Upland During Deer Season?

[lindy rig]

Do you guys hunt pheasants or grouse during deer season? I usually stay at home for a couple weeks, but curious what everyone else does.

[gspman]

I have in the past but I stay well clear of the deer hunters. Generally I try to find a place that has no hunters on it.

[DanH]

For me, it's not worth the risk.

My kitchen passes for bird hunting are getting thin about this time anyway...

[Harmonica Bear]

I'd only do it on private land that wasn't being deer hunted and even then... I don't think I'd chance it, especially with a dog. Way too many variables for disaster there.

[BoxMN]

Even before I deer hunted, I stayed out of the woods during deer season, but I would still duck hunt on water.

Now that I deer hunt, I still stay out of woods in search of birds, but mainly because I am deer hunting I guess I look at it this way - the deer hunters only get about 2 weeks to do their thing, let them do it. Plus the safety factor...

Good luck!

[ribsey_77]

Why would anyone just let the deer hunters let them do their thing fore a couple of weeks. And why does everydeer hunter think they own the woods/field they hunt even though it is public. Cause i can teel you every deer hunter sighting his gun in october has no respect for the duck hunters. with the shots being echoed across the slough. no pity here for tha da** deer hunters!!!

[CRAZYEYES]

I stay out due to respect and my own safety. The last few years with everyone having a doe permit you would not catch me out wandering around looking for grouse in the northwoods, Its a good way to get shot. As for pheasnts I'm going thursday and friday and then I'm done until deer is over. I have 6 weeks to chase roosters after deer season so let the deer guys have their couple weeks. I dont deer hunt these days because its just not my cup of tea but I figure when I get older and my legs dont work so well I'll quit chasing birds and start deer hunting again.

[grab the net]

I still hunt but only areas I am very familiar with and see no hunters in. If I do see pumpkins sitting out there on a fence line or in a tree, I move on. Dress my dog in a blaze orange chest guard for safety sake, along with his blaze orange collar. I make sure I am wearing all blaze orange coat, not just a vest, along with the customary blaze hat. Have not run into any problems when using a little common sense chasing roosters during the deer season.

[BoxMN]

Cause i can teel you every deer hunter sighting his gun in october has no respect for the duck hunters. with the shots being echoed across the slough.

IMHO, you are just plain wrong there. Your words speak volumes. Good luck.

[scoutWBL]

I had this conversation in the grouse woods today... my take: Grouse hunting - not a chance. Pheasant hunting - if there is no deer hunters visible have at it.

This is my first not planning on gun hunting deer...I'm ok with it.

[Matt Breuer]

Deer season is usually when I head out for sharptail or down for roosters. I refuse to take my dogs in the North woods during rifle season for the most part. I will drive a productive gravel or trail if it's not occupied to look for a road bird or two if I can't handle being away though!

[jigging-matt]

I go to my in-laws in SW Minn for Deer season. I actually bring the dog with me, and sometimes in the middle of the afternoon, will head out for a little bird hunting. Have access to plenty of private land so I just hit the grass lands. Have came home in the past with a nice deer and my limit of birds to boot.

[uplander]

We had this disscussion last year...I will, but only mid week, and only if there are no trucks around!

[CJH]

Private yes, public no.

I think there is some goofy law, or lack there of, that they can shoot your dog without recourse. Can't remember off of the top of my head.

[Harmonica Bear]

There in lies the problem... so many people think it is lawful to do so. That is simply not true during hunting season.

[Harmonica Bear]

DNR REGS

PAGE 26

Dogs Pursuing Big Game

No persons may allow their dog to chase or kill big game.

Between January 1 and July 14, a dog that is observed wounding,

killing, or pursuing in a way that endangers big game may be killed

by any person. A peace officer or conservation officer may kill a dog

that endangers big game at any time of the year. The officer or person

is not liable for damages for killing the dog.

Important: Other hunting seasons are open before, during,

and after the deer season. Many hunters use dogs to hunt

upland game, waterfowl,

rabbits, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes.

Dogs may not be shot during fall hunting seasons, even if seen

pursuing big game, except by a conservation or peace officer.

[lindy rig]

Like I said, I typically stay home.

Just being honest though it does bug me a little. Last time I was up grouse hunting the leaves were so thick it was difficult to hunt. Now the leaves just came down and it would be prime, but I have to wait for 3 weeks for fear of me or my dog being shot.

[Harmonica Bear]

I hear ya. I was out last weekend, flushed roughly 15-17 birds in 2 1/2 hour walk, had makeable shots at the majority them. As for my shooting prowness.....

I do deer hunt, so it isn't the end of the world for me.

[TR21]

Way too dangerous for my taste. Even on private land last year I was Pheasant hunting and 3 shots and a running buck came towards me. No, they weren't supposed to be hunting the land and they were shooting rifles in a shotgun only zone. That was after a close friend got shot and killed, riding his 3 wheeler out of the woods, before dusk ,20 years ago. Just too many people out there not knowing what they are doing. Be safe out there this weekend!

[Neighbor_guy]

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/ub...the_deer_season

Here is the discusion from last year. I think I could find one from two years ago, but that would take to much effort.

Good discusion points both this year and last.

IF I go birding this year it will be without the dog. She is resting a torn acl(probable), and out for the month of Nov....

[SORNO]

Only on priviate land that I know there won't be any deer hunters on. I have head of people's dogs getting shot at durning deer season.

[CJH]

What are the Deer season dates?

[OutlawTorn]

Im not a deer hunter but I think they have 3 weekends, this year it started on 11/7 and ends on 11/21.

I have exactly the opposite sentiment of most hunters here. Ill bird hunt the woods, but not the fields during hunting. I wont go down any trail with a truck on it, wear extra blaze, and keep a watchful eye. Most deer hunters I see appreciate a bird hunter or two to keep the deer moving. Plus, I get out quite a bit and I have a pretty good idea of where the stands are and Ill give them some breadth.

I stay out of the fields because a shot can go sooo far out there. If someone were to aim just slightly above level, a bullet could carry well past his line of sight.

The thing that scares me most about deer hunting is that you get a bunch of guys in the woods who handle a gun 3 weekends out of the year, just for deer hunting, who are still filled with the alcohol they've only slept off for a couple hours at deer camp and that get buck fever pretty easy. People and dogs start to look like deer pretty easily from the sound of the stories that come out each year.

That being said, most deer hunters dont fall into this category, but we all know or have seen a few who meet one or more of these criteria.

[brittman]

Just 9 day season (two weekends) in most of MN's pheasant country.

[2thepointsetters]

I went out with the dogs yesterday. Only saw 2 members of the blaze orange army and we stayed away from that public land. Finally got some roosters pointed and killed yesterday no other hunters around and 4 birds down in a couple hours. Once the corn is gone I think the rooster numbers will be ok. There is still standing water in some of the corn.