CO (Conservation Officer) Amber Ladd (McGregor) followed up on big-game cases and patrolled for bough-cutting activity.
CO Jim Guida (Brainerd) worked deer season complaints and follow up. Guida received calls regarding dumping of deer carcasses. Please check the regulations on where your deer carcass can be dumped. Guida completed department-mandated training. Ice anglers have been observed and cautioned about open water and thin ice.
CO Eric Sullivan (Pequot Lakes) continued training with COC (Conservation Officer Candidate) Brown. They saw a shortage of hunters out for the muzzleloader season opener, but saw an increase in car-killed deer due to icy road conditions. Enforcement actions this past week included illegal ATV operation, site validation violations and illegal dumping of deer carcasses.
CO Chelsey Best (Crosslake) worked follow up on cases from rifle season, as well as the start of the muzzleloader season and trapping activity this past week. Enforcement action will be taken for no tags in possession, failure to validate, and failure to register.
CO Patrick McGowan (Pine River) worked late-season waterfowl hunters and followed up on deer-hunting complaints. McGowan also worked open-water muskie anglers with the warm weather. Enforcement action was taken for numerous violations.
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CO Scott Fitzgerald (CCSRA) reports checking muzzleloader deer hunters over the weekend. Even with the warmer weather, most people were reporting not having much luck. Fitzgerald also started seeing anglers on the early ice. Please remember ice conditions vary and with the warmer days the ice can be dangerous. Calls regarding car-killed deer permits, illegal ATV activity and a possibly poached deer were fielded. The state recreation area was patrolled for permits and illegal vehicle activity.
