sw minnesota deer

[chris35]

well i made it down to the girlfriends family farm for christmas this weekend and to my suprise sits on 400 acres of which 150 is wooded hills and riverbottum that looks really prime. walked around for about 10 minutes to get a quick look and there were fresh deer tracks everywhere, no one has hunted it. i gave everybody [PoorWordUsage] about having all that good land and know one hunts it which should turn out great for me! my question being, that i normally hunt up by sauk centre and this is a much different area, what can i expect and look for, for next years deer season, thanks for replies. chris

[picksbigwagon]

You'll need a shotgun to shoot slugs out of, that will be new to you.....and of course, keep the girlfriend. Start being nice to the landowner, not giving everybody a hard time about not hunting it is a big start. Don't be slimy nice about it either. This spring when her dad is out doing field work, get out there and help him. This summer when they are bailing hay, go help. when the fall harvest is going on, ask what you can do to help. the more work you put in, the more likely they will be to allow you to hunt and when they tell you where to sit, you sit there. If they have been farming this land for anytime at all, they know where the deer are and what their habits are.

Good luck..........

[chris35]

ok i think i see what your getting at here. first its her grandma that lives there. her grandpa passed away and he was the one that farmed it, now the tillable land is rented out and mo one in her family hunts! my questions were for the people that hunt down there to fill me in on any info for a guy that is blind to hunting in this area on stuff to look for when its time for looking for a place to put a stand or blind. i was also curious as to what the general deer populations are etc etc.. thanks for any helpful tips in advance.

[picksbigwagon]

Talk to the guys that are renting the land. They know what the population is on that land and good spots to sit. Help around at Gma's house.....

[ac777]

Where is the land located, Does it have a river bottom? YOu are going to want to do some scouting this summer, and find their bedding and feeding areas. If there is corn and beans nearby that is a +. Fencelines between corn and cover are usually good and deer like to enter the fields in the corners. Are you going to bow hunt or slug hunt?

[ac777]

Also, you are going to want to find out who rents it and see if they hunt it or let any one else hunt it. Some times the renters are given control of who hunts it, it is also a good idea to get to know the renter.

[chris35]

Right on! i only walked around for 5 minutes or so but the deer sign was unbelievable. i kicked up 2 bucks and 4 does just walking the line that goes from the cut corn field to into the woods. i must of counted 15 rubs that were all on nice sized trees. i was told that it hasnt ever been hunted in over 20 years. the farm is located just west of marshall and sits on 400 acres, 250 is cornfield and the rest is all wooded hills and riverbottum, they own on both sides of the river if that helps for any helpful tips. i plan on doing alot of scouting towards march and putting out trail cameras and looking over fields. really excited about this property, thanks for all the replies, keep them coming if there is anymore good tips. thanks

[chris35]

oh and i plan on bowhunting forsure and possibly slug and muzzy. are they in lottery, management, or intensive harvest, thanks again.

[LOTWSvirgin]

With out looking I would say Lottery

[chris35]

thats what i was thinking too, just couldnt believe all the deer in the area.

[ac777]

Yes, it is lottery, I live only 30 minutes from Marshall, So that is like right in my back yard.

[BLACKJACK]

If a river runs thru it, where the deer cross the river might be a good stand site. Depends on how much water flows thru it of course.

[Bear55]

Sounds like you hit the jackpot, quick go get a ring on her finger!!!

[Joe15]

Ya I live 30 miles from marshall as well and I would say your best bet is using a tree stand instead of a blind. At least that's what most people around here use.

[Joe15]

If a big place hasnt been hunted for 20 years there is probably a big boy or two in there.

[harvey lee]

Well said in your first post Picks. You hit the nail on the head.

[chris35]

hey ac777 and joe 15, how is the general deer population down there, seemed really good to me, i can say there is alot more deer there then there is where i have currently hunted the past 15 years and that was intensive. also wondering about the quality of bucks. on the old property i would let 8's go every year waiting for them to grow bigger but they never did or another party shot them. thanks again for all the helpful posts.

[ac777]

Well, I hunted both up north by Bemidji, and here in SW Minnesota, and I will say I saw bigger bucks down here and more of them. The population where I hunt down here is quite good also. It sounds like you have a great place to hunt deer.

[dspohn]

I hunted just south of marshall and the population seemed really good. I saw many many deer both days i was down there and shot my first nice buck. Looks like you've gotten into a pretty good area

[landscaper]

Chris35

how far west of marshall.....last name?? of the family(g-ma)

Also be sure to talk to the renters if you can hunt there and good luck!

[Rodric Christensen]

Not to sound skepticle, but just a possible heads up, I have lived near that area my entire life and still farm near there and just because grandpa and grandma haven't given permission to anyone doesn't mean that thing doesn't get pushed from time to time. I can be sitting in my tractor in the fall, on my own land, during deer season and trucks will stop, people jump out, run right through my own grove while other road hunters circle the section. It got to the point years ago where we just gave up. I go up in zone 1 on national forrest land and just sit in the timber for a few days just to get away from the flippin zoo down there.

Anyway, not to put a damper on your new nice spot, but you should post it and probably be ready for some run ins with "annual" trespassers.

If you didn't walk it till x-mas, deer would have moved back into an area like that for winter cover. Archery might be your best bet. The real zoo only occurs during slug season.

Good luck, I hope all goes well and hope you get the big one. At least someone who appreciates it, and actually has permission will be hunting it.

For the record, I do not know specificaly where the land is or who owns it, just giving a general description of what often happens in that area.