Reports from Zone 277 NLS Area

[erikwells]

No anterless permits for my brother an I as it was our first year in many years hunting the zone. We could have been done Saturday a.m. if we had anterless as we both had nice does come in close. Waited quietly hoping a buck was chasing but no such luck. Saturday evening another nice doe showed up right around dark again no buck to be seen. I hunted Sunday and Monday and did not see another deer. Hunting a small woods area a couple of hundred yards long and about 50 yards wide on a hill with a hayfield on the topside and a dry slough with bullrush below. I walked some on Monday and did not kick out any deer but saw lots of sign along with a couple piles of what I think is coyote dump. Not sure what to try this weekend other than keep on going. I'm a little less optimistic but I figure all I need is one shot so I'll try again this weekend. Anyone else in the area have any stories or wisdom to share?

[hoppe56307]

It sounds like you have a pretty good spot between some bedding grounds and a field for them to feed. All you can really do is put your time in and hope a buck walks by.

[erikwells]

Stopped at Pete's surplus yesterday (Monday) around 1:00 p.m. They had 57 deer registered. Corey said they typically register around 150-160 a season. No deer regsistered Monday as of 1:00 p.m. Not sure what any of that really means. At any rate I'll be out there hoping by putting in my time that I'll get a chance, to be continued.

[Musky Buck]

Hope and reality slapped me in the face a bit, we all thought they were hiding in standing corn, now we realize there's hardly anything around. Our area better go to lottery for a doe because a bad winter and it's goodnite. My dad claims he saw more deer in 1974 when they closed the season than he's seen all summer and fall, that's scary. Good luck and those does will be with bucks at some point or you'll have 0 fawns next year, you just have to hope he's in there with a doe, by not shooting those does you uped your chances at a buck. 1 of them just needs to return with him the next morning hunt you do.

[deerminator]

I registered my buck at Pete's on Sept. 29 I believe it was so I was absent from that count and the woods this weekend. But I woke up Saturday morning and did not hear a shot anywhere remotely close and I like to listen while reading the paper and drinking some coffee if I'm already done hunting. I did strap my orange on at Noon that day to do some woods clearing with the chainsaw on some downed trees I need to get rid of. Saw one doe and one pair of hunters who set up right in the middle of an open field across from us in a doghouse blind. And then Sunday, no shots heard period.

Will be interesting to see what kind of year we have and if we'll ever got back to Managed status if last year and this year are lower harvests than expected. One thing is for sure, we have plenty of does in our woods and they are all healthy. Once the corn came out, I counted three big mature does, each with three fawns in our woods alone. And many more on the other properties I hunt. Good luck, I hope it picks up some. Driving down County Road 40 these past few mornings, I think I saw one hunter out total and lots of empty box stands in the fields and hardly anyone at public hunting areas.

[dukhnt]

My dad, bro and I hunt public land in 277. We had two doe permits but could not find a doe to shoot. We got an 8 pointer Saturday morning and another 8 pointer Sunday morning. Great season for us!

[erikwells]

I stay at my mother and fathers place right across the road from Sibley State Park when I'm hunting and without exception either on my drive back to their place or on my way out I was dodging deer. Seems like the private land I hunt 5 miles away should be loaded with deer. Maybe I'll get a lawn chair and sit in their backyard. I'll be out this weekend to give it another try. I have been almost exclusively sitting in stand thinking thats the most effective way to hunt. Maybe I'll get up and do some stalking. I'm just really happy to be hunting again. Thanks and good luck.

[deerminator]

erik, we live on and i hunt on our land by Games. many of.our neighbors hunt their woods too. So the lawn chair might not be a bad idea! though like I said, I've personally heard no shots at all close.

[erikwells]

Deerminator I might sit one morning at Games on the beach. If you see a dummy next door to the county park you will know it's me. It's a thought but I'll stick to my deer land by cty 29 and cty 1. I'm looking forward to this weekend and haven't given up on getting a buck just yet. Any insights anyone who hunts the zone can give me for this weekend? On opener morning there was a lot of shooting and that pushed deer to us. I would expect some of the same this Saturday however less shooting knowing many folks filled their tags already. So if anyone can share with me what the second weekend is like I'd appreciate it. Thank you all and good luck.

[BLACKJACK]

Eric, I drive 1 to 29 to 5 every morning and that stretch on 29 is one where I slow down, I see a lot of deer on that stretch. Keep the faith and play the wind, you should have some luck. Do you hunt on the north or south side of 29?

I live farther NW and I've been seeing lots of does, 5-9 at a sitting, the bucks will be around Going bowhunting Friday and Sat, can't wait!!!

[deerminator]

Ditto what Blackjack said. I will add that in year's past, on our land, we've seen less movement in the morning and more around noon time (usually a doe and buck moving from one bedding spot to another) and also an hour or two before dusk. Whereas opening weekend, there has been crazy movement immediately in the morning, then sporadic the rest of the day, and quiet on Sunday. So I'm guessing rutting and hunter activity contribute to these patterns. Good luck.

[erikwells]

Blackjack Deerminator, I am hunting basically the intersection of county rd 29 and county road 1. Right off county 1 about 300 yards south of 29 is a slough with (1 grain bin and a corncrib) some woods on a hill and on top of the hill is a traingular shaped hayfield surrounded by some wind rows. My brother and I have been sitting in stands in the woods with shooting lanes cut to the edge of the slough. The slough is dry and I walked into it a bit Monday and there are definatly paths through there. I have seen bot coyote and deer droppings in there. I'll keep the faith, not discourage yet. Thinking I may sit on a hill with with a few trees on it Saturday morning so I can see if anything is coming in or out of the slough. Thanks for the tips. I'm just so happy to be hunting again!