A Brainerd man is facing misdemeanor charges of wildlife trafficking and trespassing on Indian lands after shooting and killing a bear on the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 40-year-old Brett James Stimac has not yet appeared in court.
According to the allegations, on Sept. 1, Stimac entered the Red Lake Indian Reservation and shot and killed a large American black bear near the reservation’s garbage dump using a compound bow.
The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians does not permit non-Indians to hunt bear, a clan animal, within the boundaries of the reservation due to the bear’s spiritual importance to the band.
Stimac allegedly posed for photographs with the bear’s carcass and posted them on Facebook, which were widely circulated (the featured photo of this article).
Because of the bear’s large size, a reported 700 pounds, he was unable to move it.
Stimac allegedly only harvested the bear’s head, paws and a small portion of the meat, leaving the remainder of the carcass behind.
