2014 Regs gonna affect the way and where you hunt this season?

[1eyeReD]

In general, I 'think' a lot of average bowhunters like to whack the first healthy doe that walks within range. I like to do this with a bonus permit then hold my regular archery tag for the rest of the season waitin for Mr. Big. Most times, end up eatin that tag by the way. Spent the last few yrs learning my areas and have a good feel for what does are doing early season and as for bucks I kind of have to rely on the rut (need more learnin).

Now that all units I am familiar with are listed as hunters choice or lottery, I am going to be frantically re-scouting, changing my hunting strategy, locations, and re-planning hunting times to ensure I'm chasing only bucks as some of my spots I will see does and little bucks all season up until that last week of October...

This the same situation for you guys?

[HNTNBUX]

I think I will spend more time duck hunting. I will then concentrate on late October and November leading up to the firearms season.

[Slab_Supper]

Nope not at all. I only "need" one deer per season and that is what I take. Gonna pound the first decent sized deer I see. Antlers or not, spikes or not. I don't have enough time to be picky!

[certified jumbo]

Its going to change things a little for our hunting group. Probably won't hunt as hard unless the cameras are showing something nice. We still put days of work into our plots. Just placed about a dozen cameras. We are kind of in s lucky situation. We have great neighbors and we agreed to some basic principles. About 5 years ago we slowed our harvest in this area way down. Our deer numbers even though were in the northeast are still high. In fact, last year we decided to only shoot one deer. Our neighbors and us called it wacky rack. We got him and that was only deer shot in a large area. So basically we took these into our hands. I realize notv everyone has willing nieghbors and large chunks of land. But it has worked for us. Being our area only has 100 doe tags, I'm sure our harvest will be as small. But will continue to enjoy watching and feeding the deer. I think we will have some nice bucks to chase after too.

I know I'll take sometime for fall steelhead, grouse and Woodcock. We also have a trip to a nice farm in winona planned. Excited to hunt there. So yes, things will be a little different. But we've already begun our conservative approach several years ago.

[Hoyt4]

This will not change too much for me. Metro I will be filling tags and then in our other zone looking for a buck no matter what the size. If I cannot get one in the metro for does I will fill my tag with the Muzzy in the forest lake area.

[Bear55]

Won't change much for me, usually chasing bucks and shoot a doe when one strolls along (if I was in the right area). Now I just won't shoot the doe, still have some meat from last season I will have to preserve until I know the freezer will be restocked. If I don't get a deer this year no big deal either.

[fivebucks]

Unless I can find an area to take some metro deer I will not bowhunt until after rifle season if I am not successful in rifle. We have too much tradition of going up north for rifle that I cannot take the chance of using my tag up before then. I am going to have to do more fall fishing and bird hunting. Now if only I could take 5 years off of my 10 1/2 year old pup.

[hockeybc69]

Wont change anything for me except I just wont have a doe as an option to shoot this year.

Otherwise no change in plans.

[1eyeReD]

Awesome. I guess I'll be changing the way I hunt because I seriously think my ways from years past will get meat in the freezer, but nothing of any size. Now that I can only shoot one deer, I'm going to be very selective. I want it to be Mr. Big of course!

Seems I have the deer in general dialed in where I hunt, but can't seem to pin a buck down in the earlier part of the season- but I know they're there. I've seen em around mid-late OCT and have night pictures from Aug and Sept. In fact, for the last few yrs I just go out assuming I won't see Mr. Big til later in the season. Now I gotta go looking for him. This might be a good thing. It'll force me to learn a different approach. And it'll be a lot of passing up "shooter" does lol. Still fun regardless.

[1eyeReD]

I think I will spend more time duck hunting. I will then concentrate on late October and November leading up to the firearms season.

Thinking of doing this as well..

[monstermoose78]

yeah Fall Turkeys better watch out!!

[nofishfisherman]

I'm predicting a tough year for myself, only have plans for rifle season so far. My group has been working our way around some new public land and have been doing a lot of scouting and refining our location over the last few years.

Last year we had much better activity and better sign throughout the season but some slight changes to our set up are still needed. Problem is this year we don't have the time to get up there and do the scouting we normally do. So I know for myself I have a few areas I scouted toward the end of last season and I'll do my best to set up in them but I won't have boots on the ground until opening morning. With the addition of not having does as an option I think we'll be lucky to tag one as a group.

Regardless the beer at camp will still be cold, the B S will still be thick in the air, and good times will be had by all.

[huntnfish]

I've never had the opportunity to bowhunt with a bonus tag so I've always waited for a good buck. I had a couple real decent bucks in front of me that would be chip shots but I just can't make myself shoot one early in the season. I even had the biggest fork I've ever seen, in full velvet, on opening day a few years ago. Buddy had him come by also. Just couldn't do it so early. I don't think my limited hunting will change at all. My family loves venison but I would feel like I cheated myself to be done on the first buck that came by me. Killing the deer is the least fun I have when I'm out in the woods hunting.

[Big Country]

First year I seriously contemplated the Duluth metro hunt. Jumped through all the hoops and got drawn on lottery night So I have a big parcel along with two 40's of private property within the leagues area. I can take up to five deer. Very pleased as I almost always put three in the freezer. Been practicing like a fiend and am stoked! BC

[1eyeReD]

First year I seriously contemplated the Duluth metro hunt. Jumped through all the hoops and got drawn on lottery night So I have a big parcel along with two 40's of private property within the leagues area. I can take up to five deer. Very pleased as I almost always put three in the freezer. Been practicing like a fiend and am stoked! BC

That is awesome BC! Good luck to you!!

[Big Country]

I know,right 1eye! Crazy. Was told the odds of a new hunter coming into the league were slim to none for getting picked on lottery night. Most new hunters have a 99.9% chance getting picked the second year. When they called my name my buddy looked at me with a big smile, YES! So stoked. BC

[BLACKJACK]

Its definitely going to change my archery hunt!!! Last several years I've had managed areas nearby where I could go after an early doe but that's not happening this year. I love being in the stand at the end of Oct/early November, watching the bucks run, so I don't want to end my season too early. Several years ago I shot my best buck ever on Oct. 15, a ten point, but I was still bummed when early Nov. came around. Consequently it will be hard for me to get motivated in September. But I also like venison so when Nov. 5 comes around and that tasty 6 point comes by, he may get shot instead of passed on, since that early doe is not in the freezer.

More duck hunting sounds good - except there aren't any dam ducks!! Like that idea of fall turkey hunting, never have tried that, may have to check the regs. Will provably do more pheasant hunting but even that feels like I'm hunting down the last of the buffalo since they are so few and far between. But its fun to get out and follow the lab around and when you do get one you know its a trophy!!

[MUSKY18]

This won't change the way I hunt at all. I only take one deer a year as that is enough to feed me for the year. Now with my son hunting as well, that means more chances of putting that meat in the freezer, so I'll let him take whatever deer he wants and then I'll hunt for the big boys that I have been waiting for.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Good points Blackjack! Really no point on buy hunting licenses in MN since there's nothing to hunt due to the horrid land management/wildlife management practices in MN. Armed hikes are fun, but they do get old.... And expensive when you donate over $100 a year to partake.

[BLACKJACK]

Not to worry, I have two trips to SoDak planned for pheasants, always a blast!!! Its just that its night and day difference, the MN hunts are more to keep in shape and get the dog out and any bird is a bonus. Ducks, there will be a few around the first couple of weeks and thats it. Ironically, I see a lot of deer, saw 9 does this morning within 1/2 mile of my place - but I can only shoot one. Oh well.

[wannafish2]

I'll still hunt the same, but there are some changes. I don't really think archers should be "penalized" if they want to hunt both bow and rifle seasons. I buy my archery tag, then buy my gun tag and put in for a doe permit (lottery area) - BUT, if I manage to shoot a deer of either sex with my bow then I'm done for the season (1 deer per year regulation) and the money spent on the gun license is wasted. I know it's only $30, but still.... I don't have anyone to "party" hunt with now that my dad is passed, and I don't have a lot of options for where to go, so no help there. I even called the DNR for verification. I originally thought that I would be able to shoot a doe with my archery tag and then just go buck only with the gun tag but they clarified it for me. One and done. I probably shouldn't make a big deal out of it since I haven't even taken a deer with my bow yet, but it's hard enough to get that first one without having a bunch of "conditions" on top of it. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent.

It will be nice to start sitting in the stands though! I love being in the woods in the fall!

Wannafish2

[muskieswen]

Going to let the herd survive in our area and go over to Wisconsin on some private land.

[Wanderer]

wannafish,

Don't worry about those "conditions" when you're bow hunting and have a good opportunity at any decent deer. IMHO, you'd have to score a real dandy buck in the firearms season to make up for passing on your first harvest with your bow. Way more satisfaction the bow...

My intentions for 2014:

I'll still purchase my Archery license and probably Firearms B season again but I don't plan to deer hunt as much this fall. I've been missing fall fishing for a number of years now so I think a few cool fall days on the water will suffice. I've also foregone most early ice fishing for the Muzzle Loader season. That will probably change this year too if conditions permit.

It's all wait and see. I'm not out actively scouting any trophies so the only mission is to get some meat in the freezer. We've gotten accustomed to at least two deer per year for the household. We've gone through as many as six. We really enjoy having it and will eat it regularly until gone. I guess we'll just have to settle for less for a while.

I grew up hunting a thin deer herd. This is something I've already lived through.

[rkhinrichs]

I'm just going to hunt and let the chips fall where they may!

[BLACKJACK]

I grew up hunting a thin deer herd. This is something I've already lived through.

I agree, I think we got spoiled with areas where you could shoot multiple deer, it got to the point where deer were almost treated like vermin, shoot'em up. The area I grew up hunting was in big black farm land, has always been lottery, you'd be lucky to have one or two doe permits for 5 hunters, you appreciated it when you saw deer.