Conservation Officer Reports – District 9 (Brainerd area)

District 9 – Brainerd area

Last updated: 2022-11-14

CO Chelsey Best (Pequot Lakes) spent the week checking hunters and trappers. Enforcement action was taken for various violations.

CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) worked the busy firearms deer season. Waterfowl hunting in the area was also monitored. Guida received TIP calls of illegal dumping of deer carcasses. A sick deer was reported to Brainerd DNR Wildlife for examination. Guida worked with another conservation officer on the seizure of a large white-tailed deer from an area taxidermist that was taken in an overlimit violation. The violator shot the deer, their second buck in the season, with illegal equipment and also solicited an individual to purchase a license to tag it after the taking. Both individuals are subject to criminal charges with large fines, restitution, and forfeiture of the deer and used equipment.

CO Calie Cook (Crosslake) continued checking deer hunters throughout the week. Success was average throughout the area. Multiple violations were found, including taking an overlimit of deer, transporting a loaded firearm and failure to register deer. Cook also responded to calls of hunters falling from deer stands.

CO Andrew Dirks (CCSRA) spent time checking firearms deer hunters throughout the week. Midweek rain had the deer up and moving and many hunters reported having success. Enforcement action included license violations and transporting loaded firearms.

CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) focused on contacting deer hunters throughout the area. Hunters reported some success but also stated that wind, rain and snow made hunting difficult on certain days. Enforcement action was taken for failure to validate a site tag, untagged big game, trespassing, illegal party hunting, illegal attractants and hunting deer with the aid of bait.

CO Tony Flerlage (Crosby) spent most of the week focused on checking deer hunters. The second weekend had much better weather and fewer hunters compared to the opener. The lakes are freezing and ducks are moving through the area.

Pine River vacant.