District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-07-28
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week focusing on public land concerns. Fontes investigated illegal-camping concerns and a public land theft. Enforcement action was taken for camping on public land longer than allowed, failure to occupy a dispersed campsite, and possession of an overlimit of walleyes. Fontes also assisted with the funeral of retired Lakes Area Police Officer Jennifer Zerwas.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports slower fishing success on Lake of the Woods. ATV activity has increased with blueberry picking, a fruitful activity in the forest. Enforcement action was taken for numerous ATV-related violations. Prachar assisted the Warroad Police Department and Roseau County with multiple domestic disturbances.
CO Paul Kennedy (Baudette East) continued working on a wetland violation with local agency partners. He continued monitoring angling activity along the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. The Rainy River had an increase in water level with recent rain, bringing murky water and debris along with it. ATV trails were checked. Not much activity was observed.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports a slower week due to hot conditions throughout the district. Although that was the case, there was a good turnout for an ATV safety course held at the Marshall County Fairgrounds with district partners. Overall, there’s been a slow bite on the Red River, with some catfish observed. Enforcement actions for the week included operating a Class II ATV within the road rights-of-way, operating an ATV without lights, unsafe passing in a no-passing zone, and failure to display ATV registration as required.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) participated in teaching at the Marshall County ATV safety field day at the fairgrounds this week. Assistance was also given to local agencies. Violations encountered this week were no fishing license in possession, fail to display off-road vehicle registration, and taking a deer without a valid license during the previous firearms season.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) monitored angling activity on Upper Red Lake. The bite and activity level remains slow. He spent time patrolling area ATV trails and state forest roads. A meeting was attended at Camp Ripley.
CO Brianna Shaw (Blackduck South) spent the week patrolling for angling and recreational activity. Additional time was spent working ATV enforcement with CO Brown. Shaw also addressed questions pertaining to the upcoming 2025 bear season.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-07-28
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) worked angling and boating enforcement throughout the week. Follow up was conducted on public access and wetland violations. Additional time was spent on off-highway vehicle enforcement and responding to calls for service.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week attending monthly K9 training with K9 Axel and other members of the DNR K9 unit. Swedberg also answered questions about nuisance bears and other wildlife in the area. Other time was spent patrolling area lakes for boating and fishing activity.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) continued to follow up on an aquatic plant removal investigation and spent time on the water and trails. Enforcement action was taken for various watercraft- and fishing related violations. Paddleboard users, including inflatable types, need to remember PFDs are required.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week planning for instruction at the CO Academy and assisting with the CO Academy. Time was also spent following up with wetland cases, teaching law and ethics to the Glyndon firearms safety class, and working in the conservation building at the Becker County Fair.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on ATV and off-road vehicle activity. Area lakes were worked for angling and boating activity. Public accesses were monitored. AIS regulation compliance was worked.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked public lands, accesses, and waters for activity this week, and addressed phone calls about wildlife. Follow up on big-game-guide reports and registrations was conducted from the past hunting season. A call about dispersed camping was also investigated. ATV and dirt bike enforcement was conducted, with the most common violation observed and addressed being ATV operation with no headlights on. Manteufel would like to remind those with dirt bikes not registered for highway use that they can only be operated on state forest roads, authorized trails, and private property.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #2) monitored area angling and ATV activity. Additional time was spent handling wildlife-related complaints, answering calls from the public, and assisting with the CO Academy. Enforcement action was taken for failure to display ATV registration, operating a personal watercraft within 150 feet of the shoreline, and operating an ATV on roads and rights-of-way where prohibited.
CO Curtis Jepson (District #2) spent much of the week checking anglers, with enforcement action taken for angling without a license. He also patrolled public lands and the state forest, observing a significant number of ATVs utilizing the trails. He wrapped up the week working the booth in the Natural Resources Building at the Becker County Fair.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-07-28
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time teaching and evaluating scenarios at the CO Academy for sportfishing week. Time was spent on wetland cases. Boating and fishing were monitored with an increase in fishing success noted.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) continued to monitor angling and boating activity during the week. Miscellaneous animal-related complaints were received and fielded. Fishing success has been slow, according to anglers, with only a few fish in the bag, primarily northern pike.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, boaters, and ATV riders. The Waterama festival in Glenwood was worked with other COs. Several alcohol-related violations were encountered.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) patrolled Douglas and Pope counties over the week. With the warm weather, a significant amount of time was spent on area lakes. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating related violations.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational activity. Waterama was patrolled heavily, with numerous violations encountered including riding on the gunwale, underage drinking, driving under the influence, PWCs operating outside legal hours, and PFD, registration, and navigational light violations.
Glenwood – vacant.
Wheaton – vacant.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-07-28
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for angling, boating, and recreational vehicle traffic. Baum found several boaters and anglers enjoying the warm weather the weekend brought. Anglers are having varying success around the area lakes. Baum took enforcement action on various angling and boating violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent time on area lakes, checking anglers and addressing boating violations. He presented a law and ethics talk to approximately 15 students attending a firearms safety education class. A report of a public water inventory violation was taken; a site visit occurred with the area hydrologist.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) worked Cass County lakes throughout the week. McGowan also attended training at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for numerous boating violations.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked boating and ATV activity. She followed up on multiple shoreline violations. Enforcement action was taken for no life jackets and no license in possession.
Walker – vacant.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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