Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Archery deer opener this weekend


erikwells

Recommended Posts

I last bowhunted around 1988 and I'm excited to head out this weekend after working hard the past year on practicing, scouting and putting up stands. I've seen a few deer on my trail camera over the past week. Only 1 small buck but I'm not trophy hunting just yet so all deer get my heart pumping. What is opening typically like, what do you veterans typically expect that opening weekend? I hunt the New London Spicer area. Any early season tips for a newbie like myself?

Thanks,

Erik

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't set your expectations too high.

I have found that most deer movement will occur towards sunset.

Plan on dealing with bugs, Thermacell is a great product.

Have a plan for if/when you down a deer. The after harvest plan.

Have fun, enjoy the woods and if you see a deer and decide NOT to harvest it, still try to pull back on it and see if you can do it without getting busted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

where about the New London area do you hunt? I have hunted that area on Private ground for the last 5-6 years, you can PM me if you want to talk more off line, so we don't bottle up this thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't set your expectations too high.

I have found that most deer movement will occur towards sunset.

Plan on dealing with bugs, Thermacell is a great product.

Have a plan for if/when you down a deer. The after harvest plan.

Have fun, enjoy the woods and if you see a deer and decide NOT to harvest it, still try to pull back on it and see if you can do it without getting busted.

That is my goal, as I am still bow rookie. Only pulled back on one fawn so far smile and it was way out there. This year I hope to do that with some does, but can't really shoot one near where I want to, or my rifle season will be over too - hunters choice areas, though 150 miles apart... I do plan to hunt in metro though, so maybe more chances there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have found that most deer movement will occur towards sunset.

Plan on dealing with bugs, Thermacell is a great product.

I told my dad that a thermacell was Just a Gimmick and Id never be that Sucker that bought one- I was dead wrong. That thing is amazing . Its the most amazing Product !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a couple thermacells that I use for fishing and they are a life saver. It's sure nice when you don't have to spray. I personally hate the feeling of having that stuff on but its still better than getting eaten alive. I remember bowhunting back in 88 and having deer in close and I was trying to blow biting mosquitos off my face and trying to not get busted by deer. Yay thermacell!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

erik I hunt just down the road in swift county. My couple buddies and I have had a lot of luck in the first two weeks of season. We have shot five bucks in the month of september over the last four years. We hunt a lot of bean fields in the evenings. Mornings have been great to us also, it's typically cool in the morning which I feel helps with deer movement early in the season. We have been lucky enuf to run into a few bachelor groups of bucks still together on opening weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

walk very slow to the stand with your hat off. helps me stay cool and that means less bugs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

warm, buggy, not enough deer activity during shooting hours....

every year i tell myself i'm not hunting for the first week or so...

and every year i'm sitting in my stand opening weekend...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Love opening weekend have taken most my bucks that first weeke or two. Mornings have been good to us also. Let a few walk last year on opener but this year I will be filling my tag with the first decent buck that comes by. Have a few other states I need to put some more time into this fall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't hunted in September for years, it seemed the mosquitos flock to you whenever you see a deer you want to shoot. It's uncanny and I think mosquitos must have some deal with deer working as their bodyguards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My goal every September is to get one early so I have some meat in the freezer, but then all I see is small bucks, and doe's with spotted fawns, and never let an arrow fly. This year, I have the same goal, but hopefully I can either see a decent doe, with no fawns, or a decent buck early on. I too have other states to hunt, in fact I will be in sconsin the following weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I probably won't get out until next week sometime. Kids activities on Saturday and a golf tourney sunday. But my mind will be sitting up in a tree..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally pulled the first image with antler on it last weekend and I'm really not sure if it will be a legal buck after the velvet is gone. Thus I don't think I'll label that one a shooter!?!?!?

I might stay out of my good spots completely for a while and try and harvest a doe somewhere else just for some freezer meat. The wife roped me into a golf tourney for this weekend so I'll do the husband thing for now.

Good luck this weekend guys!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Deer camp day is here! So excited! The boys will be here in less than 12 hours and the buck stories only get better every year! Good luck everyone! It it only takes 10 seconds for the hunt of a life time!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm off to Kandiyohi county. A few errands and then it's out to the oat field for likely my last goose hunting for a while unless I'm lucky enough to shoot an early deer. Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Plan on SE wind, odds are that's what you'll get a lot of in September.

Skip the afternoons if it's over 75. You can still shoot deer in those conditions, but it's miserable, so don't go unless you can't bear not to, you're short on possible times to go, or you already drove a long ways to hunt. Shot the biggest buck of my life in hot weather. Only deer I saw in 5 sits that weekend...

Stay out of the good deep cover spots, until closer to the rut in my opinion, unless you think you have a big one patterned, then go get him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.