District 9 - Brainerd area
CO Chelsey Best (Crosslake) finished a commercial investigation, checked fall anglers, followed up on complaints from bear season, and patrolled over the weekend for archery and small-game opener as well as heavy fall ATV traffic. Enforcement action was taken for unregistered bait, no helmets, no OHM registration and riding where unauthorized.
CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) patrolled area forests, checking hunting activity. Sullivan observed a low number of archery and small-game hunters. ATV trails continue to be very busy. Bear hunters in the area reported bear activity at baits has decreased the past week.
CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) worked bear activity, and the archery deer and small-game openers, as well as angling and ATV activity in the area. Ladd began field training a conservation officer trainee from Academy 20.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) worked early goose hunting and sport fishing this past week. He also attended training. Guida followed up on a complaint of a lakeshore owner cutting emergent vegetation without a permit. The landowner was cited earlier this spring for the same violation. The violator stated he was removing all the vegetation so his kids would have a hockey rink without weeds to skate on this winter.
ADVERTISEMENT
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked archery deer- and grouse-hunting activity. Anglers were checked and training was attended. A litter complaint and nuisance-beaver issues were addressed.
CO Tony Flerlage (Crosby) worked the small-game and archery deer opener over the weekend. Several goose hunters were still out the last weekend of the early season. He attended training at Camp Ripley. Fishing pressure was pretty steady on the lakes and river.
CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) wrapped up Phase 1 of field training with a new conservation officer. McGowan also assisted with enforcement activities along the North Shore. Enforcement action was taken for a variety of violations.
CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports checking small-game and archery hunters over the opener weekend. A few bird hunters were having some luck, but there was still lots of leaf cover, which made seeing birds a bit more challenging. He assisted with annual Division training and a work detail during the past week. Time was spent patrolling the park for park passes and illegal vehicle activity during the week and weekend. Enforcement action for the week included various park violations and also a traffic violation.
