish and northern pike, has been decent. Enforcement action was taken on a pending investigation for an over limit of otter as well as furbearer coupon validation violations.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked lakes and public access for ice angling activity and patrolled public lands and snowmobile trails for activity. No registration on ATVs and no fishing licenses in possession was addressed. An area dog rescue reached out and was granted permission to safely live trap a lost dog that had been seen on state property once all details were provided.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent time checking local anglers with most lakes in the area having over a foot of clear ice on them. Enforcement action was taken and documented for individuals failing to have a state park vehicle pass, operating ATVs without headlights turned on, and fishing on designated trout lakes during the closed trout season.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-12-30
CO Hanna Wood spent the week focused on angling enforcement. There were numerous violations for fail to display shelter tag and no shelter ID. Wood also assisted with fur registration in Fergus Falls. She would like to advise people that using video monitors/ baby monitors is NOT a legal way to “tend” your lines. If you’re in another ice house, your lines need to be reeled up.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked ice fishing and trapping activity throughout the week. Trespass and litter complaints were handled along with an injured Swan call.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, ATV’s and fish houses. Fish house identification, shelter license violations and fishing without a license in possession were the prominent violations encountered. Station equipment maintenance and training was completed.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling activities. Assistance was given to Douglas County Sheriffs Office and Carlos Fire Department with a residential fire. Enforcement action was taken for angling with an extra line. Homan also worked on follow up with ongoing cases.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent the week patrolling angling, ATV, snowmobile activities and found time to attend the Wadena fur registration station. While patrolling Lake Osakis, she came across a pressure ridge near Battle Point with open water. She noticed a snowmobile mostly submerged but no people around. She requested the local county dive and rescue teams to respond. While teams were enroute, the best result of the snowmobile owners arriving back on scene in dry clothes. No one was injured other than being wet and cold. The individuals gave their ice picks and floatation bibs credit for their recovery back to land. Even with full size vehicles traveling on the ice nearby, she continues to spread the word that ice is never safe.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing, small game, and trapping enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for fishing with extra lines. A possible trapping violation was also investigated.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) spent his time following up on big game cases and enforcing angling regulations. Ice thickness appears to be around the 12” mark on most lakes, but can vary significantly. Enforcement action was taken for the illegal possession of a buck head and no angling license in possession.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-12-30
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, small game, and big game. The lakes were busy over the weekend with mixed success seen. Enforcement action taken for angling and off highway vehicle violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) reports multiple days of above freezing temps reduced trails back to dirt, grass, and exposed rock. Ice fishing success appeared to decrease with the warmer temps. Time was spent at the Wadena fur registration, compared to last year fisher numbers were down along with otter numbers. Bobcat numbers were about the same as last year at this time.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) checked ice anglers on Leech and other surrounding lakes in his area. Snowmobile activity has slowed down as the trails became less enjoyable with the recent snow melt. After the current snow accumulation and cold temps, more snowmobile activity is expected and ice thickness roughly 9-15 inches on average.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked angling, snowmobiling and trapping activity.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) spent this time checking anglers on local lakes. The number of anglers on the lakes has increased over the past week with many permanent houses seen on the ice. Brown also check late season archery hunters hoping to fill their tags with the season coming to an end shortly.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Leech lake throughout the week for angling activity. Most anglers are reporting a slow bite, and caution should be used when traveling on the lake as numerous ice heaves are present. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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