Weekly CO report

District 16 - New Ulm area

Last updated: 2025-03-31

CO Shane Vernier (Willmar-West) worked angling and ATV activity. He followed up on questions regarding public water access. Vernier also responded to questions about burning permits.

CO Cassie Block (Willmar-East) spent time this week checking area lakes for angling activity. Block also focused efforts on ATV activity.

CO Nicholas Klehr (Litchfield) spent the week in Grand Rapids for tactical flight officer training. Time was spent talking at a snowmobile safety class in Darwin and answering the questions attendees had. Klehr also checked on some possible wetland violations.

CO Brett Wiltrout (Hutchinson-West) focused patrol efforts on sport fishing and ATV activity. Other activities included small-game, ATV safety class, and boat/water safety checks. Additional time was spent fielding nuisance-animal complaints and questions about recreational vehicles.

CO Zachary Larson (Hutchinson-East) focused patrol efforts this past week on ATV, fishing, and illegal burning activities throughout McLeod and Sibley counties. Public lands and public water accesses were also monitored.

CO Thor Nelson (New Ulm) assisted CO Jahn with youth presentations at a local library and spoke on a local radio program. He received calls about trespassing, litter, and sick/injured/dead animals and boat registration. Nelson spent time working fishing, boating, invasive species, and off-highway vehicle activities.

CO Travis Cain (Windom) spent the week checking spring anglers, monitoring spring trapping activity, and patrolling public accesses and wildlife management areas. Cain spoke with a group of students at an area high school about being/becoming a conservation officer. Cain also answered multiple questions regarding the upcoming turkey season and assisted local agencies.

CO Emma Wehking (Jackson) patrolled local accesses and WMAs. Enforcement was taken for boating registration violations. She would like to remind everyone heading onto the lakes to make sure their registration is up to date and affixed correctly to their boats.

CO Eric Schettler (Fairmont) conducted shore angler checks on area lakes. Public accesses were patrolled, and ATV activity was monitored. A public water restoration project was checked for compliance.