Early Season Antlerless?

[Bobb-o]

how many people are planning on trying to hunt the early season antlerless firearms season in certain parts of the state?

[Studer]

For Sure!!! Hunting Season never comes early enough....

[frogtosser]

used up both my doe tags already with the bow, so not me.

[USPENAMC]

our hunting party is going 4 of us i might just not buy the early season and just hunt with my bow since i would like to get more BOW time in. although with that many rifle hunters around in public land i wonder if i stick one and it runs if someone else will tag it? he he..

another scenario would be me coming out of the woods with my bow and pulling out a doe or a buck that would be so nice amidst all those rifle hunters

[USPENAMC]

BOOB O,

by the way if you do go early season would you please let me know how it went in your area since my brother is set to attend the BEMIDJI STATE PARK YOUTH HUNT on october 20 and 21st so i would like to get some info if its not too much of a hassle.

[maros91]

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used up both my doe tags already with the bow, so not me.

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I will not be hunting the EA because of a bachelor party.

I think the EA doesn't count towards your total bag limit. Maybe someone can help out.

[gonefishin11]

USPEN... I don't think you can hunt with a bow during the EA season. Check the regs for sure but I remember last year not being able to.

Also, Biff is correct... the EA tags are seperate.

[DRH1175]

yes we are going for the 3rd year in 225 First year we got 2 for the 3 of us last year nothing I have mixed feelings about it but mine as well go right?

[DRH1175]

You can hunt with a bow like normal. However you can't officially hunt as a party. Which means a rifle hunter can't tag a deer shot with your bow or vise versa. Also you have to wear blaze orange since there is a legal rifle season going on. I have myself debated this since I am an avid bowhunter I have always thought about the "what if that trophy buck comes by?" with the bow I could take it but with the rifle it is off limits. So far I havn't seen a buck during this season so I havn't had to deal with that scenario.

[Studer]

That was my exact question?? Could I bring both my Bow and Rifle to the stand?? If a Doe walks by, shoot it with the rifle, and if a buck walks by that's worth taking, pull the bow back. Cool!!! That is good to know

[paceman]

I will be giving it a try this year in 244. Hunting with my brother in law and nephew. should be fun.

[Johnsonator]

Question for you all. Do you have to have a Firearms license to get the EA permit. Or can you have a muzzleloader license and buy the EA tags and hunt with the ML.

[Jameson]

Muzzleloader license is considered a firearms license. I would think that a ML hunter could buy the EA tags, and hunt the EA season.

[DonBo]

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I have myself debated this since I am an avid bowhunter I have always thought about the "what if that trophy buck comes by?" with the bow I could take it but with the rifle it is off limits.

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I believe even bowhunters are limited to antlerless only during the early hunt but not sure. Anyone know for sure?

[paceman]

No bow hunters can shoot whatever they want during the rifle early season. The early season for rifle requires a firearm license and then you buy seperate early season doe tags for 6.50 each.

[lcornice]

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Question for you all. Do you have to have a Firearms license to get the EA permit. Or can you have a muzzleloader license and buy the EA tags and hunt with the ML.

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You can buy them with an ML license but you're not restricting to using an ML. You can use any legal weapon.

[lcornice]

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I have myself debated this since I am an avid bowhunter I have always thought about the "what if that trophy buck comes by?" with the bow I could take it but with the rifle it is off limits.

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I believe even bowhunters are limited to antlerless only during the early hunt but not sure. Anyone know for sure?

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No, they are not. The bow season is not interupted by early antlerless. It's no different than bowhunting during the regular gun season. Same rules (licenses, blaze orange)

[lcornice]

Everything you never wanted to know about the early antlerless season has been posted on the DNR website here,

2007 Early Antlerless Info. If there are gaps or something should be added, let me know. I have an in with the author

[gonefishin11]

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure if using a bow was legal during the season but I am now.

[Big Pine Walleye]

My dad and I are going to hunt the early season for the first time. I had a question about this: does this early season hunt mess up the rest of the bow season? What I mean is are the deer thrown off their normal patterns because of the sounds of rifles? This may be a dumb question, but I was wondering if it is worth bow hunting the weekend after. Thanks for the info!

[paceman]

Depending on the number of guys, guns, deer shot, time spent tromping around the woods ect. Yes they will react accordingly. It might be tough for a few weeks afterwards.

[Big Pine Walleye]

Thanks for the reply--this is kind of what I am thinking, I guess I better try to get out this weekend!!

[lcornice]

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My dad and I are going to hunt the early season for the first time. I had a question about this: does this early season hunt mess up the rest of the bow season? What I mean is are the deer thrown off their normal patterns because of the sounds of rifles? This may be a dumb question, but I was wondering if it is worth bow hunting the weekend after. Thanks for the info!

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That's the rumor but it seems to be nothing more than that. In looking at the data, archers have been more successful over the early antlerless weekend in the permit areas that have early antlerless hunting since it was implemented. It may be a coincidence but it certainly has not declined that weekend or the weekends leading up to gun season. Statewide, archers have taken record numbers of deer 3 out of the last 4 years.

[bigbucks]

My brother & I are going with my buddy where I've bowhunted for years. There's actually 8 of us going. I've been bowhunting that more early thinking my doe chances are going to go down with say 5-10 missing from the herd after that weekend. So far I haven't gotten a doe in bow range out there, hopefully that will change in the next week.

[Bobb-o]

what early season zones are you guys gonna be hunting in? i will be in 184

[Jameson]

likely 225, maybe 157. I'm public land hunting this EA season, trying new spots.

[USPENAMC]

i might be in your same area Jameson good luck .. area 157

[paceman]

244 for me.......

[moby1]

I'll be in 243. I was up there this weekend and saw a few does going off the road into the trail to my stand at 5am, as I dorve to the parking area. Nothing came by during light hours. I did sit in another stand and watched another doe at 75 yards for two hours .

I hate to admit it but I am still not positive so can someone give a direct yes or no to the question," can I take a bow and a gun into the stand"? So as to be prepared for either sex deer? This is my first year hunting with a bow. So far I have hunted every weekend in various locations with no luck.

Thanks for the info.

[lcornice]

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I'll be in 243. I was up there this weekend and saw a few does going off the road into the trail to my stand at 5am, as I dorve to the parking area. Nothing came by during light hours. I did sit in another stand and watched another doe at 75 yards for two hours

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I hate to admit it but I am still not positive so can someone give a direct yes or no to the question," can I take a bow and a gun into the stand"? So as to be prepared for either sex deer? This is my first year hunting with a bow. So far I have hunted every weekend in various locations with no luck.

Thanks for the info.

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It's a definitive no. Here's the state statute:

97B.211 HUNTING BIG GAME BY ARCHERY.

Subdivision 1. Possession of firearms prohibited. Except when hunting bear, a person may not take big game by archery while in possession of a firearm.