CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports bear hunters continue to prepare for opening day with baiting activities as the excitement of fall begins. Wild rice has provided a promising harvest opportunity this season if you are able to beat the waterfowl to your favorite location. With the help of a Koochiching County deputy, he assisted a couple of paddlers after they overturned their canoe and their gear was left floating on the water.
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2026-08-31
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking bait baits and shore anglers throughout the area. Enforcement action was taken for multiple ATV violations.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week working on a pre-employment background investigation and monitoring local ATV traffic and local bear bait activity.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent time on Lake of the Woods, in the state forest, and assisting local agencies. Enforcement action was taken for the use of an extra line.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) continues to focus on the bear season as the Sept. 1 opener approaches. Additional seasons including for doves, early teal and Canada geese also approach, with a reminder that hunters can find the information in the combined hunting synopsis. Stringer also worked at the DNR information booth at the State Fair, where a variety of questions were answered. Enforcement actions for the week included multiple bear baiting violations and transporting a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle where prohibited.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) handled a complaint regarding a car-killed elk. Assistance was given on a search warrant.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck #1) reports continued bear baiting and ATV activity. Time was spent working at the Minnesota State Fair and on background investigations.
Baudette #1 – vacant.
Blackduck #2 – vacant.
Baudette #2 – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-08-31
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week working security at the Minnesota State Fair, checking bear baits, checking individuals harvesting wild rice, and monitoring ATV activity.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked angling and wild rice activity on area lakes and rivers. Rice is still green on most lakes, but patches of ripe rice can be found in the rivers and on smaller bodies of water. Angling success has been limited, but substantial rainfall has water flowing again after a month of stagnancy. Questions regarding the upcoming hunting seasons were fielded.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week checking bear baits and talking with bear hunters about the upcoming season. Many questions were answered regarding the new licensing system. Swedberg and K9 Axel also performed several demonstrations at the State Fair, along with other members of the DNR K9 unit.
CO Curtis Jepson (Osage) spent much of the week focused on bear baiting and wild rice activities. Time was also spent at the State Fair on a security detail. Numerous electronic licensing related calls were fielded.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. WMAs, waterfowl production areas, and state forest areas were worked for bear baiting activity. Wild rice and leeching areas were monitored, and patrol was conducted for ATV activity.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week working on a background investigation.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring angling activity, fielding various wildlife-related complaints, and working pre-season bear baiting. Corbus worked the Kratz Family Outdoors Outdoor Experience Day, where many people shared the excitement of upcoming fall hunting seasons.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked public lands for activity and followed up on bear baits and registration. A report of an animal attack on livestock was investigated. Manteufel also worked the first two days of the DNR information booth at the Minnesota State Fair, where he enjoyed meeting people from around the state and answering questions.
Bemidji #2 – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-08-31
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spoke to a firearms safety class, worked with state park employees on a possible abandoned canoe, and continued a background investigation. Equipment maintenance was performed, as was fishing and boating enforcement.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) checked angling activity and answered questions regarding the upcoming seasons. Brown also worked at the Minnesota State Fair for a security detail.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked boaters and ATV and OHM’ operators. A call about a dead bald eagle was received and handled in Wilkin County. Bear and deer hunting questions were answered, as were questions about the new license system.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week assisting at the Minnesota State Fair. Additional time was spent at Youth Outdoor Activity Day in Alexandria.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) worked with Axon personnel at Central Office to further develop proficiency with the new report-writing system. She assisted officers throughout the state with system-related issues. Znajda served on Honor Guard attending the funeral for the Fargo Police Department’s Sergeant Tyrell Fauske, who lost his life to cancer. She partnered with neighboring COs to work details prioritizing aquatic invasive species enforcement. She also monitored angling and boat and water activity.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for OHM and AIS violations.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) spent his time on angling and boating enforcement. He provided a law enforcement student from Alexandria Technical College a job shadowing experience. He worked a detail with neighboring officers for invasive species enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-08-31
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for bear baiting, angling, boating, and recreational vehicle traffic. Baum coordinated with North Country Trail Volunteers to have vandalism cleaned by those responsible. Baum followed up on an ongoing water appropriation violation that is impacting a well. Baum took enforcement action for various violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week assisting with fires in the northern part of the state. Time was also spent at the Minnesota State Fair assisting with a security detail.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked angling and boating activity throughout the week. McGowan also assisted with security details at the Minnesota State Fair.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) patrolled his area and other parts of his district. He observed that the number of people around the area over the summer has slowly started to decrease as the fall season has approached. Angling checks and water patrols have been conducted, as well as bear bait enforcement. Lien patrolled the area by ATV and visited numerous bear bait sites to check for law compliance. He reports running into a lot of bear activity while out patrolling in the woods.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled by ATV and monitored bear baiting activity ahead of the Sept. 1 bear opener.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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