CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods and the Roseau River. Water temps on the big lake have been slow to rise, and fishing has also remained slow. Memorial weekend saw some mixed results with some folks getting their limit of walleyes. Enforcement contacts for the week included anglers using too many lines and possessing illegal length fish, as well as other minor boating infractions.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking anglers on the Red Lake and Red Rivers. Time was spent monitoring the area for ATV traffic. Nuisance animal calls were handled throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for various boat safety equipment violations.

CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up with various complaints. Violations encountered were no license in possession, angling with extra lines, illegal length walleye, and insufficient PFDs.

CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week focusing on patrolling Lake of the Woods and handling reports of nuisance bears. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, use of an extra line, failure to report the killing of a nuisance bear, and illegal OHM operation.

CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an active week on local lakes and waterways. Overall, anglers found tight lines towards the evening hours with some success noted during the early morning hours as well. Stringer patrolled several lakes and noted a variety of safety related concerns. Of note, a youth operator under 9 was observed to be in total control of watercraft. Additional enforcement actions for the week included angling without licenses, burning without permits, operating class II ATV while cancelled, and multiple watercraft/life jacket related violations.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) time was spent monitoring angling activity with many people taking advantage of the nice weather. Wildlife complaints were also handled.

Baudette East – vacant.

Blackduck South – vacant.

Blackduck North – vacant.

CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a firearms safety class in Crookston this week. Time was also spent checking anglers on local lakes and rivers. ATV operators were also checked and various wildlife related call were received.

CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) monitored area angling and ATV activity throughout the week and over the busy Memorial Holiday weekend. Walleye fishing continues to be a slow, while pan fishing remains decent for most anglers. Time was also spent working with one of the DNR Enforcement interns, completing online training, and handling various wildlife-related complaints. Enforcement action was taken for expired registration on watercraft, fishing without a license, ATV fail to display registration, and operate unauthorized motor vehicle on designated ATV trail.

CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked the busy Memorial Day weekend on area waterways. Fishing success started quite high, but faded as the weather turned to midsummer like conditions. Despite cold water temperatures, people were checked partaking in various water sports. Reminders to display current watercraft registration and to have a Type IV Personal Flotation Devices (throwable) immediately accessible were the most frequent violations encountered.

CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent time patrolling area lakes, looking for boating and fishing activity. CO Swedberg also spent time training with other members of the DNR K9 unit. Many anglers and boaters were checked this weekend and the panfish bite remains hot on several lakes in the area.

CO Curt Jepson (Osage) reports spending the week getting acquainted with the station and the surrounding area, as the new officer in the area. Time was spent patrolling State Forest ATV trails and area lakes. Despite cooler, rainy weather to start Memorial Day weekend, ATV activity remained steady, with plenty of riders observed on the trails. Anglers reported that the walleye bite has improved on some area lakes. Jepson also fielded nuisance bear complaints and provided residents with information on bear-related concerns.

CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) worked angling and boating activity. Time was also spent on leeching activity, WMA and WPA patrol, and AIS compliance checks. Patrol was conducted for off road vehicle and ATV activity and follow up was conducted on open complaints.

CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers, boaters, and recreational vehicle activity in the Moorhead Station. With warmer water temperatures, anglers are finding more active fish, specifically panfish on area lakes. Calls from the public included reports of dogs chasing deer, dogs chasing turkeys and eating turkey eggs, and ATV use in a state park. Pet owners, specifically those walking their dogs on Moorhead City property, are reminded to keep their dogs on leash. The most common and concerning violation encountered over the weekend was the amount of boaters without lifejackets onboard their watercraft. Enforcement action was also taken for dogs chasing deer, OHM registration and operation violations, and a variety of boating and boat registration violations.

CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring turkey hunting, angling, and boating activity. Time was spent on many of the lakes throughout the station, investigating wildlife complaints, and checking many anglers and recreational boaters over Memorial Day weekend. Enforcement action was taken for various boating and angling violations as well as shooting a turkey from a motor vehicle.

CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked public lands for stored and abandoned property. Angling and boating safety were a priority this week. Good compliance with life jackets onboard and being worn was observed. Public accesses were checked and ATV regulations and education were also provided. Violations included ATV operation without lights on, boat registration display violations, and no angling licenses in possession.

CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent this past week checking local anglers and monitoring ATV activity. Positive reports of panfish and northern pike being caught were consistent on area lakes. CO Schaefer assisted with various calls for service in the Itasca State Park, as many visitors came to enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. CO Schaefer also assisted a neighboring CO with walking public lands looking for deer stands / trail cameras being left over from the previous deer season. Enforcement action was taken for individuals operating ATVs on a highway, juveniles operating OHM’s on a public roadway, and fishing without an angling license.

CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. She also took calls regarding nuisance animals and followed up on complaints.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) conducted a recreational vehicle safety and the job of a Conservation Officer talk to several fourth graders on a field trip to Glendalough State Park. The holiday weekend was spent on fishing, boating, and invasive species enforcement. Overall boating and fishing compliance was good over the weekend. A complaint of a possible illegal minnow trap was investigated.

CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports monitoring boating and angling activity during the week going into the three-day weekend. Fishing success has been extremely slow according to anglers. Enforcement actions this week included, northern pike within the protected slot, angling with no angling license, and no license in possession.

CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters and ATVs. An ATV safety class was scheduled, and an upcoming trial was prepared for. Station equipment was maintained.

CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling, ATV, and boating activities. Time was spent assisting local agencies and following up on ongoing cases. Enforcement action was taken for various ATV, OHM, and angling violations.

CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) had the solemn honor this past week to travel to Maine for the funeral of Maine Game Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts who died May 12th in the line of duty. She along with two Captains from the DNR represented the Enforcement Division to recognize the legacy of Warden Tibbetts who was a second generation Game Warden and served for 18 years. She also worked her area lakes. Enforcement action was taken on a 41 sunfish overlimit on Lake Osakis.

CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational activity. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license and various life jacket violations.

CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to angling, boating, and recreational vehicle enforcement. Beautiful weather brought out copious amounts of anglers and boaters. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, insufficient life jackets, and youth operating ATVs without helmets. Anglers are reporting a slower walleye bite with water temps remaining on the cooler side.

Wheaton – vacant.

CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked area lakes and trails throughout the week while also working open cases. Cross saw many people out recreating on the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Cross reminds all that this is not just a normal holiday weekend, but a weekend to remember and honor those that gave it all, so that we have the freedom to recreate and enjoy these beautiful northern Minnesota weekends.

CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for Angling, Recreational Vehicles, and Boating activity. CO Baum reports increased activity in the area with the holiday weekend. CO Baum wants to remind boaters and ATVers to verify registration when taking machines out of storage. CO Baum found many anglers having success on various area lakes. CO Baum took enforcement action of various Boating, ATV, and Angling Violations.

CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week patrolling the area for angling and ATV activity. Huntersville State Forest had an abundance of ATV and camping activity. Wildlife possession permits were issued throughout the week. Complaints of problem bears were also taken.

CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked a busy holiday weekend on the water. Anglers are reporting a slower bite with the cold water. Enforcement action was taken for numerous fishing and boating violations.

CO Jack Lien (Walker) had a busy week leading up to memorial weekend. He has been out in the woods patrolling by ATV as well as on the water in his boat. Highlights of his week include working with a marine unit officer on Leech Lake out of a bigger patrol vessel and successfully rescuing a large pelican from a tangled weed bed on a reporting party’s lake property. Lien was amazed with how many vessels he saw over the weekend at one time as it was his first water-popular holiday on Leech Lake. He reminds the public to be vigilant while operating watercraft in dense-populated areas, and to have respect for anglers while underway and traveling around them. Helmets and safe wheeler riding decisions are also subject to this reminder.

CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled ATV and angling activity over the busy holiday weekend; Both trails and lakes alike were abundant with outdoors enthusiasts. Enforcement action was taken for violations including allowing juvenile ATV passengers to ride without helmets, possessing illegal length northern pike, registration violations, and misc. watercraft safety equipment violations.

CO Levi Brown (Staples) spent time on the local area lakes. He observed heavy boating activity, both recreational and fishing. Brown also spent time in areas that are frequented by ATV’s. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of boating and ATV violations.

ATV rec officer – vacant.