getting pumped for RIPLEY

[deadminnowcatcher]

Only 1.5 weaks till the ripley hunt. cant wait as i have a deer picked out that will be a wall hanger. cant wait

[HootTooten]

You bet DMC. I'm having trouble sleeping at night thinking of Ripley!

Hoot

[maros91]

Just to update this post, what is the most deer you have seen in a day on stand? Mine is 5. All of them were does. I did see a double drop tine run across the road 3 years ago. That will get your heart going. Also what is the earliest one has got there to get in line? I know they say noon the day before but last year I was there at noon and I was way back in line. I will get there about 2-3 o'clock on Wednesday. It's almost here!!

[harvey lee]

Good luck to all and have a great,safe hunt. Take some photo's also for all of us to enjoy.

[DRH1175]

Good luck to all I had fun last year. Decided not to apply this year due to lack of time and too many things to hunt!

[jnorm1984]

Most deer Ive seen on stand there in a day there is 17. Ive only hunted once, and this was last year. So i think Im pretty much hooked, only 4 where bucks, one was a nice soild 10 prolly not even P&Y, but it was still a blast!

[MNDeerhunter]

Quote:

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Just to update this post, what is the most deer you have seen in a day on stand? Mine is 5.

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Last year, my season was over in 30 minutes...so after going into register the deer I drove back to where the rest of the group was hunting. While sitting in my truck and watching a field across the road, I witnessed about 25 deer...bucks, does, and fawns, all cross one opening to get to the other side of the clearing. Of course I already had my deer, and they were 400 yards away. From my stand I have seen about 12 at one time. It was up by OP19 in a little protected swail. All does, just down there feeding. One buck came thru at Mach 8, but never got a shot off. Wide, dark, thick 8 pointed...pushing the 150" mark.

I will be there on Wednesday myself. Just loaded the camper up last night, and am I getting pumped!

[archerystud]

I've had some good and bad days there although I haven't gotten to weigh one in Ripley yet. I'd love for my dad to drill a good buck up there. Heading back to my parents this weekend to get the camper ready myself.

I did help a friend weigh one. The buck netted 152 inches but only dressed out at 175 lbs. I kind of thought that one qualified in the big rack small body class.

[deadminnowcatcher]

last year we were 2 for 2. a 4 pt and 8 pt.nothing huge but we were happy

[maros91]

I seen the forecast for Ripley on Thursday is a high a 52 with a 70% chance of rain and a wind out of the ENE at 10-15mph and for Friday it is a high of 48 with a 40% chance a rain and a wind out of the WNW at 15mph. What are your tactics going to be? Sit on stand all day hoping people move them? I suppose a guy could stalk with the wet conditions. Do you think the deer will be moving on their own? I think I will sit the first day and see what that brings me and if that don't work change my tactics for Friday. Just wanted to see what everyone has in plan. I got my numbers off of the weather channels HSOforum.

[HootTooten]

My plan is to stay dry!!! Not sure how I'm going to due that quit yet. I think I will be stalking the first day. Get a good idea of an area and hopeing the deer aren't to skiddish the first day. Then sit the second day. Hopefully i dont even need to hunt the second day.

[realtower]

Biff, I hate to say it but I am sure glad I am not going till the next weekend. The rain is going to slow things down a whole lot. I think that those that are in the 2nd weekend are going to hit the pre rut perfect. Also not to be rude but (Deadminnowcatcher), in a place where you have a chance to kill a buck of a life time why would you shoot a 4 point. Cant kill a big one unless you let the small ones walk.

[Buck12]

Realtower,

You missed the point and were rude...deadminnow was happy. There is more to hunting than shooting a wallhanger,it's the enjoyment of the hunt. I'll be much happier if my daughter shoots her first deer(whatever that may be) at Ripley than if I shoot one for the wall. Of course I'll pass up smaller bucks in hope for that deer of a lifetime but I won't belittle those that don't.

[realtower]

Buck12, I understand what your saying and I agree with you 100% when it comes to kids and newcomers. What I am saying is this place is one of very few places in the state to tag a buck of a lifetime and they will not get big if you dont pass the small ones. So simmer down!

[deadminnowcatcher]

we were very happy with the 4 pt buck. It was a trophy to us. The state wants the deer thinned down in ripley and that is why they have the hunt. If i wanted a trophy to hang on the wall i would sit and wait. Sorry but i cannot afford to have one mounted so i will leave the trophys to you and i will just go and have fun. Hoping for a doe this year- good luck all

[dustin85]

I am geting pumped! We will be there the second weekend. I have seen a thread on here about deer ticks being crazy right now. Is this something we will have to look out for while hunting up there? I have never had a run-in with deer ticks before,..just want to be prepared, if necessary.

[BKB]

We live across the river from camp and they are out in full force to say the least, everytime the dog goes in the woods to do his job I pick off at least three or four of them. Hope for a hard freeze!!

[solocam]

Camper is loaded and we will be on our way about 9:30 in the morning. If any of you will be there during the day tomorrow look us up. Look for the Gold 2005 F-150 with the Mathews logo in the back window and you will find us. Our camper is a 1975 Dodge motorhome with a big Mathews XT sign on it.

[deadminnowcatcher]

we will be there around mid day tomorrow- green dodge pick up puling a tan 16' fish house

[TRM]

I'll be their around noon green crew HD w\topper, with a older popup camper, and a Taxidermy sign on back window,

GOOD LUCK TO ALL, And stay DRY......

[maros91]

I will be there around 3-4. Tan S-10 with deer stickers in the back window and a twins sticker on the side.

Biff

[maros91]

Something tells me that I am going to shoot something big this year. It just hit me as I was typing my last post. Light rain, damp and cool. That big one is going to walk right down my trail, I can see it now. It's 10:30 and I am wide awake. I can't wait anymore. Bring on the bigguns!!

[solocam]

"It's GO TIME" I hope we run into some of you there!

[NELS-BELLS]

What a bummer for the folks hunting the first hunt. RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, and more rain. I sure hope the weather is better next weekend. It will be interesting to find out how many deer are registered this first hunt.

Nels