District 9 Conservation Officer Reports

CO Chelsey Best (Pequot Lakes) took enforcement action this week for lending/borrowing another person?s deer license, failure to register deer, and littering. Trapping cases are under investigation and ice conditions continue to vary greatly throughout the area.

CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) reports area lakes are starting to freeze and some ice anglers have made it out on foot. Sullivan continued working firearms deer season cases and completed reports.

CO Nate Benkofske (McGregor) reports investigating poaching TIPs from the public. Anglers were checked on area lakes with some success observed among the ice anglers. Ice conditions are inconsistent.

CO Amber Ladd (Aitkin) continued follow up on big-game cases, including some archery and muzzleloader bait cases, trespass, and a deer overlimit case. Some anglers are starting to test the ice in the area as we transition to the winter months.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) patrolled for migratory waterfowl hunters and deer hunters. Enforcement action was taken for unplugged guns, no small-game license, and no personal floatation devices. Some ice anglers have been observed on frozen bays trying their luck at angling.

CO Andrew Dirks (CCSRA) spent time following up on cases from the firearms deer season as well as working the muzzleloader opener. The Sagamore Unit is now open to hunting but remains closed to biking. Enforcement action for the week included license violations.

CO Tony Flerlage (Crosby) checked the first ice anglers of the season. Certain small lakes have ice thick enough for anglers to venture out. The muzzleloader deer season opened with low participation. He attended a funeral with Honor Guard duties for State Trooper Derek Haehnel.