MN DNR Conservation Officer
District 1 – Baudette area
Last updated: 2026-02-17
CO Ben Huener (Roseau) checked anglers on Lake of the Woods. Fishing has been slow during this past week of warm weather. Violations were mostly anglers using extra lines, shelters without licenses, and one possession overlimit. Tullibees and whitefish are starting to show up.
CO Nick Bruesewitz (Karlstad) spent the week monitoring snowmobile traffic on the trails throughout the area. Anglers were checked; they were having limited success on the Red Lake River. Nuisance-animal calls were handled.
CO Tony Hams (Warroad North) spent the week checking area anglers and following up with various complaints. Violations encountered were angling without a license, no shelter license, no license in possession, overlimit, angling with extra lines, and unattended lines.
CO Coby Fontes (Warroad South) spent the week patrolling Lake of the Woods. Enforcement action was taken for fishing without a license, overlimit of walleyes, and no shelter license. Fontes also assisted with a snowmobile safety course.
CO Bobby Stringer (Thief River Falls West) reports deteriorating snow conditions throughout the area as warmer weather set in. Overall, snowmobile operators continued to maintain a steady presence in preparation for area races. Stringer wants to remind operators of the differences between sanctioned races and local trails, as multiple snowmobile-related complaints were fielded. Enforcement actions for the week included no angling license and no angling license in possession, no ice shelter identification, and multiple instances of exceeding the 50-mile-per-hour speed limit on a snowmobile.
CO Sarah Jahn (Thief River Falls East) spent time working snowmobile traffic, which remains busy despite the trails degrading due to the weather. Time was also spent working on angling activity on the river. Several wildlife-related complaints were handled
Baudette East – vacant.
Blackduck South – vacant.
Blackduck North – vacant.
District 2 – Bemidji area
Last updated: 2026-02-17
CO Tom Hutchins (Crookston) reports taking various wildlife-related complaint calls this week. Time was also spent checking anglers on area lakes and rivers. Snowmobile and ATV operators were contacted throughout the week.
CO Jamus Veit (Bemidji #1) spent the week checking anglers on Upper Red Lake and area lakes and monitoring area snowmobile trails. Most anglers reported a slower bite. Violations for the week included angling with extra lines, unattended lines, and expired snowmobile registration.
CO Andrew Goodman (Perham) saw snowmobile trail conditions deteriorate quickly with a spring-like melt, ending most snowmobile riding around Perham. Time was spent checking anglers, ice shelters, and public accesses. Follow up on wetland and commercial cases was conducted.
CO Jake Swedberg (Detroit Lakes) spent the week catching up on reports and checking ice anglers. Area snowmobile trails deteriorated quickly and there is not much snow left to ride on. Other time was spent helping Becker County with a search using K9 Axel.
CO Jordan Anderson (Osage) worked numerous lakes in the area during the week with a slow bite reported. He encountered several extra-line violations and notes that rarely do extra lines equate to catching more fish. Numerous unlicensed shelters and no shelter ID violations were addressed. Local trails have taken a beating with the warm weather and are in poor condition.
CO Angela Warren (Mahnomen) spent time on angling and fish house activity with anglers reporting a slow to fair bite. An eelpout-fishing derby was monitored. Snowmobile trails were patrolled, with many riders out and about. Trails are deteriorating due to warmer weather. Follow up continued on open cases.
CO Bill Landmark (Moorhead) spent the week checking anglers and spear fishers. Warm weather has wiped out any snowmobiling opportunities until more snow arrives. Calls from the public included reports of various deceased wildlife. Time was also spent with area officers and the Bemidji Fire Department training for cold water rescue scenarios.
CO Grey Corbus (Pelican Rapids) spent the week checking ice anglers, working on snowmobile enforcement, and following up with TIPs. Enforcement action was taken for trespassing on agricultural land.
CO Brady Manteufel (Bagley) checked ice anglers and lake accesses throughout the week. The fishing report from anglers has been slow, even with the warmer weather. Snowmobile trails were in fair to very poor condition in the region. Deer license violations were followed up on with enforcement action taken for late registrations and invalid licenses.
CO Ryan Schaefer (Bemidji #2) spent time this past week checking local anglers and monitoring snowmobile activity. Reports indicate a strong crappie bite on most area lakes, but consistent warm weather has melted a lot of snow, thus slowing snowmobile activity. Enforcement action was taken/documented regarding littering on the ice and around a shelter. Enforcement action was taken for no fishing license in possession, failure to display an ice shelter tag, and failure to display snowmobile registration.
District 3 – Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2026-02-17
CO Hanna Wood (Fergus Falls) focused on angling and snowmobile enforcement. Follow up from the deer season was also worked.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) spent time on fishing and ATV enforcement throughout the week. Many anglers were out enjoying the warmer weather over the weekend, and many fish houses have started to clear the lakes. Injured-animal calls were handled, and trapping activity was monitored.
CO Ryan Brown (Elbow Lake) reports focusing his enforcement effort on angling and ATV activity during the week. Warmer weather decreased the integrity of the ice on area lakes, use caution when venturing out. Miscellaneous wildlife-related complaints were fielded, and annual training was completed.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked anglers, ATV and snowmobile riders, and fish houses. Two complaints were received and investigated. Questions about fish limits and fish houses were received.
CO Jake Homan (Alexandria) spent the week patrolling Douglas County for angling and snowmobile activity. The warm weather brought out numerous individuals looking to catch panfish. Homan assisted local law enforcement with a variety of different calls. Enforcement action was taken on angling and recreational vehicle violations.
CO Felicia Znajda (Osakis) focused her week on angling activity. The recent warm weather has put an end to snowmobile activity for the time being. Numerous large groups of anglers were out on several of her lakes enjoying the warmer weather, but there were not many fish in the buckets to show for it.
CO Curtis Jepson (Wheaton) monitored angling activity on area lakes and rivers. Despite above-average temperatures during the week, there were few anglers on the ice. A few reported some success, but overall fishing remained spotty. Jepson also spoke at the Traverse County Sportsmen’s Club annual membership meeting on Friday and completed vehicle maintenance during the week.
CO Emily Douvier (Morris) reports working fishing and recreational enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for no license in possession.
CO Andrew Ladzinski (Glenwood) dedicated his time toward ice angling enforcement. Ice conditions at many lake accesses are beginning to deteriorate with the warming weather. Please use caution. Enforcement action was taken for no angling license in possession and angling with unattended lines. He investigated a tip of anglers taking an overlimit of fish.
District 4 – Walker area
Last updated: 2026-02-17
CO Michael Cross (Lake George) worked angling and snowmobile activity throughout the week. Training was also completed. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile, ATV, and angling violations.
CO Landyn Saewert (Wadena) time was spent checking area lakes. Fishing has slowed with warmer weather. The snowmobile trails have diminished with spring-like weather. Time was also spent completing online mandatory POST training.
CO Patrick McGowan (Cass Lake) enjoyed working the warm, beautiful, sunny days on Leech, Winnibigoshish and Mille Lacs lakes throughout the week. One angler was found to have trimmed the tail off a northern pike to make it a legal fish; that angler was cited. Additional enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines, angling without a license, using gamefish for bait, and several snowmobile-related violations.
CO Jack Lien (Walker) patrolled area lakes and trails on snowmobile. Trail conditions have declined as warm weather set in over the past week. Plenty of ice fishing activity remains, and anglers are having varying success. Lien reminds everyone to remain careful where there is water and heaves on the ice.
CO Corey Sura (Remer) followed up on trapping and decorative materials cutting complaints. Area lakes, which were busier than usual for the time of year given the lovely weather, were patrolled. Enforcement action was taken for expired snowmobile registration and angling without a license.
CO Levi Brown (Staples) saw increased activity this week on the ice with the warm weather. Although anglers were out in force, the fish seem to continue being reluctant to take the bait. Enforcement action was taken for license issues.
ATV rec officer – vacant.
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