MN DNR K-9 Conservation Officers
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working pheasant- and waterfowl-hunting activity. Waterfowl numbers had not increased in the area, causing a slow and uneventful end to the duck season. Some goose hunters found success. Questions were fielded regarding trespassing issues. A local private property owner who has historically contributed part of their land to the West Central Trailblazers snowmobile trail is now going to withdraw their participation. Douvier would like to remind all recreational riders it is important to stay on designated trails or they risk losing access to them all together.
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-12-01
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) and COC Jayden Frank worked the muzzleloader season opener, checked lake access points to monitor early ice conditions, and assisted the county with a medical call. The officers also visited Badger High School to speak with students about ice safety and demonstrate how to fillet a walleye. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms, shooting after legal hours, taking deer with the aid of artificial light and other tagging violations.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week preparing for the upcoming muzzleloader deer season and following-up on various animal complaints.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) finished investigations and case work from firearms deer season. Prachar worked with MN DNR Forestry to find and tag illegal stands and structures on state land for removal.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports a slow start to the muzzle loader season as cold temperatures have made a presence. Ice has formed on the river; however, the ice is unsafe to walk on. An ice safety approach should be followed to avoid catastrophic accidents. Stringer presented an ATV/OHM/ORV and snowmobile statutes presentation to the Northland Peace Officer Program and followed up on a dog chasing deer case, where multiple complaints were fielded.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) and COC Reuss patrolled the area lakes for ice fishing activity. Enforcement action was taken on unattended lines and leaving garbage on the ice. ATV activity has picked up again after the regular firearms season and enforcement action was taken on transporting loaded firearms in a Class 2 ATV. Muzzleloader season hunters were sparse.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-12-01
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports spending time this week following up on big game and WCA related cases. Time was further spent checking small game hunters, deer hunters, and anglers.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent time completing reports from deer season, worked with local government units on a potential public waters/wetland violation, and answered various questions from the public. He would like to remind the public to use caution when venturing out onto early ice.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) found a good number of deer hunters out opening weekend of muzzleloader season. Fresh snow and a weather front made deer highly visible. Ice has rapidly formed on area lakes, but it is far from safe to fish from. Aeration inspections have begun and injured wildlife calls were handled.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time following up on deer season cases. CO Swedberg also checked a few small game hunters who were having some success chasing grouse.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) continued field training this week with COC Nathan Garza. The week was spent working muzzleloader season opener and conducting ice fishing checks. Time was also spent assisting local agencies in locating a lost hunter.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on small game, pheasant, and muzzleloader deer season activity. Ice on area lakes was monitored, and the public is reminded to use caution and test ice thickness before venturing out. Follow up was also conducted on open cases.
Pelican Rapids – vacant.
Bemidji #2 – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-12-01
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on follow-up from the big game season and waterfowl enforcement. The winter weather provided good success for goose hunters in the area.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) checked area trappers, worked muzzleloader hunters, monitored early ice conditions, and conducted some division training. Some smaller lakes have formed ice, but several still have open water.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking hunting and early fishing activity during the week. Miscellaneous wildlife complaints were received and fielded and ongoing investigations were worked.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked area lakes for ice formation and found that most of the lakes are still open. Waterfowl and pheasant hunting activity was monitored. Deer season investigations continue.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling for waterfowl activity. Many ducks came into the area with the cold weather. Duck hunters had good success with late season mallards and divers. Homan assisted Douglas County deputies with a water rescue involving an individual who had went off the road during the storm and his vehicle sank.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent the week checking duck and pheasant hunters that had a few birds in the bags. With the recent snow, she reports snowmobile activity is on the rise. She followed up on several ongoing deer season investigations.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) spent the week preparing for the muzzleloader opener this weekend and following up on ongoing hunting-related cases. A snowstorm early in the week created challenging travel conditions but also improved visibility for pheasant hunters. A reminder to big and small game hunters to review and understand Minnesota’s trespass laws and regulations regarding shooting from or across roadways to ensure a safe and lawful hunting season.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working pheasant- and waterfowl-hunting activity. Waterfowl numbers had not increased in the area, causing a slow and uneventful end to the duck season. Some goose hunters found success. Questions were fielded regarding trespassing issues. A local private property owner who has historically contributed part of their land to the West Central Trailblazers snowmobile trail is now going to withdraw their participation. Douvier would like to remind all recreational riders it is important to stay on designated trails or they risk losing access to them all together.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to waterfowl and big game enforcement. He continued ongoing investigations from the firearm deer season. The muzzleloader opener was off to a slow start with whipping wind and snow. Duck hunters were checked as the season comes to a close. Enforcement action was taken for failing to validate a tag and failing to register a deer.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-12-01
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) fielded multiple questions, responded to calls for service, and worked on open cases from the firearm deer season.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) time was spent checking small game hunters in the area, grouse numbers appear to be down from last fall. Several traps were checked in the Huntersville area. The public is reminded to keep ice safety in mind as the lakes have started to freeze.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) continued field training COC Kaitlyn Istvanovich. The officers patrolled Cass Co for waterfowl, angling and big game activity. The officers completed follow-up on cases from this fall, and enforcement action was taken for other miscellaneous violations.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) continued work on follow-up investigations from the firearms deer season, and began preparations for the fast approaching winter recreational activities.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) reminds everyone to use caution when going out onto the lakes as they begin to freeze over.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) saw fewer hunters out over the weekend trying to fill a tag with the open muzzleloader season. Some hunters having success with the recent change in weather. Brown also encountered multiple snowmobilers enjoying the snow fall.
Walker – vacant.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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