Ripley bow hunt odds?

[Finlander]

Last year during the second bow hunt at Ripley, we were two for four getting bucks the first day.

That being said, what are the odds of our same group getting permits to hunt this October?

Does harvesting deer lower your chances for the next season?

[DanN]

What is the Ripley hunt like? Do you get a chance to scout at all? Are your tripping over other hunters?

[mrklean]

my guess after the big boy getting shot last year its gonna be really tough to get drawn this year, i think everyone knew there were monsters in there but with the record being shot i think its gonna be tough

[kevfish1]

No scouting is allowed prior to the hunt. And if you do much scouting during the hunt y ou will bump into alot of hunters

[kevfish1]

Harvesting a deer does not lower your odds of getting drawn the following year. I know of people that have been drawn 8 years in a row and others that it has been pretty much every other year. If you do not get drawn one year you get a preference point which ussually means you are guaranteed the next year. You ussually have about a 65% chance of getting drawn this year if you got drawn last year. This is because of the number of people with preference points and what is left after that. I have been getting drawn about every 2 out of 3 years. hope this helps

[kevfish1]

I think there may be a few more to apply but I know of alot of people that just wont do the Ripley thing because of all the people. It is not for everyone. If people walking buy and the other things associated with alot of people bothers you then it may not be for you. Now you may be able to find somewhere without alot of people but generally that is not the case

[Wanderer]

Kevfish is absolutely correct.

And I'll have to agree that there will likely be more applicants this year after last year's take. But Ripley's like anywhere, it can be hot or not.

No scouting is allowed prior to the hunt. And if you do much scouting during the hunt y ou will bump into alot of hunters

I do most of my scouting in the afternoon of the second day of the hunt. Many people have left and the deer are fairly locked down in comparison to the first day.

The way I would scout is to still hunt an area rather than just mosey through it. Most hunters in stands at that time won't have an issue with someone moving around in the hopes they'll bump a deer but try to give them a wide berth if you spot someone.

I came close to getting two shots off last year by still hunting on the last afternoon. One arrow did fly but only perforated the air right underneath the deer's chest at 30 yards. Close. But no cigar.

You gotta look around sometime.

[mrklean]

my buddy and i always talk about trying to apply how tough is it to get around out there cause isnt there certain times you can check in the day before and what not

[Finlander]

Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask is right here:

CAMP RIPLEY ARCHERY SEASON

Cooperation with these rules and instructions will ensure an enjoyable and safe hunt for everyone involved.

1. You must have a valid hunt permit and archery license in your possession to enter and hunt. You must carry the hunt permit

with you while hunting. Non-hunters are excluded, and pre-hunt scouting is NOT allowed. Permits are not transferable to

anyone else. Archers may be checked for legal permit and license in the hunting area.

2. Bring only legal archery equipment. Crossbows are allowed with valid permit. Firearms on any person or in any vehicle will be

seized. Bows must not be armed with a bolt or arrow when being transported with a motor vehicle.

3. Littering in the hunt area is strictly prohibited and subject to penalties. IF YOU PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT!

4. Alcohol is permitted in the camping area only. Hunting while intoxicated is unlawful. Per Camp Ripley rules, absolutely no

alcohol is permitted in the hunt area without prior authorization from the Department of Military Affairs. Alcohol found in

the entry-line during morning check-in, or in the hunt area will be seized, and those found using alcohol in the hunt area may be

escorted off base and have their hunt permit revoked at discretion of military security.

5. Vehicles must be in the camping/parking area or in the double entry-line overnight. No saving places or butting in the double

entry-line. Do not block roads or trails anywhere on base.

6. No electricity or water is available in Camp Ripley. Towing services are available through local vendors at owner’s expense.

Lock-out service is available, with liability waiver.

7. No open fires are permitted anywhere except in an emergency. However, portable grills are allowed in the camping area.

8. The speed limit is 25 MPH. If you are caught speeding you may be escorted off base and have your hunt permit revoked at the

discretion of military staff. During wet weather road conditions may be extremely poor (travel at your own risk). Stay on main

roads if you are not driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

9. ATVs and permanent tree stands are NOT allowed at Camp Ripley. All personal property (including portable stands) MUST be

removed from the hunt area each night.

10. Per state law (M.S. 97B.085, Subd. 1) radio devices MAY NOT be used to assist in taking game. However, use of 2-way radios

and cell phones for safety is allowed & encouraged.

11. Based on the conditions of your permit, ONLY DEER MAY BE HUNTED. You may take up to 2 deer, but no more than one

may be a buck. You may use bonus permits to take antlerless deer. Since Camp Ripley is a Statutory Game Refuge all other

wildlife species (including coyote & porcupine) are protected and may not be taken. Deer wearing radio collars may be

shot. However, all radio collars must be surrendered to DNR officials.

12. All deer taken MUST be registered at the DNR Check Station. Your permit and license must be presented during registration.

Please register deer as soon as possible. Teeth and other samples may be taken for research purposes. You MUST clear the

hunt area by 7:30 p.m. each night. Tracking & recovery assistance will NOT be provided after dark or the day after the hunt.

13. Avoid hunting around closed areas. DO NOT GO INTO ANY AREA SHOWN IN RED ON YOUR MAP, EVEN TO

PURSUE A WOUNDED DEER! DNR AND MILITARY STAFF WILL NOT RECOVER DEER THAT ENTER

CLOSED AREAS. IF A WOUNDED DEER ENTERS A CLOSED AREA, YOU LOSE THE DEER! DO NOT PASS

BEYOND ANY CLOSED BARRIER, GATE, OR WARNING SIGN FOR ANY REASON – ENTERING CLOSED AREAS

PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT RISK OF DEATH OR BODILY HARM. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW

WHERE YOU ARE AT ALL TIMES AND TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS. Violators of this rule will have their

bows seized and court appearance arranged by DNR Officers.

14. Anyone attempting to disturb or remove any military equipment will be prosecuted. This includes all types of armaments and

ammunition. Report all DUDS found, DO NOT HANDLE. Mark duds with string or flagging on nearby vegetation, and

obtain coordinates if using a GPS unit.

15. The Commissioner of Natural Resources may close the season without prior notice if violations of the above regulations occur.

Stay Alive - Do Not handle Duds or Shells

HUNTING IN CAMP RIPLEY IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT – PRESERVE THAT PRIVILEGE

BY RESPECTING ALL PROPERTY, KEEPING THE CAMP CLEAN, AND FOLLOWING REGULATIONS.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARRIVAL AT CAMP RIPLEY

1. TRAFFIC & PRE-ENTRY PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: In order to facilitate efficient and safe movement of traffic for

bow hunters and other motorists using the roadways in the area of Camp Ripley, please adhere to the following (traffic control

officers will be patrolling the area):

Do not arrive or line up anywhere on public roads outside of Camp before 5:00 a.m. the day preceding your hunt!

After 5:00 a.m. the day before your hunt, you may stage on CR76 north and south of MN Hwy 115. DO NOT stage or park

on MN Hwy 115, CR47 or MN Hwy 371 at any time! In no event can any vehicle block the movement of traffic at the

interchange of MN Hwy 115 and MN Hwy 371. A traffic control officer at the intersection of CR76 and MN Hwy 115 will

alternate the flow of traffic onto MN Hwy 115 after 5:00 a.m. As directed, hunters can then drive onto MN Hwy 115 and

enter the east railroad gate to Camp Ripley.

If you are arriving from the south, take MN Hwy 371 north of Little Falls to the CR46 exit. Go two blocks west on CR46 and

then turn north onto CR76 and stage on the right shoulder of CR76 south of MN Hwy 115. If you are coming from the north

on MN Hwy 371, exit at CR48, and go west and then immediately south on CR76 (parallels MN Hwy 371 and serves as a

frontage road) and stage on the right shoulder north of MN Hwy 115. Hunters coming from the west on MN Hwy 115 or east

on CR47 must plan accordingly and also stage or park on CR76.

Do not block driveways or turn lanes, and allow plenty of space around these areas. CAUTION: Parking on the shoulder is

dangerous due to risk of collision with vehicles operating at highway speeds. Be careful, and use extreme vigilance when

parking and moving around parked vehicles on the shoulder.

2. No person other than those in possession of a valid Camp Ripley archery permit and a Minnesota archery license will be

authorized entry into Camp Ripley during the hunt. PETS, FIREARMS & ATVs are NOT allowed at Camp Ripley.

3. Enter and exit Camp Ripley only through the Railroad Security Gate by the Mississippi River Bridge on Highway 115. Do not

arrive or line up outside the railroad gate until directed by traffic control officers! NEW FOR 2009: An entrance fee

of $10.00 per vehicle will be collected by the military at the railroad gate to offset traffic management, security, range

patrol, and road maintenance costs associated with the hunt. At discretion of traffic management officers, if parked vehicles

back up too much on CR76 prior to the posted arrival time, those vehicles will be forced to leave the area or enter Camp

Ripley. Those vehicles entering Camp Ripley prior to the posted arrival time will be charged a $30.00 entrance fee.

Only cash or checks will be accepted, and checks must be made payable to the Camp Ripley Mess Fund. After paying

the entrance fee, each vehicle will receive a validation that must remain visible when exiting and re-entering the installation.

4. Have your valid Camp Ripley permit and Driver's License/I.D. ready for inspection upon entry at the railroad gate. You will

receive a vehicle registration form in the mail with your permit for morning check-in each day of your hunt. If you lose your

vehicle registration forms, duplicate forms may be obtained at the railroad gate. If you lose your special hunt permit, your

I.D. will be verified upon arrival at the gate, you will be allowed to proceed to the camping & line-up areas, and you

MUST obtain a duplicate permit at the DNR Check Station the morning of the hunt.

5. After initial check-in at the Railroad Security Gate, you will proceed to the double entry-line or camping area (see rules 6 & 8

below). You may exit and re-enter the installation at any time through 8:00 p.m. on the last day of your hunt.

6. A double entry-line will be allowed to form on the east edge of the road (East Motor Pool Road) beginning at the DNR Check

Station (see rule 8 below regarding campers & trailers in line). No saving places or butting in the entry-line. If caught

butting in line, you will be escorted to the end or detained until the line is completely checked through. After the entryline

has been checked through in the morning, vehicles may NOT be parked on the road. The entry-line will be allowed to

reform beginning at 5:30 p.m. on day 1 of your hunt. DO NOT block any roads or trails in Camp Ripley with your vehicle or

trailer. Vehicles or trailers blocking roads or trails will be towed as needed to maintain access.

7. Archers will receive last-minute instructions at the DNR Check Station and be allowed to enter the hunt area beginning at 5:45

a.m. each morning of the 1st hunt, at approximately 6:00 a.m. on the first morning of the 2nd hunt, and at approximately 5:00

a.m. on the second morning of the 2nd hunt (change from daylight savings to standard time). Vehicle registration forms

MUST be filled out completely before reaching the DNR Check Station each morning -- failure to do so will delay your

entry to the hunt area. Be prepared so that you do not delay the line. You will not need to present your permit or I.D. at the

DNR Check Station during morning check-in unless your permit is lost. You MUST exit the hunt area by 7:30 p.m. each

night, except on the last day of the 2nd hunt when you must leave the hunt area by 6:30 p.m. (change from daylight savings to

standard time). Unless delayed while registering deer at the DNR check station, you must leave Camp Ripley by 8:00 p.m. on

the last day of your hunt. Please plan accordingly to comply with these timeframes.

(CONTINUED – OVER)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARRIVAL -- CONTINUED

8. Camping is allowed off the west side of the road only – no water or electricity is available. Absolutely NO campers, tents,

trailers, or extra vehicles are to be parked to the right (east) side of the double lineup unless instructed to do so by security. To

minimize traffic congestion, camper-trailers (including portable fish house trailers) are NOT allowed in the entry-line, and are

NOT allowed down-range in the hunt area – they must remain in the camping area. Only utility trailers meant for hauling

gear and big game are allowed in the entry-line and hunt area. Please plan accordingly. Those found with camper-trailers in

the lineup will be required to disconnect it in the camping area before they will be allowed to enter the hunt area.

9. Portable toilets and garbage barrels or dumpsters will be provided near the camping area. Please use them. Do not litter or

move the barrels. Please take your garbage with you if barrels are full.

10. Please use your map and follow the regulations on back. If you become lost or separated from your party, contact another

archer, DNR personnel, or military staff for assistance immediately. Keep a first aid kit in your vehicle or on your person. In

the event of accidents or injuries, contact DNR or military staff for assistance. Do not move anyone who has possible spinal

or internal injuries. For emergencies you may contact Camp Ripley Security at (320) 632-7375, or Range Control at

(320) 632-7298 during the hunt.

11. Falling from trees is the leading source of bow hunting related accidents. Use extreme caution when erecting and hunting out

of tree stands, especially early in the morning, and use a safety harness whenever possible.

12. Report any duds found or illegal activity to the DNR Check Station or Military staff.

13. For general information on the Camp Ripley Regular Archery Hunt, call 320-616-2468, then dial 1 for the Wildlife Directory,

and then dial 2 for the Camp Ripley Archery Hunt Information Box. Other questions concerning the Camp Ripley Archery

hunt may be answered by calling 320-616-2468, Ext. 222 or Ext. 223.

14. Any questions concerning drawing results call 1-888-646-6367.

[rbs]

Awesome info I am glad you posted it!