District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2025-09-15
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area early goose/teal hunters, monitoring ATV traffic, and following up on various complaints.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) attended training this past week.
CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette West) reports significant activity both on the water and in the woods. Prachar assisted Lake of the Woods and Roseau counties with a two-boat crash that occurred on Lake of the Woods. No injuries were sustained in the crash, but one boat ended up on top of the other, knocking the occupants onto the floor and destroying the boat. Prachar assisted deputies with the apprehension of the operator of the offending boat. Prachar also assisted county personnel with a roll-over crash. Time was spent working big- and small-game activity, as well as trespassing complaints.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports a slow start to the small-game and archery deer seasons due to warm conditions and fog in the early mornings. Despite warm conditions, some youth waterfowl hunts provided success. Bear season continues throughout the region and Stringer wants to remind hunters of stand requirements within wildlife management areas as the archery deer season begins. Enforcement actions for the week included agricultural trespass with ATVs, multiple ATV violations, and failure to keep and maintain accurate records by a registered bear guide.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week checking early goose and teal hunters in the field. Goose hunters have been observed having success in the fields. Grouse hunters were checked during the opener. They had limited success. An elk hunter was successful during opening day of the elk season, securing a nice 6X6 bull on public land.
CO Brice Vollbrecht (Blackduck North) completed the first phase of field training with COC Reuss. Time was spent working the small-game opening weekend. Grouse hunters were checked, and they were having very limited success. Hunters were able to hear birds, but the foliage in the woods made it difficult to see them. He checked anglers on Upper Red Lake and patrolled forest roads for ATV activity.
Baudette East – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2025-09-15
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week checking anglers on the Cass Lake chain; most were having success catching perch. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity and checking grouse hunters. Enforcement action was taken for no personal floatation device, illegal length northern, take fish without license, ATV operation on roads and right of way prohibited, and transport loaded firearm.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) reports fall hunting seasons are in full swing, but the weather forgot to cooperate. Hunters were chased from the woods and wetlands by mosquitos and warm temps, but good spirted conversations concluded it was worth their time. A mass exodus of boats, lifts and docks from area lakes were observed over the weekend. A few people needed extra encouragement to take the proper steps before transporting water-related equipment down the road.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) continued this week field training COC Corbus. Time was spent on youth waterfowl hunting, small game hunting, and ATV enforcement. Officers also spoke with a high school class about what it means to be a Conservation Officer. Enforcement action was taken for youth operating unregistered ATV and without a helmet, and a hunter harassment complaint.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) continued to work bear hunting activity and contacted hunters out for the opening of archery deer and small game. Enforcement action was taken for ATV violations.
CO William Landmark (Moorhead) finished step one of field training with COC Corbus. Time was spent following up with nuisance beaver calls and questions about the upcoming hunting seasons.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and boating activity. AIS compliance was monitored, small game and deer archery opener was worked and patrol was conducted for ATV and off road vehicle activity. Early teal season and the youth waterfowl hunt were also worked. CO Warren assisted White Earth Conservation Officers and USFWS with a ricing complaint.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked waterfowl and grouse hunters this week and patrolled public lands and accesses for activity. Bear baits in the region were also checked. The law and ethics portion of a firearms safety class was also presented to a class of 40 youth.
Bemidji #2 – vacant.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2025-09-15
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) began the second phase of field training with COC Danielle Reuss. They spent time checking anglers and took enforcement action on an overlimit of sunfish. Many anglers were having luck catching a variety of fish. Youth waterfowl hunters and archery deer hunters were sparce.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports spending time on waterfowl and angling enforcement this week. Time was also spent on wetland investigations and assisting another CO with a Conservation Day at the Chahinkapa Zoo with a group of fifth graders.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, teal and early Canada goose hunters, boaters, and ATV riders. Teal-hunting activity and success was down this year due to the low population of teal. A complaint of vehicle trespass in a wildlife management area was received and investigated.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County. Time was spent checking anglers, youth waterfowl hunters, goose hunters, and archery deer hunters. Limited success was seen among those hunting, but there was still a large number out of hunters in the field.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) continues to patrol the heavy angling and goose-hunting activity throughout her station. She spent a busy weekend checking youth duck hunters and archery deer hunters. She served on Honor Guard at the funeral of St. Paul Police Officer Eric McArthur, who passed away off-duty.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) reports working on goose-hunting enforcement and patrolling public lands, with very few hunters observed afield. Those hunters encountered reported seeing a low number of fellow hunters and birds compared with previous years. Jepson, along with CO Brown, participated in the Conservation Day held at the Chahinkapa Zoo. They spoke to fifth graders from multiple school districts. He also attended the Headwaters Day in Breckenridge, where he had his boat and ATV on display and answered various questions from attendees.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational vehicle enforcement. A very limited number of folks were seen out for the youth waterfowl weekend. Fishing activity has also slowed, though some anglers are still finding luck out on the water.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time to angling and waterfowl enforcement. Violations encountered included various watercraft violations, no license in possession, and no HIP certification. He attended a meeting with local government units on potential wetland violations.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2025-09-15
CO Nick Baum (Park Rapids) patrolled the local area for small- and big-game hunting and recreational vehicle activity. Baum investigated a small-game-related complaint.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) spent the week checking area early teal hunters, bear hunters, and anglers. Teal-hunting was successful for the few hunters checked. Time was also spent answering questions, patrolling ATV trails, and handling animal-related complaints. Time was spent on the Cass Lake chain of lakes, where several anglers were having success catching jumbo perch.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) finished the first phase of field training with a conservation officer candidate. They worked a busy Leech Lake over the week. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
CO Jacque Johnson (Longville) checked hunting and angling activity. She also investigated a crayfish-trapping concern.
Walker – vacant.
Comments