weekend update

[leechlake]

I hunted Wednesday through Saturday, from about 4-6:45pm 10 miles west of Walker. I saw no deer on stand and I sat in four different spots. I had seen deer in all of them until the full moon at the beginning of the month and then it's turned really slim. Am I disappointed, no way, going back up thursday. Anyone else have similar experiences. I could hunt the mornings but I take the dogs duck hunting then and that too hasn't been too hot, a few woodies and geese though.

[SartellMN]

Same thing. No deer seen moving. I hunt in between St. Cloud and Princeton. I talked to the landowner, and except for in the middle of the night, he has not seen any deer either.

Interestingly enough, once he showed me around his land, and good places to put stands, he was almost run over by 3 deer walking out of his house (while I was on stand 1/2 mile away). Never fails.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I hunted up by my cabin in Wisconsin and saw deer each night and saw a huge buck on saturday night. They were moving right at the end of shooting light. I did see quite a bit more buck sign this weekend than before... I think they are starting to get stupid... if you know what I mean!

[TomBow]

We were up by Pine River this weekend. Anybody else notice that it's been windy almost every weekend this year? Anyway, Did some "ground work" due to the high winds and saw a few but no bucks. Moved a large deer away from my stand (I think it wuz a Deer?) in the dark Sun. morning. Saw some scrapes on another property 10 miles north but no scrapes on the property where we were. Anydody see any chasing or bucks around does?

[leechlake]

In the Walker area I found one scrape and one rub in three days of grouse hunting with the dogs. I'm going to hunt in Corcoran tonight and I haven't seen scrapes yet, but haven't been out since last tuesday. Friends near Bemidji saw over one hundred deer in a field Friday late afternoon and a lot of scrape activity in areas around Bemidji.

[WallyObsession]

Went up to the Paul Bunyan State Forest to do some bow hunting and scouting for muzzle loading. Seen alot of deer also alot of buck sign. Both rubs and scrapes. Past up a small 6 pointer and a fork horn. To early in the season for us to burn up our buck tags. We left home with the intensions of trying to get some smaller deer for some good eats before the rut really gets going. Our hunt was cut a little short after we got a yearling and a fawn and the weather got to warm for keeping them cool. This took place the weekend of Oct. 9th and 10th. There are a lot of deer around the area. Also the wolves were really howling in the late evenings. Even though the howls seemed to be a good half mile away they really put the wildlife in the area on full alert. Was really interesting watching and hearing the reactions of the deer and other wildlife once the wolves started making there presents known.

[Captain B.R.K]

I was out this weekend and didn't see a thing. Actually saw a small doe run out of the field as I was going into the woods Saturday night. Sunday night didn't see anything. Pretty cool this weekend sitting up in the stand. I feel there is more to come of this

[Royce Aardahl]

I passed on a 6 point and a 5 point so far. I havn't seen a doe yet for the management tag. SOOOOON I hope.

[bigbucks]

I hunted Friday, Saturday, & Sunday evenings. Saw at least 3 deer on stand each night. It was very windy the first two nights, that doesn't matter, just find a protected place they like to go & they'll be there. It just has to be protected where the deer feed, you don't have to be where you're in the stand. Passed on a spike & a fork Friday night. Going again tonight, will be moving my ladder stand to get in better position for the deer I saw Sunday night. I'm hoping at least one was a doe, they were far enough away & partly screened so couldn't tell for sure. Passed on 8 shot chances on small bucks & another 6 on fawns, plus I've taken 3 shots this year, only haven't seen deer 5 out of 17 hunts so far.

[Captain B.R.K]

bigbucks, you've shot 3 times----wouldn't you have 3 deer then hanging?

I'm trying to think of the number of times I've been out this year. Probably seen deer 1/2 the time. Had 6 pt. under me a week ago. Didn't want my season to end just yet. Let he pass.

Going out this weekend with my brother.

[jt24]

Leechlake

I hunt around Bena in the National forest and i was up there 2 wks ago putting up stands to bow hunt next week and we saw very little activity. I am pretty disappointed because i found a real nice spot last year and this year i could hardly find a track. We covered alot of area and found one small scrape and 2 small rubs. Deer numbers down or what?

[bigbucks]

Captain,

Well I should have 3 hanging, but only 2. Apparently a poor hit on the only adult doe I've gotten a shot at & we couldn't find her. Our suspicion is it was too far forward & she survived. I have several people who don't hunt, but would like a deer, & a land owner that wants me to shoot as many as I can, within the law of course. We have a large party for gun season & I party hunt some bow hunting. In intensive harvest permit areas, tags for does aren't a big problem. My brother-in-law doesn't get out as much as I do & was hunting with me when I shot the fawn, so he offered to tag it. He didn't have to twist very hard...

[Captain B.R.K]

So you have having success...nice. Intensive harvest area's are nice, but also can be expensive if you are keeping all the deer to yourself. It's nice that you have others willing to take deer.

I'd do the same.

[SartellMN]

If you guys are having problems finding a place to send your deer, I have many family members who do not or cannot hunt who would love the venison. Contact me and we can work something out.

[Jmnhunter]

hey Sartel, where are u located? I'm bowhunting, and would like to help get rid of some venison if I shoot some deer, Im up in Bemidji in school, so its kind of tough storing venison!

-thanks

-JMN

[bigbucks]

I'm thinking he might be in Sartell...

Sorry guys, just too tempting.

[SartellMN]

jmnhunter, call me at 320-266-2050 and I can pick up any extra deer you have. That goes for anyone else. i will pick up deer anywhere in the central-northern minnesota area.

[TomBow]

Sartell,

I hope to have an extra deer or two and would be happy to bring some your way. I am hunting a friend's parent's property near St. Wendel so I am in the area from time to time. Been seeing much activity? I was there two weeks ago and saw a few but no rutting activity, other than a few small rubs. I did see a nice sized black bear (me got no tag!). I will be there this weekend. Best of Luck to you and all my bowhuntin' brethren!

[WallyObsession]

Hey TomBow were about to you hunt by St. Wendel? I've got land about 3 miles north of town we hunt. Towards St. Stephens not sure of the road number off hand. Anyway I was just curious if you were near there when you seen the bear. I have seen bear sign on our land but have never seen one there yet. Have seen some very nice bucks around this area. I know of a 235# 10 pointer taken on some neighboring land last year. A bigger one was or is in the area unless he died of natural causes in the last 10 months.

Prime Times A Commin

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[SartellMN]

I have not seen a lot of deer moving out in the open during shooting hours. Most still seem to be pretty light shy. But, sunday I was doing a bit of scouting in the afternoon and walked up on a bedded 12 point. scared the sh** out of both of us as he was bedded 10 feet away from me. Too much Corn to get the deer to move. I suspect that I will have a much better time bowhunting after gun season.

[TomBow]

Wally--I take County 4 (Veteran's Drive) out of St. Cloud and head west. When I get to the St. Wendel schoolhouse I take a right just north of the schoolhouse. I believe the street number is 370th. Per Terraserver, the property is 4KM East of St. Wendel. The DNR has found Lady Slippers in the swamp and is designated it as the St. Wendel swamp. I am sure there are some decent bucks in the swamp but they are pretty protected because the swamp is very difficult to walk into, very boggy. The neighbors have been seeing a bear around the property also this year. The landowners have told me that there have always been bears in the area but there has been more sightings this year. Best of Luck!

[NELS-BELLS]

Tombow-

You must be a little ways north of the sod fields. Nice area and lots of deer.

Now that the state has purchased a lot of that cedar swamp, do you think they will ever open it to public hunting?

Nels