Ripley

[SmellEsox]

Any first day reports?

[elkhuntingfan]

56 deer taken. The biggest was 203 lbs.

[mrklean]

seems to be right on average then

[Chuby Minnow]

I looked online and was not able to find the first hunts results. Does anyone know total number of deer harvested and number of hunters that hunted the first hunt?

[sportfish]

My friend was there he left around noon on Friday and they had 14 deer brought in that morning .

  The good news is he saw a lot of deer ,just no shots taken . Sounded like a good hunt thou

[elkhuntingfan]

I could only go the second day. I sat in my stand from dark to dark and saw two does and a spike. This year and last year were the worst years I've had up there by far.

[Ohboytimmy]

Spent the day and half out there. Being my first time it wasn't as wild and crazy as I thought it was. I bumped into a guy the first morning. Ended up finding a decent size island out in the marsh. Didn't see a single deer. I can imagine hunting is much better during the second hunt being closer to the rut.

[mnguy152]

so where u south end or north?

[monstermoose78]

Who is going to be there this weekend?

[ANYFISH2]

Just have to load the trucks and hookup the wheelhouse.  

Hoping for a pleasant weekend of hunting!

Good luck to all.

[SmellEsox]

I'm in.  Will be hunting solo in my rusty trusty Chevy Silverado.

[pumper317]

Does anyone ever get pictures of the deer taken from Ripley?  I would love to see the harvest pictures from times past, current, and future.  Have never hunted there, and probably will not in the future, and not because of big deer or not big deer.  I have different places to hunt, that have woods upon woods upon woods, and although there are big bucks there too, I have never seen one, nor had the time to scout, do homework and find them.

Lets get pictures of harvested deer on here or stories, I like those much more than the rules an opinions.  They to have there place, but lets change it a little.

[ANYFISH2]

I'm in.  Will be hunting solo in my rusty trusty Chevy Silverado.

Are you camping or just driving in?

IF your camping, I'll have a beverage of some sort for you!

[SmellEsox]

I just drive in.  Should try the camping thing sometime.  Thanks though!

Edited October 29, 2015 by SmellEsox

[Boonie5]

I'm in!

Didn't get in last year but sounded like that was a good thing, sounds like #'s are still down but you never know unless you go. It will be my first time not camping which just doesn't feel the same. In talking to a few people it sounds like the wolves are pretty thick on the west side. Over the years of doing this hunt it seems the numbers are going down but I just keep reminding myself all it takes is one.

Weather looks to be decent w/o the crazy winds which will help and make it comfortable for an all day sit.

Good luck everyone!

[SmellEsox]

I'm in!

Didn't get in last year but sounded like that was a good thing, sounds like #'s are still down but you never know unless you go. It will be my first time not camping which just doesn't feel the same. In talking to a few people it sounds like the wolves are pretty thick on the west side. Over the years of doing this hunt it seems the numbers are going down but I just keep reminding myself all it takes is one.

Weather looks to be decent w/o the crazy winds which will help and make it comfortable for an all day sit.

Good luck everyone!

There's 12 to 15 wolves in camp.  They're not that thick.  Although their fur may be getting pretty thick now.  They do tend to hug the west side though.

[ANYFISH2]

Good luck today(and tomorrow) everyone!  May you all see plenty and stay safe.

Remember to share some pics.

Good luck.

[ANYFISH2]

A 8 and a 10 seen so far. Buddy seen 1, a buck of unknown size.

Good Luck.

[ANYFISH2]

Totals for us yesterday we're 3 seen for me and chad seen 7.  4 bucks,.3.shooters by our standards,6 does.

73killed.with the biggest at 239.the sign said this morning.

[monstermoose78]

I scored on bonus tag this morning. 1 and half old doe.

[SmellEsox]

I only hunted Saturday.  Saw a spiker right away in the morning and a fawn around 10.  That was it for the day.  Went back to the truck, drove it to the main road and had a flat tire.  So had to change that and barely got out in time.  Didn't go Sunday.  Went to church then spent early afternoon fixing/changing the tire and just said the heck with the rest of the day.

[ANYFISH2]

Well that stinks smellEsox!  Wish you would have had better luck.

Congrats on the doe Monstermoose!  

I didn't see squat today, my excitement was 2 turkey, 1 hunter.  My buddy Chad seen 7 more today 3 small bucks and 4 does/fawns.  So overall, for the weekend we seen 20 deer.  Not too bad.  And didn't have hunter walking all over us either, always see some, but it was limited this year.

Talked to some hunters near by this evening after packing up, and 3 deer we're shot in the area including 2 buck in the 130" class.  It sounded as though all (except for key today) seen deer everyday, a small improvement over last year.

[Boonie5]

There's 12 to 15 wolves in camp.  They're not that thick.  Although their fur may be getting pretty thick now.  They do tend to hug the west side though.

12 to 15??? Maybe 12 to 15 packs!

 

Just in our area there were 8 seen by hunters on Saturday alone so those are pretty good odds considering there are only 12-15 of them.

[monstermoose78]

Thanks @ANYFISH2

[ANYFISH2]

12 to 15??? Maybe 12 to 15 packs!

 

Just in our area there were 8 seen by hunters on Saturday alone so those are pretty good odds considering there are only 12-15 of them.

in your area, is the opritive phrase.  Hunters seen 8, odds very good the same were seen more than once.

Facts are:

There is a north pack and south pack.

The population of both packs sustain numbers between 12 and 18 animals.  This population has greater numbers in spring early summer as pups are born.  Natural mortality of wolves is crazy high. They are very susceptible to disease and illness.  Less that half of the pups survive till winter.  Even less Survive to 1 year.  

If one species of animal is closely monitored in camp Ripley it is the wolves.  They are trapped and collared yearly.  Followed year around via collars and telemetry.  They (camp.and dnr) have a very good handle on the numbers of wolves In and around camp Ripley.

And for pete's sake, wolves have been in Ripley for DECADES!  Even during the best of times.  Let stop blaming a dozen or so animals for our perceived poor hunting.

Sorry, I am off my box!