Deerland Zoo

[chucker34]

Hey, does anyone know if it still open? Family is heading up north of Brainerd this weekend to the Whitefish Chain and we used to stop there when I was a little boy. Think it would be cool to show my little one some deer up close. I read about the owner and his scent business in popular hunting magazines but I can't find any information in the yellow pages or the web - other than a terrible incident where some poachers broke into his farm in the late 90s.

[jstirewalt]

chucker34:

If you mean the one that used to be on 371 just north of Brainerd/Baxter, it is now a Menards. It has been closed for well over 10 years.

JSS

[chucker34]

That must be it. I figured it was closed. He had to have moved his operation then as he still is making scents and Field and Stream said he had the largest captive deer herd in the state. I believe they are called Tank's Fatal Attractor. I am going to try some out this fall.

[realtower]

Deer land zoo has been closed for a long time but there is another one in Walker. The scent farm you are talking about is Tanks and they are located on 210 west half way between brainerd and Motly. Im sure he would show you around to.

[chucker34]

Thanks guys. I would LOVE to tour that place as I am am becoming a bowhunting fiend who likes to try all sorts of new tricks like scents. But my wife would sniff that out as a trip more about me and less about the little guy, so we'll probably try to go toward a more family-oriented attraction park/petting zoo, etc. where the little guy can see some animals. Thanks again!

[Sportland_Bait]

Yeah you guys are right, we've lost all of our petting zoos. One was located where the Menards is in Baxter and another was located up here in Nisswa where Nisswa Marine now stands. Tank still has their herd out in Pillager. Those were neat places back in the day.

Jason Erlandson

[gorrilla]

There is a deer land type place still open on hwy 2 as you approach Bemidji and the Moondance place has lots of animals just south of Northern Lights Casino at the junction of hwys 371 and 200 south of Walker.

[chucker34]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Will have to hit one of them next year when we go up. We did drive buy the Tanks place on the way home. You can see some nice bucks from the road. Was pretty neat. We had to turn around and go back for a second look. Should have stopped in and bought some scent but we were looking forward to just getting home.

[Morquinn23]

Yeah, there is always moondance ranch and wildlife park (the one in walker) or you can stop in little falls, they have a zoo there that costs nothing to get in... they have some bears, tigers, bison and other neat animals and its free.