Camp Ripley 2nd Weeknd

[Wanderer]

Walleyehooker,

I just said it happened the last time I was there. We had a party member show up "early" for us that year but he hit the gate right on time and went right in. He told us they were holding the super early arrivals that year.

Maybe he was just pulling our chains?

[snapcrackpop]

Here is what I said in anoyher thread:

I talked to the guys near the front of the line (last year)and they said they lined up at 3AM. We lined up at 5AM and were half way down motorpool road. One of these years they are going to send the "early birds" to the end of the line again.

They also said they have been going for many years and once about 10 years ago they DID send the early birds to the end of the line.

They have done it and might again. Thats the gamble you take. I will be in line at 5:05.

[snapcrackpop]

I'm outta here! Home, grab and GO!

[snapcrackpop]

30 vehicles in line already.

[Gully24]

We got there at about 1am and we are about 50 cars back

[Cheetah]

We are going to leave late tonight and get a few hours rest in line before the rush in.

[Henry2]

I'm here, can't wait to start hunting :-)

[Gully24]

Dang it i wish i was still there had to put the truck in line and then come all the way back home to go to work today

[SmellEsox]

Yeah, I'm pretty worthless at work right now. Ha!

[Bear55]

Good luck 2nd weekenders!

[Cheetah]

Pretty chilly in line. Saw a buck as we pulled to the back of the line on river road at 3am. Tall spindly 8pt rack. Was only 50yd from the back of the line.

[bela0023]

Saw 2 deer between the weigh station and the first building to the south while going in. That's it so far

[Gully24]

Been sitting sense 630 and had 13 people wall by and now doe and two fawns bedded 80 yards from me

[MUSKY18]

Ran by the DNR registration station on my lunch break. One deer had been registered as of that time. SOunds like it is pretty slow going down range.

[snapcrackpop]

A spike and 2 deer too far this am. My boy had a doe coming, but she senced him about 3 steps too soon.

At noon a big black bear wandered through towards the kid. Got a call few minutes later, 20 yards and running at his stand!

[Cheetah]

No deer on morning stand. Saw three run past me on my way out for lunch. On afternoon stand now. Dad hasn't seen any yet.

[Gully24]

Guy in our hunting party shot a nice doe about 15 minutes ago

[Cheetah]

I got a nice doe. 139lb

[Gully24]

Only 78 deer registered through tonight's hunt WOW that low

[kevfish1]

Yep, There is something going on with Ripley. You used to see 20-30 deer a day and now you are lucky if you see a couple. Is it the wolves?

[certified jumbo]

Its more than Ripley. .......much of minnesota is the same way. The glory days of 4 -8 years ago are done.

[Jeff13]

Todays wind probably won't help out much for the hunters, WINDY!

[bela0023]

1 doe sighted this morning for me. I think maybe the herd is at a better carrying capacity for the land, but it does make for less action on stand.

[snapcrackpop]

I saw the bear again.

[nofishfisherman]

Yep, There is something going on with Ripley. You used to see 20-30 deer a day and now you are lucky if you see a couple. Is it the wolves?

How many wolves are people seeing? If there is a large wolf population in Ripley that has taken the herd down that far you'd think there would be at least a few wolves sighted by all the hunters in Ripley the last couple weekends.

Anyone seeing wolves or evidence of wolves?

My other thought is that the population has balanced itself to the carrying capacity of the land. If everyone used to see 20-30 deer that would in my mind be too many. Great for hunting but hard to maintain a population that size.