Authorities to retrace steps in search for hunter

Authorities today plan to revisit previously searched areas for a missing hunter last seen nine days ago in the woods near Remer.

"We're planning on going over some of these areas that have presented challenges, the swampy areas," said Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher Tuesday afternoon. "We want to make sure we eliminate these areas."

A friend last saw John A. Brown, 43, of Osakis, about 10:30 a.m. Nov. 22. The two men had been at a hunting camp for several days in the area, about five miles southwest of Remer near Laura Lake.

"It's a huge area," Fisher said, though the friend identified two areas where the hunters spent considerable time and searchers will be combing those areas.

Searches have been conducted on the ground and from the air by the sheriff's deputies, the DNR, the State Patrol, Chippewa National Forest personnel, firefighters from Remer and Longville and volunteers. Search and rescue dogs and mounted patrols also were used in the woods around the campsite. No searches were conducted Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Brown is missing in a densely wooded area, with cedar swamps, bogs, streams, beaver ponds and trees uprooted by storms.

Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher is asking anyone, especially hunters, who may have had contact with or noticed the two hunters associated with a dark-colored Ford Windstar van to call the sheriff's department at (800) 450-2677.

MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.