Bwana Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Who's itching to get off work and go for a weekend at fort Ripley this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boonie5 Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Friday cant come soon enough for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bwana Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 Me either I'm sitting here at work and All I can do is think about ripley haven't been very productive at all. I seen a monster buck last time I was there just hoping I'll see another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapcrackpop Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Cant wait!Weather looks really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmellEsox Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I've shot a couple nice bucks in there but the last few hunts I've run into more and more guys. I used to have a spot almost to myself. Not anymore. So I'm going, but I'm a lot less excited about it than I used to be. Good luck everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boonie5 Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 It sounds like the first hunt was a bit down from years past, I hope its not the case this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear55 Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I've shot a couple nice bucks in there but the last few hunts I've run into more and more guys. I used to have a spot almost to myself. Not anymore. So I'm going, but I'm a lot less excited about it than I used to be. Good luck everyone. Ya not sure I'm going to go any more. Went once 7-8 years back and didn't care for it. This year was no different, I didn't have much trouble finding a place to hunt away from others but its just too much of a lotto ticket style hunt for me. I like to know the land and have everything scouted out and you just can't do that there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boonie5 Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Yea sometimes you just have to keep moving until you find a spot for yourself. I feel over the last few years I've been running into more people in my normal spots and have had to find new ones. With that being said I will be applying every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bwana Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 I hope everyone going up see's a lot of deer this weekend. I will be pleased if the bucks are in full swing rut. Good Luck to everyone going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry2 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Been a few years since I hunted Ripley & really looking forward to it this year. Good luck to you guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmellEsox Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 The best rut action I ever saw in Ripley was 1998 when the hunt was 10/31-11/1 or something like that. My area was torn up w/ scrapes. Had a decent 8 pointer come by and fight with another buck that was his twin. He won and I grunted him over and shot him. Then the other buck came by me wondering what the commotion was. I had him mostly dragged out (he weighed 188) when my buddy saw me and said he shot one too. His was a gigantic 9 pointer that weighed 247! Thing was like dragging out a cow! Anyways, with the lateness of this hunt, I'm hoping to find similar rut activity this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbadger23 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 For those of you who have gone consistently... do you feel like the # of hunters they allow is a good match for the amount of land? Just curious why some of you seem to be having a hard time getting away from folks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmellEsox Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 There is about 1 hunter for every 11 acres that is huntable. There are large impact zones that are not huntable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walleyehooker Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I think there is plenty of room for the amount of hunters. But when you don't have much time to scout and only 2 days to hunt it can be a difficult place to hunt. Also after talking to guys that have hunted there for many years I don't think there are the deer that there once was there. But it is what it is and you either like it or you don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bwana Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 I think there is plenty of room I only had one year where there was guys in my are and when they seen me they waived and then proceded on and never hurt my hunt I shot 2 does that year in the rain one at 60 yards and one at about 10 yards both went maybe 20 yards and dropped. Thats what I like about the bonus tags if theres no bucks around your area, you can stick a couple does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boonie5 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I noticed this year they expanded the big red zone in the SW corner. I sure hope that is a temporary thing, and they don't plan on expanding anymore of them... That was a good area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 One thing I've always said about Ripley: If you NEED to have total control of your hunt - Ripley's not your place.Hunting Ripley actually helped my confidence for hunting public land. Geez, before that if there was a person or un natural noise around me I got really bummed. But after seeing how deer move through people at Ripley, it all became a new game.More times than not at Ripley I haven't seen the BIG one but there was this one time that I took a shot at the biggest buck of my life (still) at 22 yards. The shot was deflected but I was in awe of just seeing that deer. Another year I actually heard the biggest buck of the hunt get skewered, crash and die. The thing about Ripley is it can happen anywhere and at any time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear55 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 If you NEED to have total control of your hunt - Ripley's not your place. Ya this is me. I actually hunt all public and I am use to people walking around and moving deer. I just hate not being able to scout and hunt where I want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meat-Run Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I see it as a 2,500 human deer drive MR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hills Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 When can folks start arriving or lining up at Ripley on Friday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sticknstring Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 They were lined up by 1am FRI the first hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bwana Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 no they weren't Peaple got the at 530 and were 7 cars back from the front they dont even open the gates till 6 some ppl are ridiculous about this hunt read camp ripley week one forum on here and it tells you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 When can folks start arriving or lining up at Ripley on Friday? Check your rules. The last time I was there they were turning away early arrivals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walleyehooker Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Whoever reported that on the internet was wrong because I talked to guys at the head of the line and they were there way before 5 and there were a lot of people lined up before 5 and no one got kicked out of line. I know what the rules say but apparently they don't use those much. I didn't even get in line each day and was one of the last to drive in. The first day it was pretty light out when I got to my spot. The second day was less people and it was still dusk when I got to my spot which was about midway into Ripley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sticknstring Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 no they weren't Peaple got the at 530 and were 7 cars back from the front they dont even open the gates till 6 some ppl are ridiculous about this hunt read camp ripley week one forum on here and it tells you all A co-worker arrived at 1 and was 4th in line. Last year at 5am we were 1/2 mile back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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