District 9 - Brainerd area
CO Amber Ladd (McGregor) reports some ice fishing is underway in the area, but anglers need to be aware ice conditions vary greatly. A deer went through the ice on an area lake. Many of the area lakes are not safe for foot travel. Ladd also assisted with training at Camp Ripley.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd East) checked muzzleloader hunting activity and early ice angling activity. A gross misdemeanor case from the deer season was presented to the county attorney for charges.
CO Bob Mlynar (Aitkin) worked deer- and grouse-hunting activity, as well as ice anglers.
CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) had a busy week of checking anglers. McGowan worked the Mississippi River for open-water anglers and Upper Red Lake for ice fishing. He began field training a conservation officer candidate and responded to a vehicle crash. Enforcement action was taken for numerous angling violations.
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CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports assisting with in-service at Camp Ripley throughout the past week. He fielded calls regarding fishing and ATV-related question in the state recreation area. Fitzgerald also patrolled the SRA for fishing, illegal vehicle activity and state park permits.
CO Tony Flerlage (Crosby) checked ice anglers and muzzleloader deer hunters. He also checked trapping activity.
CO Chelsey Best (Crosslake) finished the muzzleloader season with a trespassing case. Best also took enforcement action for no fishing license, commercial bait violations, operating a motor vehicle on a grant-in-aid snowmobile trail, operating a motor vehicle off-trail, and no timber harvest permit. Investigations remain open for baiting, failure to register big game and deer-overlimit complaints.
CO Eric Sullivan (Brainerd) completed step 4 of field training with a conservation officer candidate. He also checked ice anglers who were able to walk out on area lakes. Deer-hunting activity continued to decrease as the seasons progressed.
