Weekly CO report
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2026-03-10
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) patrolled the area trails for snowmobile activity. Time was spent providing the laws and ethics talk to a snowmobile safety class in Karlstad. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of snowmobile-related violations.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up with various complaints. Violations encountered were angling without a license, no license in possession, possession of dressed fillets on the ice, possession of illegal-length walleyes, and angling with extra lines.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and following up on open cases. Enforcement action was taken for use of an extra line and angling without a license.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports continued angling activity on Lake of the Woods. Angler success has been spotty. Prachar assisted the county with a call about a horse running loose near the school. Prachar found the horse as it was entering the lanes of Highway 11. He used a rescue rope bag to loop around the horse’s neck and direct it out of traffic and hold for the owner to bring a halter and lead it home.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports deteriorating snow conditions on area trails as warmer weather sets in. Despite the conditions, there was a good turnout for several local vintage snowmobile rides. Stringer completed a big-game investigation from the muzzleloader season and followed up with local anglers concerning fish houses on the Red River. Enforcement actions for the week included multiple snowmobile infractions, angling during a closed season, and failure to validate and register a big-game harvest.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
Blackduck North – vacant.
Weekly CO report
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-03-10
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week staffing a TIP trailer at a local sports show. Time was also spent checking anglers and taking various wildlife-related complaints.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports all area lakes were cleared of ice shelters, with only a few reports of ice litter. Daily panfish fishing activity has slowed due to rapidly changing weather patterns and ice conditions. Time was spent on wetland and public water cases, with resource protection notices and restoration orders being served.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking area lakes for fishing activity and making sure all fish houses in the south zone had been removed from the lakes. Other time was spent at the DNR K9 Academy assisting with the training of the new handlers and K9s. Swedberg also answered questions from the public regarding injured and dead animals showing up as the snow melts.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) checked area lakes for shelters left after the deadline. Snowmobile trails are no longer rideable, but other vehicles still need to stay off designated trails as more snow is forecasted.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and fish house activities. Warmer weather has melted most of the snow and lakes have a lot of standing water. Fish house removal is underway, with many houses now off the ice. People are reminded that fish houses cannot be left at public accesses. Warren worked ATV and snowmobile activity at the Snodeo event near Naytahwaush. Snowmobile trails have deteriorated due to warmer weather.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers and monitoring fish house removal south of Highway 10. Time was also spent working the TIP trailer at the Red River Valley Sportsmen’s Show in Fargo/Moorhead area.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking ice anglers, assisting other agencies, and participating in an outreach event. Enforcement action was taken for an overlimit of sunfish, angling without a license, and operating an unregistered ATV. Corbus enjoyed working with other COs at the Red River Valley Sportsmen’s show in the Fargo/Moorhead area. Officers brought the TIP trailer and had the opportunity to connect with people, answering questions and sharing an appreciation for the natural resources.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) assistance was provided to other agencies with a fire and a vehicle accident. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, youth operating an off-highway vehicle, property left on public lands, and failure to submit bear tooth samples. A grey wolf was found that appeared to be struck by a vehicle and then dispatched along the highway. If an animal needs to be dispatched, please contact a CO or the local sheriff’s office for notification or further instruction.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent time this past week checking local anglers and following up on several trapping cases. Schaefer also spent time working the DNR information booth at the Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-03-10
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling activity and follow up from the deer season. Complaints regarding trapping and fish houses out after the deadline were also worked.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) monitored the fish house removal deadline and found several houses still on area lakes till the last day, however compliance was good overall with all houses off the lakes by the deadline. Anglers were found enjoying warmer weather and chasing panfish.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking anglers and following up on ongoing investigations. Additional time was spent on annual training.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked ice anglers, ATV riders, and ice conditions. Panfish fishing activity on area lakes is high with people catching both sunfish and crappies. Most vehicle travel is by ATV.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling activity. The warm weather brought many individuals out in search of panfish. Homan spent additional time at a career fair. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of angling violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) continues to patrol angling activity throughout her station. She was pleasantly surprised to see all ice shelter owners had their shelters off by the deadline. She has seen a rise in ATV activity with a decline in ice conditions in areas. Various enforcement actions were taken throughout the week, including transporting loaded firearms and driving after cancelled IPS.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) worked on fishing and ATV activity. Poor ice conditions have slowed the bite on area lakes. He is seeing anglers shifting to area dams now that water levels are rising and ice-free.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to ice angling and trapping enforcement. He ensured compliance on local lakes with the ice shelter removal deadline. Two traps were seized for no identification.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-03-10
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, conducted equipment maintenance, and worked on open cases. Cross also attended ice rescue training, becoming a member of the Ice Rescue Team.
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for ice angling and snowmobile activity. Area snowmobile trails are fading fast with the warm weather, with many trails showing mostly dirt and ice. Angling success has slowed on area lakes, but many anglers are enjoying getting out on late ice. A reminder of the upcoming shelter removal date of March 16 for all fish houses north of State Highway 34 in the area. Baum wants to remind those venturing out on the ice to have safety equipment with the rapidly changing ice conditions. Please look on the DNR website to find recommended ice safety equipment.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week checking ice anglers and taking wildlife-related calls. Online mandatory training was completed. Saewert also attended the area dark house meeting.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Leech, Cass, and Winnibigoshish lakes throughout the week and weekend. Ice conditions are starting to deteriorate with the warm weather and anglers are urged to use caution. Enforcement action was taken for perch overlimits, angling without a license, shelter violations, and ATV violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) worked mainly ice fishing activity but also took his snowmobile out before most of the snow disappeared. Areas on Leech Lake and other waterbodies are beginning to form holes and ice-crack separations near/on heavily traveled areas including the Onigum ice road between Walker and Onigum area. It is always good to practice safe decision making on ice. Lien also took a call about a bear bedded down in a swamp bottom for around a week. The bear was healthy and ran off when he approached it. As warm weather sets in, it is common to see early risers beginning to move.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) focused enforcement efforts on monitoring late-ice panfish anglers. Sura contacted many anglers who had forgotten to renew their fishing licenses for the new license year. Sura helped with a snowmobile safety class for students at Northland Community Schools in Remer.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) checked anglers this week. With the nice weather and shelter removal date, most people were enjoying their time on buckets. Brown spoke to a few owners of shelters that were left on the ice after the removal date. A reminder to purchase a 2026 fishing license if you plan on fishing late ice.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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