MN DNR Conservation Officer
Weekly CO report
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-10-07
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area waterfowl and small-game hunters, monitoring ATV traffic, and following up on various complaints. Small-game hunters are reporting success with the improved visibility.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods and the surrounding area. Fontes followed up on several wildlife-related concerns regarding deer, beavers, and a bobcat. Enforcement action was taken for unsafe passing in a motor vehicle.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports increased angling activity on the Rainy River. Time was spent working fishing and hunting activity. Enforcement action was taken for transporting loaded firearms, angling with an extra line, no federal waterfowl stamp, and for hunting waterfowl with toxic shot.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports an increase in grouse-hunter encounters as the weather begins to cooperate. Waterfowl hunters continue to see success as the temporary eclipse plumage is trending green for the mallards. Despite cooler weather, the fire danger is slightly higher due to wind and dry conditions. Stringer wants to remind everyone to check on conditions before setting leaves on fire or obtaining burning permits. Enforcement actions for the week included careless acts resulting in a fire, no burn permit, multiple instances of hunting waterfowl without licenses in possession, and several ATV-related violations.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking waterfowl and grouse hunters throughout the area. Nuisance-animal claims were handled throughout the week.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) checked waterfowl hunters on area lakes. The warm weather slowed the movement of birds, but this should get better with the colder weather moving in. He patrolled area forest roads and ATV trails for grouse-hunting activity. Hunting has improved with the loss of leaves. Vollbrecht responded to a single ATV rollover accident. One victim was flown out due to injuries sustained. Two different boats were pulled from the wild rice and mud after the operators had motor issues and started drifting into shore. Time was spent at a firearms safety class teaching regulations to students.
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
Weekly CO report
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-10-07
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week checking duck and grouse hunters. Many grouse hunters are reporting a reduced number of grouse in the area. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity, answering calls from the public, and following up on complaints.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) focused on waterfowl and angling enforcement this week. A fair number of flocks of ducks were found congregated on area waters, but hunters were few. Evening angling activity was popular not only because of the bite, but to escape the heat. Goodman assisted local law enforcement with a capsized catamaran and a search for a missing e-foil operator while on Otter Tail Lake.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) continued field training COC Corbus. Time was spent working waterfowl hunting, small-game hunting, deer and bear hunting, and utilizing K9 Axel. Enforcement action was taken for waterfowl hunting on a closed lake, youth ATV operators without helmets, and trespassing on federal lands.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked duck hunting, small-game, and ATV activities. Fires were responded to over the weekend due to dry conditions and high winds. Complaints about trespass and shooting from the roadway were investigated. Enforcement action for the week included various ATV-related violations, operation in area of limitations in a state forest, and illegal-length northern pike.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers, waterfowl hunters, bear hunters, and deer-hunting activity in the Moorhead and Bemidji #2 stations. Waterfowl hunters found a few ducks but reported slower hunting after the opener. Landmark fielded some calls on the new CWD area (Permit Area 666) in the Moorhead station. Deer hunters are encouraged to consult the regulations prior to season, as it will be illegal to remove whole carcasses from that permit area. Enforcement action was taken for an ongoing bear bait registration violation.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) worked small-game, archery deer, bear, and waterfowl-hunting activity. Angling and boating activity were worked. Patrol was conducted in WMAs and waterfowl production areas. Assistance was provided for a firearm safety class. ATV and off-road vehicle activity was worked. Information was provided about youth deer season, AIS, and WMA regulations.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) answered various calls about wildlife and licenses this past week. Public forest lands were walked and patrolled for activity and an ATV youth safety field day class was attended. ATV operation violations were also addressed.
Bemidji #2 – vacant.
Pelican Rapids – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-10-07
CO Plautz (Henning) and COC Reuss spent time working sport fishing, waterfowl hunters, and ATV enforcement and monitoring turkey hunting activity. Waterfowl harvest numbers were low this week with very few groups finding limits of wood ducks. A TIP complaint was investigated. The warm weather seems to be keeping people out of the field as archery deer hunters were sparce. Enforcement action was taken on various no license in possession. Nuisance-beaver trapping permits were issued.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports checking duck hunting and fishing activity throughout the week. He observed a decline in duck hunters over the second weekend due to the warmer weather. Enforcement action this week included no license in possession, no small-game license, and no HIP certificate.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters and waterfowl hunters. A civil trespass issue complaint was received and handled. The high temperatures and sunlight have not been great waterfowl hunting weather for the first week of the waterfowl season.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for ATV, waterfowl, and angling activity. There continues to be many duck hunters out. They’re having moderate success. Numerous anglers were checked during the week chasing panfish and walleyes. Assistance was given to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on several calls. Enforcement action was taken for illegal-length northern pike, angling after suspension, ATV violations, and driving after revocation.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) checked anglers and duck hunters throughout the week. She reports significantly fewer hunters this weekend compared to last. She conducted investigations leading to a fish overlimit case and wetland violations.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) spent time checking shore anglers and hunters in the area. He observed many anglers at several popular spots along the Bois de Sioux River. Not as many waterfowl hunters were out compared to opening weekend, but most encountered had their limits. Various DNR-related calls were also fielded during the week.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working waterfowl and fishing enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession and reckless discharge of a firearm. Hunters checked found success, whether in the flooded corn fields or on public waters.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to angling enforcement. Fall fishing continues to be hot, with many sunfish seen in the livewells. Enforcement action was taken for failing to register a deer.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-10-07
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week monitoring ATV traffic, checking area small-game hunters, and working waterfowl hunters. Saewert attended a meeting of the Minnesota Dark House Association. New regulations for the upcoming season were talked about.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Leech, Cass, and Winnibigoshish lakes during the week. Numerous groups of anglers and waterfowl hunters were checked. They all had limited success. Enforcement action was taken for numerous waterfowl, boating, and angling violations.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) focused enforcement efforts on waterfowl and small-game hunting, as well as ATV activities. Continued hot October weather seemed to have slowed some of the usual bird-hunting activity typical for this time of year, and duck numbers in the area appear on the low side of things.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked waterfowl and small-game hunting. She investigated various hunting complaints. Enforcement action was taken for waterfowl violations.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) checked many anglers taking advantage of the unusually warm weather. Waterfowl hunters were out in force over the weekend. Warm weather did not help the hunters’ chances.
Walker – vacant.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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