Ripley hunt

[Neiko]

So what is everyone's experience with showing up early at the gate the day before. I am hunting the first weekend and will go directly from work to Ripley. I would guess I will be there around 8:30am and was wondering if the line forms outside the gate or do they open it up.

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Neiko

[BBL Resident]

In years past they normally open the gate around 6:30am. Sunrise is 7:31am and you can hunt 1/2 hour befroe sunrise. So I would assume by 8;30am you could drive right up to the second gate, fill out your form and get right in.

Good luck and let us know how you did. My boy's are old enough now that I plan to start hunting there again.

[NELS-BELLS]

Last year, I think they let you in the staging/camping area about 10:00 am the day before the hunt. That was during the 2nd hunt. I'm not sure when people started lining up? We got there about 11:00 AM Fri. and passed through the 1st gate fairly quickly. Then once we got inside it was a slow procession to the line at the 2nd gate. We finally stopped and were still about 500 yards back from the front of the line. (that's 2 rows of vehicles).
Good luck!

Nels

[walleye_jigger]

Hey nells did you guys sleep in your truck over night or how strict are they on that rule?

[NELS-BELLS]

We brought a camper and parked it close to our vehicle, which we parked in the line. Some people bring fish houses and some die hards bring tents. They don't care if you sleep in your truck while its in line but you do have to come out each night. The earlier you come back out, the closer to the front of the line you are for the next days hunt.

I'm sure their are a lot of pre hunt activities going on right now up at camp, for the first hunt.

I wish I was there!

[Captain B.R.K]

How bad are these lines? MOST important, HOW important is it to get in the front of the line?

I figure with the size of Camp Ripley, that there is plenty of spots to hunt.

Am I wrong?

[NELS-BELLS]

Your right, its a big place. The only reason you would want to get in the front of the line is if you've hunted there before and had a really good spot or tree picked out and you were worried someone else might beat you too it.

[walleye_jigger]

What kind of activities are we talking about here? Does it require you to constantly lift 12oz. It's our first time to hunt the ripley, we are in next weekend. It's going to be an experience, and I can't wait.

[Captain B.R.K]

I'm in for next weekend as well. Will be my first time, so I plan on doing some ground hunting and scouting that first day. Sunday I plan on sittin' in a tree after all my scouting.

I just feel like it will be a zoo with all the people there.

[NELS-BELLS]

You got it Walleye Jigger! The day before the hunt is a lot of fun because everyone that is there camping is just as fired up as you. Bring a target, to do some shooting, and maybe some horse shoes or Bocce balls or something. And don't forget the grill, for those fresh back straps.

I also got drawn for the 2nd hunt but I still can't pull my bow back after shattering my wrist 6 weeks ago. At least the pins are out now. I hope to go up for the day Sat. and do some scouting for next year and hopefully help my buddy drag a deer out. I also want to check out some of the deer that are registered that evening.

Good luck, just keep an open mind because there will be a lot of hunters.

Capt. B.R.K.- I would set up someplace, anyplace that first morning and sit until a 1 or so. Then go scouting. Look for bottle necks or areas where deer will go for cover. I always see a lot more deer the first morning because of all the hunters moving them. The second day you will see a lot fewer deer.

Nels

[Captain B.R.K]

Thanks Nel's! I'll take into consideration what you are suggesting.

[walleye_jigger]

Sorry to hear about the wrist nels. My dad went through a similar situation 2 years ago. But we managed to rig up a hook that would slide into his cast and hooked onto the bow to take all the pressure off his hand when he would try to pull it back. It worked out great for him.

MMMMMMMMMM... back straps on the grill, there isn't much better.

[early007]

Who's going to get the big one this year? Lots of monsters down there at Ripley. Wish I was going.

Jason Erlandson

[lip_ripper]

Seen a big 10 pointer on the back of a camper, headin down Highway 10 this afternoon. Must of came from Ripley.

[Neiko]

Well lets just say the hunt was another experience. My buddy who is in the guard got us turned around so we didn't get to our desired spot like we wanted. The line I would say is 2 miles long 2 wide. I got there at 8:15am and was about the 80th vehicle. They started lining up at 3:30am.

There are so many people that if you don't know the spot you are hunting you are best to walk around. I ended up doing that Friday and was able to get a doe that someone else pushed. She came barreling out of the woods down the trail right at me. I got her about 20 yards away. It was suppose to start raining hard so I figured I would get some meat out of that place before I left. I also saw 13 turkeys and 1 bear. It is the chance of getting the big buck that keeps me coming back. So far the biggest I heard was a 12 pointer weighing 223#. Anyone know if it was beat?

[shel0117]

I sat in stand all day Thursday and didn't go on Friday. I missed a 10 pointer at 25 yard, missed a doe at 30 yards, and got a spike buck at about 30 yard. Also I saw a monster about 70 yards out, couldn't get him to come in. The spike buck I got had and arrow in his back. The arrow was just under the skin and laying flat on the deer, did no vital damage. The arrow must have came from someone shooting on the ground. The weather sucked, it was a crapy hunt. Next year!! Until then I better practice!

[Captain B.R.K]

shel0117 - Would you be willing to give tips to a new guy that has never been there? Now that you were there eariler, I'm going this weekend.

Glad to hear you saw deer....I've been O'for the past few times out and hoping to see something at Ripley worth shooting!

[HAMPS]

I was fortunate enough to get in again this year. Had a big and heavy ivory horned monster about 30 yards from me last year but he was in thick brush and I did not want to take a bad shot. Hopefully we can cross paths again this year. Good luck to all who will be heading up this weekend.

[shel0117]

Sure Captain. First about the line - unless you like getting in line the night before, just for the fun of it, there is no reason to go there super early. They are checking people's papers when you first enter the camp now instead of at the second gate in the morning. I got there at about 11:00 pm the night before and the line was already 2 miles long. It moved so fast in the morning it was no big deal; it made me reget not just leaving home that morning.

As far as the hunting - I hunted in the northern part where I could find some fairly thick cover. I would say especially this weekend the deer will be moving but still a little spooked. With so may people in the woods the deer are going to get pushed to these thicker areas. Does will run into the thick stuff and the bucks will follow. They are not going to be roaming the open woods feeding. I suggest finding a thick area with some good structure, a possible bottle neck. Most importantly make sure the wind is right for you! If you take Kodiak road north and your first right after you pass Casino road is where I hunted. It's some very nice thick woods there. Good Luck!

One more thing - don't be dumb and walk into the woods when it is still pitch black out, be patient and find a good spot, then put your time in there!

[Captain B.R.K]

shel0117- thanks for the tips- well noted as I head to Camp Ripley this weekend for the first time. I don't know if I want to meet all you f'mer's at that place- but I will look around for heavier cover.

Only 3 more days to go- counting down everyone of them until game time Saturday!

[ricqik]

Quote:

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It is the chance of getting the big buck that keeps me coming back. So far the biggest I heard was a 12 pointer weighing 223#. Anyone know if it was beat?

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When we registered our 3 does, we were told the biggest deer was #250. I learned something knew when I was there. A wet arrow drops alot quicker than I thought. I assume as soon as the arrow was released, the rain droplets would all come off. I'll see him next. Other than that miss, we saw other nice bucks and plenty of does.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Rickqik-I'm not so sure a wet arrow drops any faster, I do believe that you loose FPS right out of the bow do to the added arrow weight, but like you I doubt the wet can hold on... we need someone to test this who has a Chronograph... ANYONE? Dry arrow FPS -VS- wet arrow FPS?

[walleye_jigger]

6.5 more hours of work and then headed down to Ripley. Planning on getting there when the gates open in morning. See you all there.

[Captain B.R.K]

GL walleye_jigger !

Let us know how you do this weekend. I'll be with you and the rest of the circus this weekend as well

[ricqik]

Hey, good idea, I just happen to have a chronogragh too. I'll try it tomarrow and I'll report back.

You're right, that may account to the slower speed off the string and that's probably why it flew low. Ill confirm it tomarrow.