Thief River Falls/Greenbush Deer Hunting

[FrazeeHunter]

I am curious as to how the hunting is this year up in these areas? My family has two parcels picked out to look at in the next few weeks.

One is just N of Thief River Falls and the other is in Greenbush.

Thief River Falls piece is about 240 acres and the Greenbush piece is 120.

We are selling our 120 acres near Frazee.

Any information would be appreciated.

[CANOPY SAM]

Good Morning FH!

Deer hunting is typically quite good in our area, all the way up to Roseau and beyond. The majority of land north and west of TRF is privately owned, and mostly agricultural. The large tracts of forest are generally left forested as the value of the trees present are not worth logging, and much of the area is quite swampy - which I suppose makes it good hunting land. It sure doesn't make it any cheaper though! Grouse hunting has been very good this year with lots of ruffies and sharpies close to TRF.

The Greenbush area is a bit more wooded, and certainly more remote, so I'd venture there is very good upland, big game, and waterfowl hunting there as well. One nice thing about the area north of Greenbush is it's relative proximity to the Roseau Bog. This large piece of state owned property offers good waterfowl habitat, bear and deer hunting, and the Roseau River, which often holds good walleye fishing, and amazing pike fishing!

The Roseau Bog area has almost limitless hunting opportunities, and exponentially less hunting pressure than most of the state - because it's so remote.

If I had the choice to purchase land I'd opt for the area north of Greenbush/Badger, but that's just me. I think the lay of the land is a bit prettier up there. I'd guess it's less expensive as well.

If I might ask, why are you selling around Frazee? You've got rolling hills, large hardwood forests, lakes and rivers, abundant game, etc. etc.? I love that area.

[Meat-Run]

FH, where is your 120 for sale or is it sold already? I hunt just north of Vergas and south of Frazee and might be looking for future hunting land?

mr

[FrazeeHunter]

Our land is just about to be listed. Before we list it we are definitely interested in selling direct.

It is just east of evergreen about 1.5 miles. It is 80 acres on one side of the road, with about a 1/4 mile easement to get to. It is definitely off the road. It has 5 deer stands in place. It is 30 acres of swamp surrounding a natural funnel with a 10 acre we call it the island. Deer funnel through all day long.

The other 40 acres is young birch, and brush. It is a great bedding area as it is a nice mix of hardwoods and grasses. There are two areas for a food plot on this part.

The other 40 is on the opposite side of the gravel road. It has the red eye river running through it with two tower stands.

It has a 10 acre food plot in place that next year will be alfalfa.

The main reason we are getting rid of it is we are selling our cabin also and have no reason to come up to that general area any longer.

[FrazeeHunter]

Canopy sam,

What is normal in Greenbush area to see in a two day sit in that area?

I know it is a very wide ranging question, but maybe you can help!

[CANOPY SAM]

Ha Ha.. That is about as "wide ranging" a question as you might ask.

I haven't done a lot of hunting up that way in a while. The deer densities are pretty good all over Northwestern MN right now. SO much depends on your particular area; crops, cover density, proximity to water, stand placement, etc., etc., etc. I don't think I could give you even a reasonable guess as to an answer.

I wish I could offer more help, but I'd guess there might be others that actually live up that way that could chime in and offer more help. You might try to post this same topic, with the same questions in the Crookston, TRF thread. You may get better answers there. I know there's at least 2 folks on FM that live in, or near Greenbush.

[Matt Breuer]

I hunt both areas with some regularity. I can tell you that both places are good options. NW of TRF on opener we saw 19 deer as a group. NE of TRF toward Greenbush we saw a dozen or so for 2 guys that eve. Relatively close in numbers if you work it out. Although, my sister works in Greenbush, and her co-worker's hubby shot a 33-pointer, so maybe that's a better area... It all depends on the lay of the land, how much work you put into it, crop proximity, hunting pressure surrounding you, etc... Numbers are fine, just find a piece that looks managable.

I can also tell you that I've got a piece for sale that you may be interested in, depending on how much you'd like to spend... 160 acres near Skime, MN...

As for the deer densities all over NW MN, Canopy, I think you're forgetting about the amount of deer bushed by sharp-shooters in recent years, and the fact that they have expanded the TB "watch" range greatly. More deer are dying daily in NW MN, in large quantities... Some areas up there that were VERY good years ago, are now basically void of deer. Granted, they will again be excellent with some management, but right now they flat-out stink!

[CANOPY SAM]

Ya, Matt, you're right. I wasn't really thinking about the TB zone. But that's about 20 miles from Greenbush, isn't it?

Are you guys selling that parcel cause of the lack of deer in the area? Somebody's going to get a dandy piece of land! Wish I had the $$$. Tons of grouse and bear, and like you said, the deer will be back.

[jerkbait]

Matt, where about is your land from the Skime store? We are right in that area south of the store a couple of miles.

[Matt Breuer]

You must be in the Randeen Ridge area? We're north of Skime, between Skime and Wannaska. We're a few miles off the Haye's Lake cut-across...

[jerkbait]

Got ya. We are off of Branch A 2miles south of the store. 1-2 miles north of Randeen Ridge. But yes the genral area.