Weekly CO report

District 1 – Baudette area

Last updated: 2026-06-29

CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and Hayes Lake. Area ATV activity was monitored. Violations for the week included possessing illegal-length walleyes, overlimit of walleyes/sauger, and operating an ATV in state park and hunter walking trail.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week monitoring ATV traffic throughout the area. Anglers were checked fishing on the Red Lake River. Nuisance-animal calls were handled during the week. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV violations.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up on various complaints. Violations encountered were no license in possession and illegal-length walleyes.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) reports mixed angling success on Lake of the Woods. Fontes spent much of his time on the lake as well as surrounding public lands. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession and possession of illegal-length fish. Fontes reports the lady slippers are in full bloom in the area.

CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an active week on the Red River of the North with catfishing tournaments. Overall, the rain damped the atmosphere, but determined anglers set their hooks. Angling on the Red Lake River is slow, but good numbers of fish are still seen towards the evening hours. Enforcement actions for the week included water safety related violations, failure to properly register non-motorized watercraft, no angling license in possession, and operating a Class II ATV while under the influence of alcohol.

CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time motoring area activity for recreational vehicles and fishing. The bite seemed to improve over the week as water levels increased due to the recent rain. Nuisance-animal calls were also handled. Enforcement action was taken for juveniles riding an ATV without helmets.

CO Nicholas Prachar (Blackduck #1) reports increased angling activity on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for youth not wearing helmets on ATVs, multiple boat safety violations, and felony DWI.

Baudette #1 – vacant.

Blackduck #2 – vacant.

Baudette #2 – vacant.

District 2 – Bemidji area

Last updated: 2026-06-29

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) responded to various complaints during the week. Time was also spent working a past ATV-complaint area. Anglers and watercraft operators were checked throughout the week. Various boating and angling violations were encountered.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week checking anglers on area lakes, monitoring ATV activity, working a boating enforcement detail on Upper Red Lake, and assisting with a firearms qualification at Camp Ripley.

CO Curtis Jepson (Osage) spent the week patrolling state forest ATV trails. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV violations. Jepson also answered questions on the new digital electronic licensing system.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling, boating and leeching activities. AIS compliance was monitored. Patrol was conducted for ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Follow up was conducted on a complaint of illegal activity in a WMA.

CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers, responding to nuisance-animal calls, and working ongoing investigations.

CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week working with local county and state government units with wetland and public water violations and monitoring angling and ATV activities. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV violations, as well as public water and aquatic plant violations. Corbus would like to remind people to keep safety in mind both on and off the water with the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked anglers and public accesses this week. Fishing activity was still reported good in some areas. High winds kept some activity to a minimum this week. Questions about wildlife and public land use were also answered.

CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent this past week checking local anglers and monitoring ATV activity. Fishing reports were moderate with walleyes, perch, and panfish being seen in most livewells. Schaefer also aided the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office in searching for a missing juvenile, who was later located safe and secure. Multiple wildlife-related calls for service were fielded including an abandoned coyote pup and injured osprey. Both were transported to a local rehab center for care. Enforcement action was taken for individuals failing to have their fishing license in possession.

District 3 – Fergus Falls area

Last updated: 2026-06-29

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) focused enforcement efforts on angling and recreational vehicles. Some time was spent on commercial enforcement. Miscellaneous wildlife-related complaints were also handled.

CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) worked fishing, boating, and AIS enforcement. Several questions were received regarding the new licensing system and time was spent locating point of sale locations in the area for those who do not have internet access. Several nuisance-bear calls were received, and an injured-fawn call was handled.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports focusing his enforcement on angling and boating. A couple area lakes saw an increase in success over the past couple weeks with good-sized walleyes being seen in anglers’ bags. Several calls were fielded regarding possible violations occurring and enforcement action was taken.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters and ATV riders. Questions about bear guide licensing and watercraft registration were answered. Annual training was completed, and AIS inspections were conducted at various public water accesses.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling, ATV, and boating activities. Time was spent working on Mille Lacs Lake and the Whitefish Chain. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of angling and recreational boating violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) spent the week checking anglers and monitoring ATV activity. She reports receiving several complaints of lake weeds growing thicker. She responded to multiple wounded-animal complaints and received reports of local bear sightings. Questions were answered about the new electronic licensing system.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) spent his time on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. He followed up on wildlife management area complaints and various wildlife-related calls. Enforcement action was taken for various watercraft violations.

Wheaton – vacant.

District 4 – Walker area

Last updated: 2026-06-29

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked off-highway vehicles, boating, angling, and did follow-up work on wetland violations throughout the week.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for recreational vehicle, boating, and angling activities. Baum reports trail conditions in the area are in good condition with recent rain keeping dust down. Baum found some boaters enjoying the water between rain showers. Anglers are reporting various success on area lakes. Baum took enforcement action on various recreational vehicle violations.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) primarily worked ATV, boating safety, and angling enforcement. In addition, time was spent attending the district firearms safety class. Nuisance-bear complaints continue to come in. Violations encountered included ATV violations, illegal off-highway motorcycle operation, and insufficient boater safety equipment.

CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked angling and boating activities throughout the week. McGowan assisted with enforcement details on Mille Lacs and Upper Red lakes. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating and angling violations.

CO Jack Lien (Walker) conducted patrols from a variety of platforms including ATV and watercraft. Violation numbers were small. Much of Lien’s week was based around educational classes. He taught and instructed at his district firearms safety class with other COs at the Mantrap Valley Conservation Club in Hubbard County. Lien also assisted Cass County boat and water deputies by being present at their watercraft operator safety class at the Walker Public School. A ride-along was also provided to a future U.S. Forest Service ranger in the area.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) spent time working boating and angling activities. Enforcement action was taken for expired watercraft registration and angling without a valid fishing license.

CO Levi Brown (Staples) patrolled the Spider Lake OHV trails and surrounding area this week. Brown also spent time on area lakes checking anglers. A noticeable change to the local public accesses was observed with an increase in floating weeds. Please make sure to thoroughly inspect your boat and trailer for weeds before leaving the public accesses.

ATV rec officer – vacant.