Camp Ripley 2nd weekend

[ANYFISH2]

No deer to report here yet. Had to unstrap and reset stand and steps as something was kreeking terribly.

Good luck everyone.

[Cheetah]

Saw a flock of 6 swans and another flock of 35 or so Sandhill cranes all flying south. No deer. Going to pack up to move soon I think.

[ANYFISH2]

First deer seen. 2.5 yr 8 pt, nice deer too far.

[Wanderer]

Two young 8s at dawn and a fork at 8 am. All too far away. Very few hunters here.

[maros91]

I packed up and moved. No deer seen at my first spot. I'm on the edge of a lake now with nice ridges around it. However, no deer trails or any sign. Gonna give it till 1 then try elsewhere. Agree on the number of hunters. Very few trucks around.

[ANYFISH2]

I have one (hunter) less than 100yds to my right. You guys can have him if yiu want!!

[Wanderer]

Doe at 50 but all gone. 360 degree wind is awesome!!

[maros91]

Nothing at my second spot. Took a little drive around 1:30 and talked to some guys. Almost all haven't seen a deer and very little sign. I did see two guys dragging one out. Unsure of what it was. My last spot here I finally found some good sign, two trails that intersect! It'd be nice if the wind died down.

[Cheetah]

I scouted two more spots and both were duds for fresh sign. At a new place now with a not so fresh scrape and rub. Couple intersecting trails but doesn't seem super actively used. Best I've managed to find though.

Dad left after lunch and called to say six deer were registered so far as he left. All bucks. Unknown sizes.

[hockeybc69]

Beau will blame lazy hunters and weather again... just watch....

[maros91]

Just got in line for tomorrow. They said 12 deer have been registered so far. One 200lber but had a small rack. Not looking good.

[sportfish]

Oh boy that place sounds good !

It's to bad the DNR is not concerned yet

[stretch]

A buddy sent me a picture of a really nice 8 pt he shot up at ripley today. He said he has seen very few deer and i think he shot his buck around 2 pm. Hopefully some more bucks will be shot.

[ANYFISH2]

One 8 pt buck, 26 turkeys, and 7 hunters. Kinda a poor day!

[mrklean]

wasn't there word at one time a possible turkey hunt up there?

[ANYFISH2]

They do have one in the spring for disabled veterans.

[Cheetah]

Well guys, I went home. My evening spot was a bust and it turns out I set up within 100yd of another hunter who was there all day and said he intends to go back there in the morning. Considering the marginal deer sign in that spot, it seemed like a waste for me to try to compete with him and the 4 or 5 other guys he said he saw walk through there in the morning... The other two areas I checked out mid-day were worthless too. I talked to one guy who wasn't even going to bother sitting for the evening, he just sat at the truck waiting for his two hunting partners.

And just to rub it in, right at the end of the river road before turning to get into the line again a big doe and fawn trotted across the road in front of me and a few other vehicles.

[nonteepical]

Maybe Purple puke will chime in and tell you guys how to hunt.

[laker1]

1st day harvest numbers?

[maros91]

12 when I came in and I watched 4 small deer get brought in at the weigh station. 16 for sure. I left at 7:15.

[Wanderer]

I heard 40 but that was talk around the barracks.

Total of 6 deer seen for our group. 3 bucks, 3 does.

We're splitting up tomorrow to get looks at some different areas. I'm sure they'll just be someone else's old area though.

[DaveT]

This is sad. I remember seeing so many deer and several big bucks each time I went there as a kid (80's). People used to come here from all over the country for 2 days of hunting at Ripley. Now it's a joke and they can't even get enough applicants for the tags. Then half of the guys with tags don't show up because watching paint dry sounds like more fun than hunting Ripley. I PRAY somebody with authority at Ripley reads this post.

Stop letting the MN DNR ruin this hunt! Take over the management of this hunt and your deer (wolves) NOW!

[maros91]

And back at it again. Got a buddy 100 yards to my right. Hopefully the deer cooperate today. 40 deer on day 1.

[certified jumbo]

Good luck. Keep us posted!

[maros91]

Just had a doe and a fawn at 40 yards. At least I saw deer today.