-By Brandon Wikman

Summer is a time when hunters hone their archery skills and try to outdo their shooting performance from last year. It is an ideal time to tweak, tick, and twiddle with new gear or accessories. The summer drags most archers into their front yard or local shooting range to plunk away [...]]]> by Moultrie Feeders

-By Brandon Wikman

Summer is a time when hunters hone their archery skills and try to outdo their shooting performance from last year. It is an ideal time to tweak, tick, and twiddle with new gear or accessories. The summer drags most archers into their front yard or local shooting range to plunk away on bag, block, or 3D targets. I’ve learned that it is crucial to your practice regimen that you invest efforts into piercing arrows in the correct target at the correct time.

Several professional hunters and archers are quick to say that practicing is only as good as you make it out to be. These words and tips of suggestion are coming from people that practice every single day of their life. They constantly shape their form, mold techniques, and improve the ending result of their scores. Practice shooting life-sized animal targets improves a hunter’s success tremendously in the field, whereas practicing at bulls eyes primarily sculpts competitive target shooters.

Firing arrows into a realistic looking target trains your mind and sinks the recollection of crunch time into a practical perspective. Shooting at tiny round circles works great for dialing your bow into ‘hunt-ready performance.’ I use bag and block targets to gauge my accuracy, adjust my sights, and gain confidence in my shot. The only downer of shooting at the speckled dots is that they’re nowhere to be found on the chest of a real animal! Your trained archery hunting eyes must magically put the bulls-eye on a walking whitetail or drinking antelope. Practicing on life-sized animal targets train your shooting instincts.

Many bear hunters who dare hauling a bow and arrow into the woods never practice at a bear target. They spend there entire spring and summer simply plunking arrows into the center of their fluffy bag target until it erodes. Or they may have only jabbed a dozen arrows into the vitals of a deer target, which is completely different than the physical makeup of a bear. The importance of shooting practice is only as good as you make it out to be.

Many outfitters and guides have clients who’ve saved tons of green over the past couple years for an exciting trophy elk or mountain lion hunt but they have never punched arrows into anything that even closely mimics the vital organ placement, shape, or body of the animal there going to be pursuing. Each animal you plan on hunting must be scrutinized to the max. The knowledge and understanding of an animal’s vitals and anatomy is what slices the diehard hunter from the rest of the pack. Don’t be afraid to drop a hundred more dollars on the animal target that you’ll be hunting. There’s no sense spending thousands of dollars without taking a serious mental aim on what you will be chasing. You must put your frame of mind to the ultimate test by introducing new ways to stimulate better practice.

I’ve taken these game-chasing lessons and used them to my advantage. Last year, with the help of some friends and family, I constructed a virtual hunting experience in my woods. It is an archery-hunting course crafted for every hunter in North America. There are over twenty shooting stations that range from a distance of 10-yards to 60-yards. Each station has a different animal placed in a specific scenario. Whether it’s a bear climbing a tree, a moving fox, or a whitetail sipping an afternoon drink, the course gives people the most realistic practice experience.

Taking your archery practice to a higher-level is an essential step in building your killing abilities. Dedicate time to create your very own mock-hunting experience that you can share with your friends and family. You may want to implement tree stands, ground blind stations, and moving targets. There are endless opportunities and a mixture of fun situations to mock. It is a great way to increase your accuracy and boost your overall shooting confidence.

-By Brandon Wikman

Whitetail deer have a wide assortment of both verbal and nonverbal means of communication. They’re language and lingo has been carefully studied by animal biologists since the early years of the late 1800’s. Deer have a very unique style of engaging in conversation. Many of us have already heard of the [...]]]> by Moultrie Feeders

-By Brandon Wikman

Whitetail deer have a wide assortment of both verbal and nonverbal means of communication. They’re language and lingo has been carefully studied by animal biologists since the early years of the late 1800’s. Deer have a very unique style of engaging in conversation. Many of us have already heard of the basic converse from deer to deer. A whitetail’s vocabulary ranges from bleats, grunt, bellows, and bawls. The list below details the most popular whitetail dialect. You will generate a fresh idea of deer verbalization and a typical time frame of season they communicate.

Contact Call – Also referred to as the ‘lost call.’ The contact call can be matched to the idea of the kee-kee-run call made by wild turkey. Both whitetail and turkey share the same concepts of locating fellow members of their family or group. A doe will make a loud and deep bleat two to three times every 15 minutes. You may use this calling technique as a way to mimic a confused doe. It is perfect to use while walking into your setup to cover your noise while still-hunting. Deer usually speak this language during the pre-rut, which runs throughout the entire month of October.

Doe Grunts – Differ from buck grunts in several ways. Doe grunts are a deer’s way of saying “Hey…come here.” The doe grunt is used to persuade fellow deer in the area to come. You must keep this calling technique soft to mimic the call perfectly. The louder you make the grunt, the more aggressive it sounds. Doe have been known to use this lingo throughout the month of October as well.

Breeding Bellow – One of my favorite calls. This hyper doe gurgle will be heard during the heat of the rut. Many people think that the bellow and the “estrous bleat” are the same. The converse differentiates greatly; in fact, the ‘estrous bleat’ means, “I will be ready to breed soon.” The bellow means, “I’m ready to breed right now!” I’ve used this calling technique with the combination of rattling to coax in many mature bucks. You will not hear doe make this call during the early season. The primary time of this communication will be heard during the breeding season in November.

Tending Grunt – Another breeding-style call made by high-strung bucks. The grunt is a rapid succession of mini-grunts in a staccato pattern. You may have heard this call while sitting in your tree stand and suddenly catch a glimpse of a buck trailing a doe. A buck will typically produce 10-20 soft tending grunts during any moment of chase. I’ve watched many professional hunters on video mimic this call with a follow-up of an estrous bleat leading into a rattling session.

One key of success to the art of calling is to create a surreal situation. Adding realism in your calling will give you the upper hand when calling to deer that have been called to before. Be creative and try new strategies. I’ve heard of people scratching the bark off the tree you’re sitting in with antlers when rattling. My cousin has dropped rocks from his stand to mock the sounds of hoof traffic before banging together antlers of tossing out grunts.

Game calling has always been popular in duck and turkey hunting. Bring your grunt tube into the woods during every hunt. You never know when you may want to break it out and bring the big buck into range!

But better late than never!

I receive quite a bit of email about Deer hunting on public land. Having just came back from a Controlled Hunt on Public Land myself, here are some tips for [...]]]> I guess this should have been written ealier in the year seeing how many States deer hunting season’s are already under way.

But better late than never!

I receive quite a bit of email about Deer hunting on public land. Having just came back from a Controlled Hunt on Public Land myself, here are some tips for you that are heading out to hunt Public Land Deer.

1. Get a map. Preferably a topo map and an aireal photo of the area where you’ll be hunting. You can find good topo maps on the Internet at several areas or contact the USGS for an index. A good map will show you many things. Some of the things you’ll be wanting to look for are: where are other hunters parking, areas that will funnel deer into a tight area such as saddles in ridges, potential feeding and beddeing areas, waterways, old roads, etc.
2. Do your scouting. This should go without saying, but you’d be surprised at how many just pick a place and go hunting without ever setting foot on the place. Prepare for success by using some boot leather to get the feel of the land and to try and pattern both the Deer and Deer Hunters!
3. Pattern the Hunters. Since you’ll likely have company from other Hunters when visiting Public Hunting area, get to know where they park and the areas that they’ll likely be hunting. Use this information to determine Where Not To Hunt! You can also use this information to determine likely areas where these Hunters will push the Deer as they’re coming and going to their stands.
4. Hunt the Midday. It doesn’t take long for Deer to pattern the Hunters. They know that most Hunters will be out of their stands by 9 a.m. (many much sooner) and walking around before heading back to their vehicles for coffee, lunch and a nap. Plan on hunting during the midday hours. I can’t tell you how many Bucks I’ve seen from 11 to 3 on Public Hunting land. If you’ve done your homework and are set up away from the other Hunters, you may be pleasantly surprised at a visit from a Buck during the midday when other Hunters are back at their trucks taking a Siesta.
5. Call the Manager. Part of your pre-hunt scouting should be a call to the Manager of the Public land where you’ll be hunting. They can provide valuable information on Hunter access and likely spots to find a Buck during the Hunting Season. They can also let you in on how the Deer herd is doing and clue you into what the Deer are feeding on.
6. Plan on getting your Deer out. Many Deer Hunters never plan on how to get their Deer out once they have it down. They never think about it until they are faced with the daunting task of dragging a Buck out of the woods. It would be smart to invest in one of the Big Game Carts
   advertised in the Outdoor catalogs.
7. Think outside the box. As I said earlier, Deer pattern Hunters much better than Hunters pattern Deer. If most hunters are Hunting fields or easy to reach areas, do something different. Find thickets or other areas where Hunters will not hunt. Swamps and overgrown clear cuts are two of my favorite areas to hunt on Public land. I love to hear Hunters say “That area is too nasty to hunt, you can’t see very far in there”. That’s the kind of place I want to be. The group of guys I grew up hunting with were the first to hunt the flooded timber for Deer. No one else would put on wader and go in after the Deer. Now, many people will but few are successful because the lack the patience and experience to still hunt the flooded timber properly. Do and go where other Hunters will not!

Most public hunting is not easy. But with a little planning and thinking outside the box, your hunt can be successful. Just remember, these Deer are hunted hard so plan on outsmarting them. You can reason, Deer can’t!

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Over the years it seems that rubs are one [...]]]> With the deer hunting season fast approaching in many areas of the country, many deer hunters are looking for buck sign in their favorite patch of woods. Rubs happen to be one sure sign that a buck has been in the area. Doe deer don’t make rubs.

Over the years it seems that rubs are one piece of buck sign that most deer hunters mis diagnose when scouting. I’m not sure why, perhaps they haven’t taken the time to really educate their self on the different types of rubs. I’ve even heard old Grizzled deer hunters call deer scraps “rubs” and deer rubs “scrapes”.

I hope to shed some light on the different types of buck rubs and the timeline you’ll likely see these rubs.

Late Summer Buck Rubs

Starting in late August through September in most parts of the country, you’ll start finding rubs on small bushes and saplings. In my area, the Sumac, Pine and Cedar are favored bushes that bucks rub on.

Bucks rub on these saplings at this time of the year to help remove the velvet from their antlers. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find these bushes with pieces of velvet still on them.

I’ve never seen a buck come back to these rubs on a routine basis. For them, these are simply a tool to remove velvet. They simply tell you that a buck, or bucks, have passed by and rubbed velvet off. Nothing to see here folks, just keep moving.

Pre Rut Buck Rubs

I was once told by an Old Timer that bucks rub on trees to mark their paths. Ummm….okay. I have a small problem with that theory. Bucks live in their little patch of woods year round, why do they need trail markers just for the fall? How would they find their trail at other times of the year? I’ve never bout that piece of advice personally.

The type of rubs I find during the hunting season leading up to the rut are what I call the Pre Rut Buck Rubs. These are rubs bucks make going to and from bedding and feeding areas. You’ll likely find many along deer trails.

Look for trees in your area that are very fragrant when the bark is peeled back. Sumac (called Shoe-Makes in my neck of the woods), Cedar and Pine are all favorites of bucks around here. Bucks love to rub trees like these. My theory of why bucks prefer these trees is that it’s possible the thick sap holds scent from their glands for a longer period of time. I believe these rubs are bucks letting other bucks know they’re in the area. Marking their territory so to speak. Kinda like your dog walking the perimeter of your yard and peeing on ever little bush it comes to.

It’s been my experience that bucks will make clusters of these rubs near their bedding area. Once you get outside of their bedding area, you’ll start to see rubs spaced apart along a trail. You can sometimes tell when and what time a buck made the rubs by looking at which side of the tree the rub is on.

If the rubbed part of the tree is facing the feeding area, it’s likely this rub was made by a buck on his way back to his bed. That’s generally in the Mornings.

On the other hand, if you find the bare part of a rub facing the thicker bedding area, it’s likely the buck made the rub in the afternoon or evening as he is heading to the feeding area.

In big woods areas, I’ve also found these types of rubs between Doe groups. I can generally find these along ridgelines or along remove waterways such as creek beds.

Sign Post Rubs

Nothing, and I mean nothing, screams “Big Buck” like a sign post rub.

I don’t think that there is another piece of buck sign, other than a sighting, that will tell you that you’re dealing with a He Man of a buck.

I’ve heard several theories of why big bucks make sign post rubs. But in my opinion, they’re made to tell all other bucks to “stay clear, The Boss lives here.”

The buck that makes these rubs may rub smaller trees, and generally does. But I’ve never seen a smaller buck make a sign post rub.

I generally find sign post rubs near a bucks bedding area. When I find one, I start paying real close attention to the surrounding area and on which side of the tree the rub is. It’s not uncommon to find a sign post rub that has been rubbed entirely around the tree.

Most sign post rubs I’ve seen have been on trees 2 inches in diameter and larger. The largest one I’ve ever seen was on a Cedar tree back in the sticks in Eastern Oklahoma. The tree was nearly 4 inches in diameter.

If you find an area that has fresh sign post rubs and dead trees from previous years rubs, you’ve found the Mother Load. This tells you the buck has lived here for at least two years.

Deer Hunting Tactics For Rubs

I’ve known hunters who found a few rubs on small bushes early in the year and hunt the entire season over those rubs. Like I said earlier, those early season rubs don’t amount to anything other than getting rid of some velvet.

The rubs you really want to concentrate are the ones made in the Pre Rut. These are the ones that Bucks will generally follow, simply because they make them along their paths.

Here’s a hot deer hunting tip for you. When looking over trails, look parallel on both sides of the trails for buck rubs. The reason why is that some smart old bucks will not travel down the same trail as does and smaller bucks, but will travel parallel downwind. If a Buck is paralleling a deer trail, I generally find it around 50 to 70 yards on either side of the main trail. Smart old bucks know it’s not wise to walk down just any old trail in the Fall!

If I find one or more sign post rub, then I try to back off just a ways along the route I think the buck is coming into or exiting his bedding area. I pick a spot where I have favorable wind. Many times, I’ll only be able to hunt this stand a few time during the season. The buck picks his bedding area because of the benefits to him, not because it’s easy for you to set a stand up on him!

Hunting Rubs During the Rut

During the rut, everything is off. By this time, if I haven’t killed a Buck, I’m switching tactics and hunting the Does. If a Buck is with a Doe, he’s not worried about making rubs and scrapes.

If he’s an older Buck but hasn’t found a Doe yet, he’s traveling looking for Does, making and checking scrapes and looking for Does. Generally he doesn’t have the time nor desire to make rubs.

In my opinion, hunting bucks along rub line during the Rut is low priority for me. The bucks are either going to be with the Does or traveling between the Doe groups.  (although they may follow trails that have rubs along them when traveling between Doe groups)

So get out there and look for those Pre-Season buck rubs. They’ll likely point out where your buck is traveling. Now all you need to do is find the best spot to take him in!

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The state of Wisconsin is only a mere three days away from turning completely blaze orange. Thousands of diehard deer hunters from across the nation make their way north to participate in the annual nine-day deer firearm season. A time when families gather, jokes are passed and the sweet smell of chili lingers [...]]]> -By Brandon Wikman

The state of Wisconsin is only a mere three days away from turning completely blaze orange. Thousands of diehard deer hunters from across the nation make their way north to participate in the annual nine-day deer firearm season. A time when families gather, jokes are passed and the sweet smell of chili lingers in the kitchen.

I’ve always been passionate about strictly archery deer hunting, but chasing big bucks with a firearm isn’t so bad either. I remember my very first opening day like it was yesterday. I was far too young to shoot a gun, but I tagged along with my uncle snacking on beef jerky and anxiously waiting to watch him clobber a deer. I would layer myself until I could barely move my arms and always made sure I stuffed my pockets with hand-warmers. I’d bring a few magazines, a handful of candy and something to drink. During the evening our hunting group would enjoy a hot meal, tell stories about each of our day’s highlights and kick back to watch a good hunting video. It’s times like those that never seem slip the mind. It’s always a pleasure to recollect and realize hunting isn’t all about shooting deer, but rather enjoying one’s company and kindling the hunting fire within. I have my uncle to thank for inviting me to experience a lifestyle enriched in deep-hearted memory.

It seems as if my hunting habits haven’t changed a whole lot since then. I always pack myself a lunch full of goodies, thermos brim full of hot cocoa, and a hunting magazine or two to keep me occupied. I still harbor the excitement of opening day and never regret the late night early morning transitions. It’s just all a part of the deer hunting experience.

This year, as always, I will be hunting with my good friends at Bluff Bucks Outfitters in Buffalo County, WI. Today I had spare time between classes and managed to escape college life, but only briefly. I spent the afternoon in a marsh I know all to well. The time was spent double-checking my gun stand, re-clearing shooting lanes and putting my Moultrie cams to work.

I’ve been capturing photographs of a few dandy bucks in the area, but all were taken during the wee hours of the morning. I am hoping with enough luck, one of those bone-headed beastly critters will wander by my tree stand during shooting hours. One thing I’ve learned is that there isn’t any telling when the moment of truth will come. I learned that last year as I climbed out of my stand at noon only to shimmy back up it to fire a bullet into my largest whitetail to date. During firearm season, anything goes. A neighbor may spook a deer your way to or from his lofty perch or perhaps a hot doe crosses with buck-baggage following.

If I were to shed any advice that I’ve learned over the years from great hunters, I’d simply say sit all day. Firearm season only last a couple weeks. It’s not like you can run wild through the woods with a loaded firearm everyday.

When it all boils down to it, firearm season in the great state of Wisconsin or anywhere for that matter has a positive rippling effect that has kept hunting traditions alive and families tightly-knit. I hope all of you have a successful hunting adventure and as always, hunt safe.

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BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakotans who ate wild game killed with lead bullets appeared to have higher lead levels than those who ate little or no wild game, according to a study released Wednesday by the North Dakota Department of Health.

The study examined the lead levels in the [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 6, 2008

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakotans who ate wild game killed with lead bullets appeared to have higher lead levels than those who ate little or no wild game, according to a study released Wednesday by the North Dakota Department of Health.

The study examined the lead levels in the blood of more than 700 state residents. The elevated lead levels were not considered dangerous, but North Dakota officials say pregnant women and children younger than 6 should avoid eating venison killed using lead bullets. Those groups are considered most at risk from lead poisoning, which can cause learning problems and convulsions, and in severe cases can lead to brain damage and death.

The study, conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state health department, is the first to connect lead traces in game with higher lead levels in the blood of people who ate it, said Dr. Stephen Pickard, a CDC epidemiologist who works with the state health department.

A separate study by Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources earlier found that fragments from lead bullets spread as far as 18 inches away from the wound. Minnesota’s firearms deer season opens Saturday in Northeastern Minnesota.

“Nobody was in trouble from the lead levels,” Pickard said. However, he said, “The effect was small but large enough to be a concern.”

Pickard said the study found “the more recent the consumption of wild game harvested with lead bullets, the higher the level of lead in the blood.”

Officials in North Dakota and other states have warned about eating venison killed with lead ammunition since the spring, when they were alerted by Dr. William Cornatzer of Bismarck, a physician and hunter. He conducted his own tests using a CT scanner and found lead in samples of donated deer meat.

The findings led North Dakota’s health department to order food pantries to throw out donated venison. Some groups that organize venison donations called such actions premature and unsupported by science.

“There continues to be no evidence of human health risk from using traditional ammunition,” said Lawrence Keane, a vice president and lawyer for the Newtown, Conn.-based National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry. “The report from the CDC appears to confirm we were right.”

North Dakota’s deer season begins Friday. Cornatzer said he has two deer tags, and plans to shoot the animals with solid copper bullets.

Health officials say the best way to avoid ingesting lead-tainted venison is to use bullets that don’t contain lead.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Cornatzer said. “Hunters with wives of childbearing age and those with children should be concerned about this.

“No one is trying to take anyone’s bullets away, but hunters need to educated that there are safer alternatives out there and they should use them,” Cornatzer said.

Terry Steinwand, director of North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department, said 21 employees from his agency participated in the CDC study. Each had eaten game shot with lead bullets and the study found that each had low lead levels in their blood, he said.

Steinwand said he would likely continue to use lead bullets when hunting.

“Any information is good information,” Steinwand said. “(But) it’s not going to change my habits one bit, not at this stage in my life.”

Alex Spencer may get the chance to shoot at a whitetail buck sometime during Minnesota’s firearms deer season, which opens Saturday. Alex is 10 years old.

Under a change made by the Minnesota Legislature this past spring, hunters ages 10 and 11 are permitted to hunt big game this [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 2, 2008

Alex Spencer may get the chance to shoot at a whitetail buck sometime during Minnesota’s firearms deer season, which opens Saturday. Alex is 10 years old.

Under a change made by the Minnesota Legislature this past spring, hunters ages 10 and 11 are permitted to hunt big game this fall before taking firearms safety classes, although they must be under direct supervision and within immediate reach of a parent or guardian.

Alex, who lives in Rice Lake Township, already has hunted deer once. During this fall’s early antlerless firearms season Oct. 11 and 12 in areas north of Duluth, he sat beside his dad, Darrell Spencer, in a double tree-stand or in a ground blind. Alex had a chance to shoot at a doe but passed it up because he didn’t have a clear enough shot, Darrell said.

Darrell believes Alex, a fifth-grader, is ready for deer hunting.

“I don’t think age means a lot,” Darrell said. “My son has been shooting a gun since he was 4 or 5 years old. I teach gun safety, and there are a lot of 12-year-olds who aren’t ready. It depends on the kid and how they’re raised.”

Alex was raised to handle and respect firearms, his dad said.

“When he was 6 or 7, we’d go grouse hunting,” Darrell said. “I’d carry a .410 break-action [shotgun] in the back of my vest. If I saw a bird on the trail, I’d let him load the gun and shoot it [the bird] on the trail.

“The next year, I’d let him carry the gun empty and load it if we saw a bird on the trail. At age 8, I let him carry a loaded gun on an open trail, not in the woods. When he was 9, I let him carry a loaded gun. I didn’t care about hunting. I was just watching him.”

In addition, Alex has shot trap with a 20-gauge shotgun since he was 7, his dad said. Alex has accompanied his dad on pheasant hunting trips to South Dakota, without shooting, the past four years. This year, under a new South Dakota law similar to Minnesota’s, Alex will carry a gun.

“This year, I took him sharptail hunting with another friend,” Darrell said. “It was like having another adult along.”

Whether or not Alex gets to hunt during the upcoming firearms season depends on what his dad does while bowhunting between now and then. If Darrell doesn’t shoot a buck with his bow, he plans to let Alex shoot one with a rifle.

Darrell has both a bow and firearms deer license but may take only one buck per year. And under state regulations, any buck taken by a 10- or 11-year-old must be tagged by the parent or guardian hunting with the youth.

Alex’s chances are looking good. His dad, bowhunting on Oct. 25, passed up a mature 10-point buck.

Like Spencer, Duluth’s Phil Mannon is looking forward to hunting with his young son soon. Mannon’s 9-year-old son, Caleb, has accompanied him on many hunts without shooting and has been target-shooting with a bow since he was 8. Mannon hopes his son will want to hunt deer next fall, either with a bow or with shotgun and slug.

Mannon likes the regulation change allowing younger hunters to take big game.

“I think it’s a great deal,” Mannon said. “We have to keep the youth interested in the outdoors. This just gives us a reason to get them out sooner, before we lose them to video games.”

Some people have concerns about hunters hunting big game at age 10 or 11, although hunters that age and younger have been able to hunt small game in Minnesota without taking firearms safety classes for years.

“Some kids are more advanced than others,” said Scott VanValkenburg of Fisherman’s Corner in Duluth. “To me, jeez, they really need to go through gun safety. It makes me a little nervous. Gun safety is a great program. It really drills it through the kids’ heads what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Dr. Steve Bauer, M.D., is a child and adolescent psychologist at the Human Development Center in Duluth. He, too, said that the maturity level of 10- and 11-year-olds varies widely.

“Sure, there are some 10- and 11-year-olds who, with good supervision, are going to be decent,” Bauer said. “But it calls on them, if they haven’t had a lot of experience, to learn things pretty rapidly. Gun safety gives you the needed tools to give you that background.”

The new law requires that the young hunter be “under direct supervision of a parent or guardian where the parent or guardian is within immediate reach, and licensed to take the big game,” according to Minnesota hunting regulations.

Darrell Spencer is more concerned about 12-year-olds who are permitted to hunt deer alone without parental supervision or a parent within reach, although they must be “accompanied” by a parent or guardian.

“What scares me is some of these 12-year-olds getting stuck in a deer stand by themselves,” he said. “If they can be mentored for two or three years before hunting on their own, I think that’s great.”

Minnesota’s moose hunters took 111 bull moose in this fall’s Northeastern Minnesota moose season, which ran Oct. 4 to 19.

Tags were issued to 237 parties hunting in 30 zones. Hunting success was 47 percent. Last year, moose hunters took 115 moose for [...]]]> From the Duluth News Tribune
published Nov. 2, 2008

About half of Minnesota moose hunters successful

Minnesota’s moose hunters took 111 bull moose in this fall’s Northeastern Minnesota moose season, which ran Oct. 4 to 19.

Tags were issued to 237 parties hunting in 30 zones. Hunting success was 47 percent. Last year, moose hunters took 115 moose for a 50 percent success rate. For the second year, the hunt was for bulls only.

Several thousand parties apply for Minnesota moose licenses each year. Since 1991, the hunt has been a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. This year, 2,706 parties applied for moose hunting permits. Minnesota’s moose population is estimated at 7,600.

Corn coming out slowly

Wet weather slowed Minnesota’s corn harvest from Oct. 21 to 27, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota crop report. That’s important to the state’s pheasant hunters, for whom hunting improves as more corn is harvested and pheasants move into grasslands.

As of Monday, 30 percent of the state’s corn had been harvested, about half as much as last year and half as much as the recent five-year average. Weather has been good this past week, and farmers have been able to make more progress in the fields.

Another USDA crop report will be released on Monday.

Bowhunters do well at Ripley

Archers took a record 325 deer during the first of two two-day bow hunts held Oct. 19-20 at Camp Ripley Military Reservation near Little Falls, Minn.

That was a 41 percent increase from last year and is 160 percent above the long-term average harvest, according to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources news release. Hunter success was about 15 percent (7 percent higher than the long-term average of 8 percent).

Be careful in tree stands

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urges hunters to follow safety procedures when using tree stands. Five tree-stand accidents occurred during the early antlerless season Oct. 11-12.

Here are some safety tips:

* Follow the three-point rule: Always have three points of contact to the steps or ladder before moving (two arms and one leg or one arm and two legs).

* Be cautious when rain, frost, ice or snow cause steps to become slippery.

* Never carry equipment with you while you are climbing. Use haul lines to raise or lower gear. Make sure guns are unloaded and broadheads covered before moving them.

* Always wear a safety harness when you are in a tree stand, as well as when climbing into or out of a tree stand.

* A safety strap should be attached to the tree to prevent you from falling more than a foot.

* Always inspect the safety harness for signs of wear or damage before each use.

* Check permanent tree stands every year before hunting from them, and replace any worn or weak lumber.

* Inspect portable stands for loose nuts and bolts before each use.