Featured Update
CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) assisted local partners with a water emergency reported early in the week. Several agencies assisted in the response including state, county, and local emergency service crews. He and CO Slatinski staffed a TIP trailer at an outdoor education day held for local students and later helped local volunteers with an ATV safety class and field day. Kennedy monitored angling and ATV activity throughout the area with some people avoiding the trails due to the high temperatures and dry conditions. Enforcement action included angling without a license, expired ATV registration, operating an off-highway motorcycle and ATV on a state highway, and permitting unlawful operation of an off-highway motorcycle.
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2026-06-01
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking anglers fishing the Red Lake River. Nuisance animal calls were handled throughout the week. Time was spent assisting local agencies with calls for service. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a fishing license.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, and possession of illegal length walleye.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods, Hayes Lake, and area public lands. Fontes also assisted local agencies with locating a missing person, and provided assistance at the scene of a serious crash. Enforcement action was taken for possession of an overlimit of sunfish and a variety of ATV violations.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an increase in watercraft traffic on the Red Lake River. Local anglers continue to see success; however, warmer waters have pushed the Walleye towards cooler/deeper pools. Stringer instructed at the East Grand Forks firearms safety/field day where the latest batch of youth hunters became certified. Enforcement actions for the week included angling without a license, allowing illegal operation of a PWC, ATV violations, and burning without a burn permit/unattended fire.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) time was spent working with CO Veit on area lakes in Bemidji. Time was also spent assisting wildlife staff with a elk research project. A reminder is given that baby wildlife are becoming more common and while many have good intentions the best thing you can do to help young wildlife is to enjoy from a distance and not touch or interact with them. Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, no throwable pfd, and no helmet on a juvenile on a ATV.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-06-01
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports attending a regional meeting in Bemidji this week. Time was further spent checking anglers on area waterbodies.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week checking area angling activity, monitoring ATV activity, responding to wildlife-related incidents, and fielding calls. Fishing continues to improve with the warmer weather. Enforcement action was taken for failure to have fire extinguisher on watercraft, attempt to place water related equipment in water with aquatic invasive species attached, angling with extra line, personal floatation device required on watercraft, and fail to receive consent to cut decorative materials.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports checking anglers and boaters in high numbers, as mid-summer like weather conditions persist. Public water and wetland violations continue to be investigated and followed up on. Wildlife species are producing already mobile offspring and folks are reminded to leave them alone. Fawns, ducklings and kits’ mothers will return to them when humans leave the area.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) checked area lakes for fishing and boating activity this week. With warm weather, the lake temperatures shot up and changed fish patterns. Plenty of anglers were doing well with both panfish and walleye biting. Other time was spent training with K9 Axel and rescuing a fawn after its mother was killed by a car. Fawn was brought to a wildlife rehab center.
CO Curt Jepson (Osage) monitored area angling and ATV activity throughout the week. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, a variety of safety equipment violations on watercraft, OHM registration violations, and illegal operation on a public road. The officer also spoke to a firearms safety class at the Osage Sportsman Club.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. AIS regulation compliance was worked and area leeching activity was monitored. Patrol was conducted for off road vehicle and ATV activity.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week following up with calls from the public, related to commercial minnow/leeching complaints, dogs chasing deer complaints in Moorhead City Parks, and other miscellaneous wildlife calls. CO Landmark also worked with DNR forestry on a wildfire investigation.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week monitoring angling and boating activity. With the warm weather and Memorial Day, it was good to see lots of people enjoying the natural resources. Time was also spent fielding wildlife complaints. Enforcement action was taken for various boating and aquatic plant violations.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked anglers, public accesses and lands, and addressed boating safety this week. Fishing success has picked up. Calls about fawns and wildlife were answered. Reminder to leave them be and watch from a distance, unless there is immediate danger, and consult our DNR wildlife website for information. Violations addressed were expired ATV registration, no helmet on a youth operator/passenger, expired boat registration, 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, bass, and northern pike being caught were consistent on area lakes. Many anglers advise having success in shallow waters, as the spring spawn appears to be starting, with recent hot weather warming up area lakes. Multiple wildlife complaints were fielded, which included abandoned fawns and nuisance black bears. CO Schaefer also assisted local law enforcement agencies with various calls for service, including searching for a missing juvenile, who was later found, medicals, and arresting individuals with outstanding criminal warrants. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without an angling license, failing to have enough life jackets on board a watercraft, and leech trapping without a license.
Osage – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-06-01
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) spent the week focused on angling and recreational vehicle enforcement. Some of the violations followed up on this week include an over-limit (by 22 walleyes), shooting turkey from a motor vehicle, and commercial minnow trapping violations.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) took reports of nuisance animals, car killed otter, spent time on invasive species and boating enforcement. A district meeting was attended and equipment maintenance was performed. Shoreline and aquatic vegetation calls were also handled this week.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports monitoring angling and boating activities throughout the week. Brown also conducting an investigation into some protentional wetland violations and took a TIP complaint for walleyes overlimit. Anglers are reporting an increase in the fish bite with warmer weather arriving.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boats, and for AIS compliance. An ATV safety class riding instruction was given in Brandon. An animal possession permit was issued.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling and recreation vehicle activities. Time was spent assisting local agencies with calls for service. Homan followed up on a TIP that resulted in a large overlimit of crappies seized. Additional enforcement action for the week including angling with no license and various ATV violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) worked heavy angling, boating, and ATV activity. She reports lots of young anglers out enjoying the nice weather on the lakes. She also attended regional training.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational enforcement. Various fishing complaints and questions were handled, and assistance was given to an out of state agency regarding potential big game violations. Assistance was also given to an area FAS and ATV safety class. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license and no license in personal possession.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to angling and boating enforcement. Questions were answered on bears in the Alexandria area. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession, watercraft safety equipment violations, and failure to transfer watercraft ownership.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-06-01
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling, boating, off highway vehicle traffic, and took numerous nuisance bear complaints while providing technical guidance and assistance. Shoreland and wetland violations were investigated. Enforcement action was taken for angling, boating, off highway vehicle, and wetland violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) time was spent patrolling the Huntersville State Forest enforcing ATV/OHM laws. Area lakes have been busy with fishing activity picking up, several anglers were having success. Time was also spent on squad maintenance.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) patrolled area lakes over the week for angling and boating activity. Anglers are reporting mixed success as the water slowly starts to warm. Enforcement action was taken for numerous angling and boating violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) spent most of his week in a watercraft. Many anglers were checked and few violations were noted. Walker hosted an annual Walleye tournament bringing many folks from many different areas to town. Walleye and panfish success rate seemed higher than last week. ATV enforcement was conducted, but not too many riders were seen out on the trails. Many calls were taken in subject to bear cub or deer fawn concerns. It is always best to leave wildlife alone and try not to place hands on them. Mothers in the wild are more protective around this time of year and are seen by the public often with their little ones. times than not, when you see a young animal by itself, the mother is in the vicinity and usually returns to its young.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) patrolled area lakes and ATV use areas. Sura assisted Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office by responding to a drowning call near Emily. Violations encountered throughout the week include angling without valid fishing licenses, and insufficient number of life jackets for watercraft.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) checked anglers and ATV enthusiasts throughout the week. With the warmer weather upon us, Brown noticed an increase in activity with both fishing and ATVing. Brown assisted local agencies this week with a variety of calls. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of ATV violations and fishing violations.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
Comments