District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2026-01-26
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and followed up on a case from the deer season. An awards ceremony was attended for three other officers from the district who received lifesaving awards. Equipment was maintained at the Bemidji regional shop.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week monitoring snowmobile traffic and angling activity. Bruesewitz provided the laws and ethics talk at a local snowmobile safety class. Time was spent investigating deer-hunting violations from the previous season, including failure to register, deer overlimit, and taking deer without a license.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up on various complaints. Violations encountered were littering, failure to have owner info on a shelter, no shelter license, no license in possession, and walleye overlimit.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and following up on hunting and trapping related cases. Fontes reports the bite has been slowed by the extreme cold snap, but a lot of anglers are still managing a few fish here and there. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, use of an extra line, and leaving garbage on the ice.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports slow angling success on Lake of the Woods. Time was spent working angling activity. Enforcement action was taken for walleye/sauger overlimit and angling with an extra line. Prachar spent time training with recent CO Academy graduates on snowmobile operations.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an active week with snowmobile activity as favorable conditions continue. Overall, trail conditions are rated as moderate with some patches of grass noted along portions of windblown trails. Ice fishing continues to produce results on the Red Lake River toward the evening hours. Enforcement actions for the week included failure to properly display snowmobile and ATV registrations, litter on the ice, and failure to properly mark portable and nonportable icehouse shelters with identification as required.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-01-26
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a snowmobile safety class in Plummer. Time was also spent checking anglers, ATV operators, and snowmobile operators. Deer-hunting activity during the late landowner CWD deer hunt in Permit Area 661 was also checked.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week monitoring area angling activity and snowmobile trails. Assistance was also given with a public safety detail in the metro. Most anglers reported a slower bite with the colder weather. Violations encountered were extra lines and no license in possession.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) braved the frigid weather to check a few anglers taking advantage of slower activity on area lakes. As expected, the bite has slowed, and equipment struggled to make things comfortable. Area trails are in rough condition with the lack of significant snow cover despite grooming efforts by local clubs. Additional time was spent working on ongoing cases and investigations.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time training with his K9 partner Axel and the rest of the DNR’s K9 team. Additional time was spent working on ongoing cases and checking anglers and snowmobilers. Activity was very minimal during the week due to the cold weather.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) attended training, followed up on ongoing investigations, and spent time assisting with a detail in the metro.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and spearing activity. Extremely cold weather kept some anglers off the lakes. Those who did brave the cold reported a slow bite. Snowmobile activity was worked on trails, as was ATV activity on area lakes.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking angling and trapping activity. Time was also spent registering furs after the bobcat season closed.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking ice anglers, following up on nuisance-animal complaints, and attending a snowmobile training in International Falls.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked anglers, public accesses, and snowmobile trails this week. Activity was slower due to the extreme cold. Training was also completed.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) attended snowmobile training in International Falls.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-01-26
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling enforcement and follow up from the hunting and trapping seasons. She also took complaints regarding dogs chasing deer and angler harassment.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) attended fur registration for bobcats and otters. Fishing activity was monitored. ATV and snowmobile enforcement was conducted. Equipment repairs were conducted at the regional shop.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports focusing his enforcement efforts on angling and snowmobiling activity throughout the week. Equipment maintenance was completed, and miscellaneous animal-related complaints were fielded.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked area lakes for fishing activity. The cold weather has limited people’s time spent outside. Questions about snowmobile safety and fish biology questions were received.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week in the metro on a detail.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) focused patrol efforts on angling and snowmobile activity. Even with the extreme cold weather, there were lots of anglers with fish in their buckets. Various violations were encountered throughout the week, including illegal-length walleyes and possession of fillets on a special regulation lake.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) reports slower angler success on Lake Traverse due to low temperatures. He assisted neighboring officers with various calls and dealt with fish house-related violations. Reminder: A person may not leave, store, or abandon a fish house at public water access sites.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle activity. Enforcement was taken for no shelter license. Reports were taken of local lakes potentially freezing out.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) spent time checking ice anglers and snowmobilers. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines. He assisted other agencies with public safety in the metro area.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-01-26
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the area for angling and snowmobile activity. Baum observed some anglers and snowmobilers braving the cold weather. Angling around the area has seemed to slow, but anglers are having some success. Snowmobile trails are groomed around the area with no major change with no recent snowfalls. Snowmobile activity around the local snowmobile race on Fishhook Lake was safe and spectators gathered to cheer on racers. Baum assisted area Wildlife staff with fur registration in Park Rapids. He spoke with many local trappers who were successful.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) worked area lakes, contacted anglers, and discovered the bite has slowed for many. The Wadena furbearer registration was worked; approximately 30 bobcats were registered. Time was spent in the metro for a detail.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) assisted with snowmobile training for the past Conservation Officer Academy. The new officers were taught patrol tactics and operations for working from enforcement snowmobiles. McGowan also assisted metro agencies for public safety details.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) attended snowmobile training this week in International Falls. Lien was also able to get back to Walker and check some ice anglers. A few angling license violations were noted.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) assisted with snowmobile training for the division’s newest officers. Ice anglers were checked on area lakes. Not many folks were recreating outdoors due to cold weather.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) focused on fishing enforcement this week. Brown encountered some anglers out braving the cold weather, but few reported having luck. Brown also patrolled areas for late-season small-game hunting.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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