Milaca area during deer season

[tylor]

So I ma just curious if anyone has any input. I will be deer hunting near Milaca opening weekend. Have off Monday and Tuesday as well and thinking about trying to do a day or two of duck hunting. Was wondering if its worth it to try and find somewhere to hunt up there or better to just come home and stick to spots that i'm familiar with. My main questions are:

a. Whether there are likely to be more ducks up there or around the sw metro area at that time.

b. We would be hunting from my 17 foot aluminum canoe and thus sticking to smaller water, was looking at Mille Lacs WMA on the DNR site, seemed like a place that might be worth a try and allowed some camping - any insight on that WMA? Thoughts on hunting that particular WMA or public waterfoel areas in that area during rifle season in general? Any other info/suggestions? I've hunted up that way once, once on the rum for an opener (sat on an island and didn't see anyhting really, shot once floating it later) and once we went to check out a local spot (had "pool" in the name but don't remember anything else) on opening weekend but there were a lot of people camping and we decided to avoid the pressure. Mostly just thinking it would be fun to try a new area and hoping deer season might allow us to hunt a more popular area without the associated pressure. We definitely aren't afraid of sweating in our waders to increase our chances either.

thanks.

[cutter08]

I have been up by that WMA during deer season and it can be a ZOO. lots of people up and it sounds like a war zone up there. I would be very careful if you do go up there. In past years i have had very good luck during deer season so i would bet there are going to be some birds in tat area but you never know. depends on the weather. I think your best bet would be to pull out a map or look on a GPS and try and find some small lakes in the area you want to hunt and check them out in the evening.

[CrowRiverRat83]

I agree, lots of people. The Dewitt and Ernst pools look good in theory, but they get hit hard.

[maros91]

Agree. Dewitt gets pounded hard.

[mudslinger]

Used to hunt Dewitt on opener for years. It will be a zoo that week but I bet there will be ducks

[Gordie]

I agree with everyone about the zoo early doe season is a Zoo in itself but the ducks should be around as the colder temps come. you could always try Ann lake by Oglvie acess for a canoe on the NW side of the lake. Ihave done quite well out there late season

[tylor]

Thanks for the input guys. I'd really rather avoid the a crowd, so sounds like there are better options than Mille Lacs WMA. Just out of curiosity, how large are those pools (Dewitt/Ernst) - it's tough to tell from he DNR covertype map how much open water there really is.