New Hunters Dilema

[PaulB]

Here's my situation: I've never hunted much before this fall, and never hunted deer at all. My boy is 13 now and hot to try it. So I ask around, hook up with my girlfriend's uncle and had what sounded like a good situation for us to have our first whitetail experience. But tonight I found out the uncle's son is coming home from Iraq sometime in the middle of the season so he's decided not plan on any hunting. Thats very understandable, but now I have a gung-ho kid who's disappointed. How do I go about finding somewhere safe for this hunt? Wondering in what part of the state I might find less hunting pressure on public areas, etc. Not to mention a good video on processing a deer, just in case that is necessary.

[PerchJerker]

Depending on what license you bought you may be limited to a certain part of the state, such as zone 1 or zone 2, etc. That's the first thing to check. The next thing to check would be for zones where you can get anterless tags without going through the lottery process.

Otherwise, the less amount of pressure will probably be in the biggest public areas, which is probably the state and national forests up north. But sometimes pressure is good as it can keep the deer moving all day long, so areas like the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge near Princeton or the Mille Lacs WMA near Millaca could be good choices. In those more pressured areas a deer could show up at any time or any place, so you might be able to get away with slowly moving around, walking between spots, sitting on the ground for a while at a good vantage point then moving again, etc. Just don't expect to have the woods to yourself, but it can still be a good hunt and a fun hunt.

One idea to try might be to put your son in an area with a good view, like on top of a ridge or over looking a swamp, etc., and for you to slowly still hunt in a big circle around him. I wouldn't do it the first couple or last couple hours of the day, but during the rest of the day it can keep you moving and hunting together. Good luck.

[catman71]

Hunt Zone 1, 3rd weekend and drive North a few hours. you will have very good luck finding public land that isn't overrun with hunters.

[PaulB]

Thanks guys. I hadn't bought a license yet, so I'm not tied into a particular area. I do realize there's more public land up north. Also heard there are lots of deer in the NW part of the state, but looks like less public land and then there's the shotgun only thing too. We probably will have to go north, but weekend 2, due to custody circumstances with my son. Thanks again.

[bigbucks]

Being he's 13 & hasn't hunted before I wouldn't recommend leaving him to sit by himself, at least not the first day. There's a lot of things to think about & consider when a deer comes regarding a safe shot & he'll be very excited. You'll likely experience the same thing if you've really never hunted much yourself. There's a lot of guys who've hunted quite a bit that get too excited when a deer comes & forget to make sure it's safe to shoot where they're aiming.

You didn't mention this so for safety & legality's sake, make sure he's taking firearm safety training, if not it's probably too late for this year, so just take him with without a firearm. We did that for several years before we were old enough to be armed & we still thought it was the ultimate experience. Safety is the absolutely most important thing when it comes to hunting. All of the other stuff will come in time, as long as everybody's still alive & well for next season.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

PaulB,

You mention that you have never really hunted much and not hunted Deer at all. You also mention that you are hunting with a shot gun.

I hunt in a shotgun only area and there are a few things you should realize. The max distance that I will take a shot at a Deer is 100 yds and that's if it is wide open. Most of the times it will be less than 50 yards. Take your boy and yourself out to the shooting range and send some lead down range, get a good feel for where the gun will shoot. As said previously your boy will need a fire arms training certificate, if he does not have one he can still go with you. I did this when my Dad got me started hunting. He will still have a blast being in the woods and most important, being with you.

Pick your shots and be safe.

Good luck,

Mike

[catman71]

i have seen those 2 person ladder stands for under 100 dollars. they look tough to put by yourself but with 2 of you to carry it in and put it up, probably no big deal. that way you can sit together and talk him thru the first few days. my kids 3, so not quite time yet for me...

[PaulB]

We both got firearm safety certs spring of 04. I figured after 25+ years, it wouldn't hurt me to do it again. I fully expect to sit with my boy this year, maybe for a couple depending on how things go. Actually, I have a rifle, I mentioned a shotgun because I realize they are requred in some parts of the state. And I don't have one, I bought a Savage .270 over the summer. We've been to the range with it several times, need one or two more sessions yet. Boy is a much better shot than I. Maybe I'll let him shoot and I'll use binocs to make sure the shot is safe. No license yet, hadn't gotten to that, so anywhere I can find a safe place is ok. Thanks again.

[Powerstroke]

Despite the fact that you both have your firearms safety certs, the regulations clearly state that you have to be with a child under 14 for him to possess a firearm. That doesn't mean "afield" like party hunting. Thats very important since you both can be fined. The responsibility that comes with being licensed means you have to know the regs.

[PaulB]

While I appreciate the reminder about the regs, I had no intention of leaving my son on his own, given both our levels of experience. I couldn't find a definition of "accompanied" in the regs, I assume it means "right next to". I know all hunting is about hunting safely, not harvesting.

[CodyDawg]

PaulB,

I applaud you taking your son out. Do whatever it takes to make it a special weekend for both of you. Here is what I would do. Go as far north as you can. Because you are unable to scout, it will be hard to know if you are infringing on anyone, thus I would be driving the backcountry MN forest public land at the crack of light. As soon as you can find a place with no hunters, park and start slowly scouting for a place to stand. Stand until late morning and then scout a little more. Find stand location for the evening and next day. Keep in mind that you are both hunting and scouting at the same time, so move slow and keep noise to a minimum. Be very aware that you could be stumbling upon a hunter who has scouted and worked their tail off only to have you plop on their lap opening morning, so put forth the effort to find a place with no hunters. You will likely have to get off the beaten track to be successful...or right next to the beaten track is often overlooked.

Do a little research on what permit areas have the highest deer density (past harvest stats or # of anterless permits available is a good place to start on the DNR HSOforum).

So the two things I would stress are:

1. Have fun. Make it enjoyable if it is a first time for both of you. Buy junk food you normally wouldnt. Go in if you are cold. Eat in a place where hunters gather and ask for help. Most will try and point you in the right direction. Soak up the atmosphere.

2. Dont screw up another hunters hunt by blindly clomping through the woods. Be respectful. This will teach your son good ethics. Hang in there, you shouldn't have high hopes for this year other than to enjoy yourself and find a spot.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[captkev]

Just a quick question, or maybe advice... I hope if you plan on a trip "UP NORTH" you do have the right skills, while the big woods is a great place to find places to hunt, be shure that you are prepaired for it, if your unfimilliar with the area, some people can get lost in their back yard, If you posses the skills to navigate in the big woods then great, Good Luck and I wish you a great hunt. But if you are a novice woodsman, make shure you make the proper choices before your hunt... Tell someone where you'll be and when you plan on returning, Check the weather before you go, take a compass and know how to use it, back it up with a GPS if you have one and get a topo map of the area. pack a emergancy blanket and waterproof matches, and if you do end up lost, build a nice fire and sit tight, its much harder to locate someone who is walking in circles than someone sitting by a fire. I'm not trying to scare anyone, you would be surprised how every hill starts to look the same as the last, and its hard to see the clouds in the distance in the woods, a front can move in fast and there you stand wondering where the sun went, never rely on one source of navigation, allways have a back up. and depending where you go, a cell phone is all but useless when there is no signal, unless you use it to start your fire.

Have fun, and be safe.

[Big Roy]

Hey PaulB

I am in the same boat as you, my hunting buddy is getting the Big D and I am looking for a place too. Most deer hunters have coveted places and it would be hard to get really good info, I do not blame them since land is getting harder to find. So, I am looking at some of the above places such as Sherburne, Mille Lacs WMA and also a couple other places I am considering are Whitewater WMA and Meadow Brook WMA. Like you I am familiar with zones, hunter safety, guns,etc. and in answer to your original topic it would be nice to find out more about places to hunt and also processing deer. You can try the public library on deer processing. I do not remember the name of the video but they show you how to gut and hang a deer, not for the squeamish but after all the Halloween movies that are on the dish this week it pales in comparison. They also have some good books too. Did you try a Google search? I remember seeing a few websites that show you in detail. Keep us posted and I hope the best for you.

[PaulB]

Thanks everybody for sticking with this topic, and for all the advice. As it turns out, I'll be headed out with my ex-in-laws. Sounds a little out of the ordinary, but I had a pretty good divorce. Anyway, this couple and their sons have been hunting up on the Range for 20 years or more, and they've offered to take us out and put us in spots they've used before. I'm glad we'll have experienced assistance for our first trip. Next year I hope to scout for my own spots too, so I might get to try different locations. I'll let you know how things work out this weekend. Thanks again.

[Mr Special]

Glad to hear that. Sounds like it'll be a great outing. The best advise I can give is keep them toes warm and try and stay in that spot as long as possible. When most hunter head in for lunch "my party it's breakfest" they will move deer around for you.

Also try to only move and raise your weapon when the deer is looking away or has it's head down.

Good luck and tell us how you do

[Chris Haley]

PaulB

It is good to sit the first day with a new hunter. However, powerstroke is wrong about REQUIRED to sit with a youth under 14. There is NO law stating this as I have been through the regs from front cover to back. I also talked to the regional DNR office to make sure before I posted. So sit with him the first day and if he does alright then broaden your area the next.

Good luck and have fun. If you're going to sit with him, take a camcorder. Maybe you can get that first harvest on film!!

[ewirz]

Others have touched this a little already, but thought I'd add my 2 cents. If you do decide to go to the "Great North", bring a GPS with you. I spend a lot of time in the Superior National Forest and still get turned around. There are a lot of roads and trails, many of which go for miles and lead no where. These area's can be tough to hunt without scouting because there isn't much to concentrate deer. THe previous post about finding a spot in the morning (where it doesn't look like there are other hunters) is good advice. Just make sure you know you can get out once you're in. GPS's are great for this. Good luck and post how you do.

ERW

[DigitalFisherman]

Roy, I've bow hunted Mille Lacs WMA many times and would recomend it if you are looking for a place to hunt. Of the 10 - 15 times that I have been there, I have seen deer every time and would have had a safe shot, with a firearm, every time. I have seen alot of other hunters out there but if you are willing to put some distance between yourself and the parking lot (not hard to do on 50,000 acres), you shouldnt have a problem getting away from the masses.

I have never hunted Whitewater WMA but have been there several times; it looks like it would be a fun place to hunt.

[Big Roy]

Thanks Digitalfisherman,

Thanks for staying on topic also. I do plan on getting away from the masses. Do they have allot of parking areas around Mille Lacs WMA?

[DigitalFisherman]

Yep, lots of parking all around the WMA and a road that runs into the WMA from the north end. There is a DNR station on the road that runs along the west side of the WMA, you can pick up a map there. The map has all of the parking lots and most of the main trails on it. The main trails will get you pretty far back and there are alot of unmarked trails and natural terrain to follow once you get back there. It's been my expereance that alot of folks stay pretty close to the food plots and main trails and don't venture much off of the beaten path which is good for those of us who do. On days when the parking lots are bursting, I have hiked into the bush and not seen another person all day.

Good luck and good hunting.

[PaulB]

Well, I'd have to say our first weekend deer hunting was a success. Not in terms of venison brought home, but because we had a great time. My son and I only saw one deer, and Bren didn't take a shot at it because I suggested he wait for a better one (shot, not deer). Of course the deer probably heard that and headed for the thick brush. Of the 9 in our group, only two deer had been harvested by Sunday night, but the rest were staying for a couple more days. Hopefully their luck improved. I can say I enjoyed the hiking in the woods, sitting on the stands in rain and sun, and especially my short nap Sunday afternoon on some pine boughs. We definitely will be back next year, and hopefully I can plan better so we can go more than once. My son already wants a bow for Christmas. Thanks again to everyone for their advice. How did everyone else do?

[folke2000]

PaulB

Congratulations on you and your sons first deer hunt. I'm glad that it appears that you count it a success even though you didn't harvest a deer. You and your son deserve a lot of cudo's for starting a great father / son tradition.

Good luck in future hunts.

[Mr Special]

Congrats,

Happy to hear you guy had a great time. What zone do you hunt? Maybe you could make it up there this weekend.

Something that might help for next season. After the firearm season ends, there will be tons of closeout sale for the season. You can find some real bargins then. Sounds like perfect timing for that X-mas bow. Also when I started deer hunting, I spent tons of cash on things I really didn't need. I thought I needed the latest and greatest of everything. The more expensive products aren't always the best either. Plus I ended up carry everything but the kitchen sink out in the woods.

Again Congrats best of luck to ya

[fishnhooks]

Special,

That's because I have the kitchen sink in my stand.

"hooks"

[Mr Special]

I believe ya Hooks. Considering your stand has a roof, tin siding and a porch.

I can only dream of such a nice setup. Maybe someday when I win the lotto.

Later